Qantas Airways announced on 7 November the appointment of corporate veteran Alison Watkins to its Board, continuing a governance refresh amid the carrier’s post-pandemic recovery. Watkins—currently a director of CSL and Wesfarmers and a member of the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Board—will take her seat in March 2026 subject to shareholder approval at the 2026 AGM.
Her executive pedigree includes seven years as Group Managing Director of Coca-Cola Amatil and earlier CEO roles at GrainCorp and Berri. Chairman John Mullen said Watkins’ combination of FMCG, finance and industrial experience would be ‘invaluable as Qantas undertakes its largest-ever fleet renewal and navigates evolving consumer expectations’.
![Alison Watkins joins Qantas Board as independent Non-Executive Director]()
The airline has faced scrutiny over service standards and industrial relations, prompting calls for stronger board-level oversight of customer strategy and workforce culture. Watkins’ marketing and supply-chain background is expected to complement directors with aviation, engineering and digital expertise.
For global-mobility professionals, the board change signals Qantas’ intent to align shareholder, customer and regulator expectations—potentially influencing future product investments and partnership policies that affect corporate travel programmes.
Her executive pedigree includes seven years as Group Managing Director of Coca-Cola Amatil and earlier CEO roles at GrainCorp and Berri. Chairman John Mullen said Watkins’ combination of FMCG, finance and industrial experience would be ‘invaluable as Qantas undertakes its largest-ever fleet renewal and navigates evolving consumer expectations’.
The airline has faced scrutiny over service standards and industrial relations, prompting calls for stronger board-level oversight of customer strategy and workforce culture. Watkins’ marketing and supply-chain background is expected to complement directors with aviation, engineering and digital expertise.
For global-mobility professionals, the board change signals Qantas’ intent to align shareholder, customer and regulator expectations—potentially influencing future product investments and partnership policies that affect corporate travel programmes.
