I am pleased to announce the four new appointments I’ve made to the Board of Airservices Australia.
I have appointed Samantha Betzien, Annette Kimmitt, Paul Lucas and Anthony Mathews to the Board.  These four individuals will bring a strong set of skills in aviation, legal, financial and infrastructure planning to the Board.
These appointments are in addition to Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, AC, AFC (Ret’d) who commenced as the new Chair of the Board this week.
I have also re-appointed David Burden to the Board.  Mr Burden’s experience in aviation information technology projects will be important in the Board’s assessment of major air traffic systems replacement projects over the next few years.
On behalf of the Australian Government I would like to thank outgoing Board members, Ms Liza Carver, Air Vice-Marshal Roxley McLennan, AO (Ret’d), and Mr Henk Meertens, AM for their contributions to the Airservices Board.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the outgoing Chair, David Forsyth, for his dedicated work and leadership of the Airservices Board.
Mr Forsyth was first appointed as member of the Board in 2005.  I extended his appointment and asked him to take up the role of Chair in 2008.
Under Mr Forsyth’s leadership, the Board led a major program of investment in critical safety infrastructure, air traffic services and training of skilled personnel.
The Board also took steps to help Airservices to better harmonise with military air traffic management systems.
Airservices Australia is a wholly government-owned statutory authority which manages around 11 per cent of the world’s airspace through which more than three million flights carrying 75 million passengers travel each year.
As well as providing air-traffic control services, the organisation also delivers rescue and fire fighting services at the nation's major passenger airports.
The four new Board members will all have taken up their positions by tomorrow.
More information about Airservices Australia and all of the current and new Board members is available at: www.airservicesaustralia.com.