As the countdown to opening continues, Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) has appointed Professor Peter Shergold AC as the inaugural Independent Chair of its new Community Aviation Consultation Group (CACG) and the Hon. Paul Lucas to the role of Deputy CACG Chair.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said Professor Shergold would bring a great depth and breadth of knowledge and experience to the role, while his twelve-year tenure as Chancellor of Western Sydney University reflected his dedication to the region and strong standing in Western Sydney.
Similarly, Mr Lucas’ extensive public policy, community consultation and infrastructure expertise, including as an Airservices Australia Board Member and Chair of its Environment Committee, and more than two decades of leadership experience in government and consultancy will be invaluable to the new forum.
“With a career that spans academia, public administration, corporate governance, Indigenous affairs, employment, education and the arts and his role as the inaugural Chair of the Forum on Western Sydney Airport – Professor Shergold is eminently qualified to take up the helm of WSI’s CACG,” Mr Hickey said.
“While Mr Lucas is a former Deputy Premier and held key ministerial portfolios including Transport and Main Roads that included state aviation policy, regulation and airport ownership and driving major reforms and overseeing multi-billion-dollar projects across Queensland. I’m delighted to announce their respective appointments to the WSI CACG.”
Mr Hickey said WSI’s major construction works are complete and the commissioning, testing and trialling of infrastructure, services and systems is underway, while commercial partnership discussions with airlines and retailers as well as business precinct tenants and cargo terminal operators are also continuing at pace.
“As Sydney’s new 24-hour domestic, international and cargo airport, WSI is set to transform Sydney’s aviation sector, its freight capacity and the jobs and vital transport connections on which our nation’s third largest economy – Western Sydney – will continue to rely for decades to come,” he said.
“Establishing a strong coalition of community leaders, industry, public and private sector representatives who’ll have a seat at the table to provide feedback and input as the airport prepares to launch operations in the second half of 2026 is important to ensure all views are heard and to help inform decisions over the years ahead.”
The WSI CACG will work collaboratively with WSI to ensure community and stakeholder perspectives are considered in the operation, planning and strategic development of the airport. The membership will bring together a diverse stakeholder group - including industry and community leaders as well as airline and government representatives.
The meetings, which will take place at least four times a year, will facilitate opportunities for:
• WSI to inform stakeholders on the planning, development and operations of the airport
• external stakeholders to raise issues and questions regarding WSI
• reviewing and discussing any community-related issues, and
• reporting and providing recommendations to WSI regarding airport operations.
Professor Shergold said he was honoured to take up the role as WSI’s inaugural CACG Chair and looked forward to working with members as WSI prepares to welcome its first passengers.
“Western Sydney International Airport has been decades in the making and will be a game-changer for Greater Sydney and aviation capacity Australia-wide. Ensuring community, industry and other stakeholders can make meaningful contributions to the business is vital, and I’m pleased to accept this appointment to help facilitate this invaluable dialogue between all parties,” he said.
Mr Lucas said he was thrilled to accept the appointment as Deputy Chair of the WSI CACG, which would be informed by his knowledge and experiences across the aviation and infrastructure sectors.
“As the first major international greenfield airport our nation has seen in more than five decades, Western Sydney International Airport is unique, and will bring new experiences for travellers, businesses and workers across Greater Sydney. The CACG will be a critical forum to build greater awareness and mutual understanding for various stakeholders with the aim of ultimately supporting the best outcomes for the airport and the community,” he said.
The broader CACG membership will be appointed over the coming weeks, after which the initial meeting of the new forum will be held.
