Results

Elevated outcomes

Airports are complex assets with a diverse range of challenges and opportunities. We developed our tools and methodology working in this capital intensive, highly regulated, safety critical, commercially challenging environment. Now we bring that discipline and capability to supporting airports, infrastructure, government and communities. Here are some of the stories of people we’ve helped.

Opportunities in international trade

The challenge

Following significant infrastructure upgrades with a strong market opportunity, NAPL knew that they would have an air freight opportunity on their hands. They needed to determine an initial infrastructure plan, evaluate the market opportunity and define their strategic approach.

What we did

  • High level market evaluation, including stakeholder engagement to quantify the opportunity.
  • Evaluate potential quantum and types of air freight to inform air freight terminal design brief.
  • Outline strategic considerations such as market dynamics and identify key strategic partners.

Outcomes delivered as a result

  • Regional organisation of Councils successfully attracted funding for the development of a regional strategic plan that considered, amongst other things, optimisation of cargo flows to NAPL.
  • Design brief was used to inform precinct design.
  • Cargo quantification information was used to inform economic business case for funding for precinct and cargo terminal build.

What the client said

“Our collaborative, structured and detailed work together has been first rate and has already resulted in significant progress for our business”

Andrew Warrender, EGM Aviation and Air Freight Business Development.

The challenge

Following significant infrastructure upgrades with a strong market opportunity, NAPL knew that they would have an air freight opportunity on their hands. They needed to determine an initial infrastructure plan, evaluate the market opportunity and define their strategic approach.

What we did

  • High level market evaluation, including stakeholder engagement to quantify the opportunity.
  • Evaluate potential quantum and types of air freight to inform air freight terminal design brief.
  • Outline strategic considerations such as market dynamics and identify key strategic partners.

 

Outcomes delivered as a result

  • Regional organisation of Councils successfully attracted funding for the development of a regional strategic plan that considered, amongst other things, optimisation of cargo flows to NAPL.
  • Design brief was used to inform precinct design.
  • Cargo quantification information was used to inform economic business case for funding for precinct and cargo terminal build.

 

What the client said

“Our collaborative, structured and detailed work together has been first rate and has already resulted in significant progress for our business”

Andrew Warrender, EGM Aviation and Air Freight Business Development.

Strategic responses to climate change

The challenge

GAC Board considered the evolving narrative around climate change and wanted to ensure that the business was adequately aligned with the needs of key stakeholders as well as prepared for the physical impacts of climate strategy.

What we did

We provided a climate strategy that outlined:

  • Physical and transitional risk and opportunities facing the airport.
  • Evaluation of key stakeholder positions and priorities.
  • The role of the airport as a community climate resilience asset.
  • Alignment with local and state government policy.
  • Articulated a strategic plan to respond to the threat and opportunity landscape including:
  • Climate resilience measures to protect the infrastructure.
  • Shifts towards carbon emissions measurement and reduction initiatives.
  • How GAC would respond to shifting customer needs.

Outcomes delivered as a result

Since completing the strategy, GAC has used the strategy to:

  • support funding applications for renewable energy infrastructure
  • demonstrate to key customers such as airline partners their Board level commitment to environmental stewardship and responsibility
  • identify future funding opportunities and priorities for the hardening of critical infrastructure to anticipated climate changes impacts

What the client said

“We have been working with Sara for several years, on a variety of projects and issues. Sara brings with her a wealth of knowledge of the aviation industry in particular, air cargo, commercial development and decarbonising airports. Sara is pragmatic, well considered, an extremely fast learner and very easy to work with”

Mark Cachia, CEO, Gladstone Airport Corporation.

The challenge

GAC Board considered the evolving narrative around climate change and wanted to ensure that the business was adequately aligned with the needs of key stakeholders as well as prepared for the physical impacts of climate strategy.

What we did

We provided a climate strategy that outlined:

  • Physical and transitional risk and opportunities facing the airport.
  • Evaluation of key stakeholder positions and priorities.
  • The role of the airport as a community climate resilience asset.
  • Alignment with local and state government policy.
  • Articulated a strategic plan to respond to the threat and opportunity landscape including:
    • Climate resilience measures to protect the infrastructure.
    • Shifts towards carbon emissions measurement and reduction initiatives.
    • How GAC would respond to shifting customer needs.

 

Outcomes delivered as a result

Since completing the strategy, GAC has used the strategy to:

  • support funding applications for renewable energy infrastructure
  • demonstrate to key customers such as airline partners their Board level commitment to environmental stewardship and responsibility
  • identify future funding opportunities and priorities for the hardening of critical infrastructure to anticipated climate changes impacts

 

What the client said

“We have been working with Sara for several years, on a variety of projects and issues. Sara brings with her a wealth of knowledge of the aviation industry in particular, air cargo, commercial development and decarbonising airports. Sara is pragmatic, well considered, an extremely fast learner and very easy to work with”

Mark Cachia, CEO, Gladstone Airport Corporation.

 

Financial sustainability of regional airports

The challenge

Taree Regional Airport faced a range of threats and opportunities, including the challenge of operating a financially sustainable certified aerodrome without high frequency airline passenger services. They sought a strategic plan to guide future development and business optimisation.

What we did

  • Evaluation of current performance and infrastructure suitability.
  • Extensive stakeholder engagement to determine needs, opportunities and frustrations.
  • Commercial evaluation of property and aero nautical revenues.
  • Consideration to future challenges, future technologies and climate change.
  • Determine role of airport as a resilience asset, especially through events such as flooding and bushfire.
  • Outlined a strategic plan that guides optimisation of infrastructure, operations and commercial settings, ultimately, to add value for the MidCoast community.

Outcomes delivered as a result

MCC is currently working through identified initiatives to deliver the following outcomes:

  • Powerful positioning of the airport as a base of operations.
  • Expanded development potential.
  • Reduced aviation risks and better managed commercial risk.
  • Improved revenue capture and financial sustainability.
  • Identified opportunities to improve risk management.
  • Enhanced stakeholder engagement and deal making capabilities.

What the client said

“Hales North have exceptional knowledge of airport operations and were able to synthesise a broad range of feedback from stakeholders into a concise and logical framework that will enable us to achieve tangible economic benefits, whilst ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the airport.”

Tanya Lipus, Manager, Economic and Destination Development.

The challenge

Taree Regional Airport faced a range of threats and opportunities, including the challenge of operating a financially sustainable certified aerodrome without high frequency airline passenger services. They sought a strategic plan to guide future development and business optimisation.

What we did

  • Evaluation of current performance and infrastructure suitability.
  • Extensive stakeholder engagement to determine needs, opportunities and frustrations.
  • Commercial evaluation of property and aero nautical revenues.
  • Consideration to future challenges, future technologies and climate change.
  • Determine role of airport as a resilience asset, especially through events such as flooding and bushfire.
  • Outlined a strategic plan that guides optimisation of infrastructure, operations and commercial settings, ultimately, to add value for the MidCoast community.

 

Outcomes delivered as a result

MCC is currently working through identified initiatives to deliver the following outcomes:

  • Powerful positioning of the airport as a base of operations.
  • Expanded development potential.
  • Reduced aviation risks and better managed commercial risk.
  • Improved revenue capture and financial sustainability.
  • Identified opportunities to improve risk management.
  • Enhanced stakeholder engagement and deal making capabilities.

 

What the client said

“Hales North have exceptional knowledge of airport operations and were able to synthesize a broad range of feedback from stakeholders into a concise and logical framework that will enable us to achieve tangible economic benefits, whilst ensuring long term financial sustainability of the airport.”

Tanya Lipus, Manager, Economic and Destination Development.

Elevating culture

The challenge

A group of local musicians wanted to come together to promote live music, advocate for musicians and activate the Toowoomba Region through performance. However, they needed a compelling vision, purpose and strategic framework to support initial stakeholder engagement and development of a value proposition.

What we did

We leveraged our strategy building tools and methodology to:

  • Identify and engage with key stakeholders 1:1
  • Hold workshops and meetings with groups of musicians to gather feedback, ideas and intel.
  • Develop a vision, purpose, scope and strategic framework to guide discussions around legal structure, tax and charity status and team building for the project.
  • We socialised these governance cornerstones with key stakeholders and had them endorsed by the founding committee.

Outcomes delivered as a result

The musicians’ working group now has clearly defined goals and scope and is using this to generate further interest and support for the project including a small project team to establish a new organisation to deliver on the vision.

The challenge

A group of local musicians wanted to come together to promote live music, advocate for musicians and activate the Toowoomba Region through performance. However, they needed a compelling vision, purpose and strategic framework to support initial stakeholder engagement and development of a value proposition.

What we did

We leveraged our strategy building tools and methodology to:

  • Identify and engage with key stakeholders 1:1
  • Hold workshops and meetings with groups of musicians to gather feedback, ideas and intel.
  • Develop a vision, purpose, scope and strategic framework to guide discussions around legal structure, tax and charity status and team building for the project.
  • We socialised these governance cornerstones with key stakeholders and had them endorsed by the founding committee.

 

Outcomes delivered as a result

The musicians’ working group now has clearly defined goals and scope and is using this to generate further interest and support for the project including a small project team to establish a new organisation to deliver on the vision.

Opportunities in international trade

With an emerging international business, Newcastle Airport Pty Ltd came to us to help guide the strategic planning and operational needs of their air freight business.

"Our collaborative, structured and detailed work together has been first rate and has already resulted in significant progress for our business."
Andrew Warrender, EGM Aviation and Air Freight Business Development
Newcastle Airport Pty Ltd.

Strategic responses to climate change

We helped Gladstone Airport Corporation to articulate infrastructure and business responses to climate change that optimised the market position and infrastructure resilience.

"Hales North offer a wealth of knowledge of the aviation industry in particular air cargo, commercial development and decarbonising airports."
Mark Cachia, Chief Executive Officer
Gladstone Airport Corporation

Financial sustainability of regional airports

As the operational scope community resilience role of Taree Regional Airport changes we helped MidCoast Council to develop and action a strategy which optimises infrastructure, operatinal and community outcomes while improving financial sustainability.

"Hales North have exceptional knowledge of airport operations. They were able to synthesize a broad range of feedback from stakeholder into a concise and logical framework that will enable us to achieve tangible economic benefits, whilst ensuring long term financial sustainability of the airport. "​
Tanya Lipus, Manager, Economic and Destination Development
MidCoast Council

Elevating culture

When a group of musicians came together to consider how they could activate the Toowoomba Region through live music, we used our strategic planning tools and methodology to develop a compelling vision, purpose and strategic pillars to harness the power of community leadership in the arts.

With an emerging international business, Newcastle Airport Pty Ltdcame to us to help guide the strategic planning and operational needs of their air freight business.

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