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Kingsford-Smith Lecture & Dinner - Brett Godfrey

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The 52nd Sir Charles Kingsford Smith Lecture entitled

"From Sir Charles Kingsford Smith to Virgin Galactic"

will be delivered by

Brett Godfrey, Former Chief Executive Officer

Virgin Blue Group of Airlines.

Australian aviation had traditionally been served by a duopoly. East West, Compass I followed by Compass II and Impulse all tried to break the Qantas/Ansett stranglehold and failed. Brett thought there was a way to break into this ‘club’ and devised a new airline model for Australian skies. It took him and his business partner, Rob Sherrard, 7 years to find a financial backer who shared this vision. That vision was and is now known as Virgin Blue, Australia’s successful and second largest airline Group. Incredibly, as a result, fares are still lower today than they were 10 years ago and the number of Australian’s travelling has doubled in that period.

Brett conceptualised, implemented and led Virgin Blue as Chief Executive for 10 years, navigating through such hazards as 9/11, the Bali bombings and more recently the GFC. Today, in the year of his stepping down, the Group employs 6,000 people, operates 4 airlines including new long haul premium carrier V Australia, all up carrying 20,000,000 ‘guests’ p.a. Brett and his team have unarguably changed the face of aviation and in so doing made air travel far more accessible to Australian’s.

Brett has been awarded the Centenary Medal for his service to Tourism and Aviation, was recognised as CEO of the Year by the Institute of Customer Service and the Outstanding Chartered Accountant in Business, by the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

He left the company he founded in May this year to take a break for 18 months. Brett however, remains engaged with Board commitments with WestJet, Canada’s 2nd carrier, Tourism Australia, The Queensland Government’s transport board, Translink and Green Cross Australia.

This Prestigious Lecture and Dinner is sponsored by:

Dinner Dress: Black tie or lounge suit.

The Committee looks forward to your company.