Flying on her own
Sydney airport CEO Helen MacInnis retiring from position
You can run across everything from celebrities to wildlife during a typical day at Sydney’s airport.
For Helen MacInnis, CEO of JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport, the day’s highlights can range from unexpected visitors to exciting ones, including when Elton John arrived for his concert in 2011.
“He flew his jet into Sydney. A lot of people came out even just to see the plane.”
Closer to home, Sydney Mines native Aimee Gordon caused a stir when she arrived home from representing Canada at the Special Olympics with a gold medal in the 500-metre speed skating race.
“It was an emotional homecoming with the crowd bursting with pride over Aimee’s accomplishments. It was pretty special.”
Then there have been the surprise visitors, like in February when staff arrived at the airport to find two foxes mating in the staff parking lot. On a humorous note, MacInnis said they respectively gave the couple their space.
“They did attract a lot of attention though,” she added laughing.
After watching others heading on journeys daily now for years MacInnis is actually preparing to take off on her own special flight, to retirement.
“I certainly enjoyed my time working with the airport authority as the work was and is certainly challenging but also quite rewarding,” she said.
“I reached a point where I knew I was ready to retire and hand it over to someone else to take it forward from here. “
McInnis said there isn’t a specific date for her retirement yet, adding there is a selection committee in place interviewing potential candidates and a lot will depend on when a candidate is selected.
“We are aiming for the end of June.”
MacInnis was first hired in 2009 as financial controller, bringing 20 years of experience in the field with her; the position changed to manager of finance and administration the following year,
“I was ready for a change but the work was similar, only a different operation,” she said.
Two years later she did six months as interim CEO and was appointed CEO in December 2011.
She said she has enjoyed her time at the airport, describing it as a “self-sufficient community” with its own water treatment plant, water reservoir system, hydrants, septic field, and field electrical centre.
Her years at the airport have included seeing the airport soar to new heights with significant changes from major infrastructure and renovation projects to countless safety projects through funding from the Government of Canada and additions of air service.
“Improvements in air service including year-round direct flights to Toronto to support the needs of our community, physical improvements at the airport and strengthening relationships with Air Canada and WestJet have been key developments over the years.”
A major project development began April 23, 2016 with aircraft rescue and firefighting services implemented.
“The Sydney Airport had ARFF services when the airport was operated by Transport Canada but they were discontinued when the airport was transferred to the Sydney Airport Authority on Oct. 1, 1997,” she said.
As well as exciting and challenging times at the airport came the unexpected moments. MacInnis said one day while meeting with officials from Transport Canada ACAP in her office the secretary hollered that the hangar was blowing apart.
“We ran out to look and there were strips of siding from the roof to the floor blowing off the side of the building,” she said.
She said high winds had blown in the overhead doors and the wind was exiting the side of the building.
“The ACAP folks were gracious and we cut the meeting short so I could go deal with the emergency.”
However as CEO there have been many fun times as well.
“We were treated to an awesome ride in a Cessna aircraft to do an aerial tour of the airport property,” she said.
“Another day, Dan Fraser and a group of ATV club members took us out on the ATVs to tour the fence line around the airport property, which was lots of fun.”
She said other memorable moments including hosting the Glace Bay school bands and local elementary schools for Music Monday, participating with staff in the bucket challenge to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society and hosting the annual kickoff parade for the Atlantic Burn Camp at the airport.
However working in an airport it’s a given MacInnis would encounter unusual situations including last week when a young man landed from the Netherlands, thinking he was in Sydney, Australia.
MacInnis said in December there was also a woman from Afghanistan going to Sydney, Australia, to meet her sister but also ended up at the Sydney airport.
“We took good care of her and the airlines rebooked her so she departed in the morning.”
MacInnis said she will miss the airport but felt she was ready to retire.
“I was ready for a change but the work was similar, only a different operation,”
Helen MacInnis
“There is a great board of directors at the airport and it was my privilege to have Hayes MacNeil and then Doug Peach as the board chairs during my term as CEO,” she said.
“Our board members are community leaders who are dedicated to the airport and I have a great deal of respect for them.”
She said she was proud to work with a terrific team of managers, maintenance employees, and service partners who go the extra mile every day to serve the customers.
“It takes a whole community of people and organizations to get the planes in and out and to serve our passengers,” she said.
“I will certainly miss the people who are part of the airport team. I will always treasure what we have accomplished together.”