BARNZ team
Cath O'Brien
Executive Director
Cath leads the BARNZ team as they advocate on behalf of their members on policy, regulatory and operational matters affecting the airline industry. A passionate advocate, Cath is driven to achieve best settings for aviation recovery in New Zealand.
As an aviation professional, Cath is able to understand the needs of BARNZ members, and to leverage strong relationships across airports and government agencies to broker successful outcomes. Her regulatory background in both aviation and energy means she is well placed to advocate for members affected by prices set by regulated airports.
Before joining BARNZ in August 2022, Cath spent five years at Air New Zealand, most recently as Head of Regulatory Affairs. In this role, Cath advocated for legislative change to ensure sustainable aviation settings, and represented the airline in reviews of airport pricing. During the response to Covid-19, Cath worked closely with government agencies to ensure Air New Zealand’s leadership was well advised as they navigated the pandemic response.
Cath is well connected to industry groups beyond New Zealand, enjoying good relationships with international industry bodies such as IATA. She has previously been a board member for Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ).
Cath has a Masters degree in Art History from the University of Auckland, and has undertaken executive education at the London School of Economics and Politics, and at Harvard University in Boston Massachusetts.
Patrick Whelan
Aviation Development Manager
Prior to joining BARNZ as their Aviation Development Manager, Patrick lead the Corporate & Government Sales Team at Qantas where he was responsible for all Commercial and Government relations activities throughout New Zealand.
Patrick has significant airline experience in both Commercial and Operational roles including regional and airport management roles.
Patrick spent six years based on the east coast of the USA where he held Sales and Marketing positions at American Airlines and Marriott Hotels
Executive Committee
Mat Bolland
BARNZ President / Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Air New Zealand
Mat Bolland is the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Air New Zealand, overseeing the airline’s government and regional affairs, regulatory, communications and cultural affairs functions. Joining the airline in May 2021, Mat’s corporate affairs career spans 25 years across the energy, water and telecommunications industries.
Prior to joining Air New Zealand, Mat spent 11 years with mobile operator 2degrees as it grew from start-up into a profitable national infrastructure operator. During that time, he led the corporate affairs, regulatory and commercial wholesale teams and served as a board member on the Telecommunications Forum, the industry’s advocacy and self-regulatory body.
Mat has led organisations through periods of crisis, organisational change and rapid growth, developing and strengthening the reputation of some of New Zealand’s best-known organisations.
With a background in journalism, Mat is also a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand.
Chris Lethbridge
BARNZ Vice-President / New Zealand Regional Manager, Emirates
Chris joined Emirates as in 1997 as Manager New Zealand and Pacific Islands. In 2003 he oversaw the start of Emirates services to New Zealand. He has 24 years’ experience in the airline industry, prior to his current role as Regional Manager New Zealand for Emirates Chris held senior roles at Malaysia Airlines and Thai international. Chris also holds a private pilot licence.
Anna Pritchard
Executive Manager, Government, Industry & Competition
Qantas Airways
Anna has been with the Qantas Group since 2010. She is a regulatory lawyer by training and since coming to Qantas has held roles across the Legal, Commercial and Government teams in Australia and overseas. Prior to her current role, Anna was Qantas’ Regional General Manager for the UK, Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, based in London.
Before this she was Qantas’ Head of Legal and Assistant Company Secretary, heading teams responsible for providing strategic competition and regulatory advice, oversight and compliance, engaging with key regulators and managing litigation and dispute resolution and corporate governance across the Qantas Group. Prior to joining Qantas, Anna worked at in private legal practice at Allens and the Australian Government Solicitor.
George Robertson
General Manager NZ, Singapore Airlines
George joined Singapore Airlines in September 2008. He has held several roles across the airline’s international network including the airline’s head office in Singapore.
George began his career with Singapore Airlines in its UK & Europe office overseeing several commercial roles before transferring to Singapore where he worked in revenue management and regional marketing. Subsequently, George has managed the airline’s operations across Gujarat (India) and Bangladesh as General Manager prior to assuming the role of General Manager New Zealand in October 2021.
As country head, in addition to Auckland, George is also responsible for operations in Christchurch.
Chris Paykel
Country Manager New Zealand QATAR Airways
Chris is Country Manager New Zealand for Qatar Airways, responsible for steering the strategic and commercial aspects of Qatar Airways’ business from its local office based in Auckland. An industry veteran, he brings with him over 25 years of experience in the aviation, travel and tourism sectors, along with extensive global knowledge. Prior to joining Qatar Airways, Chris led the national sales operations at Emirates in New Zealand, managing the airline’s corporate, trade and government agency relationships.
His previous roles have seen him working across London, San Antonio, Boston, Boca Raton, Sydney and Auckland, at major brands including Carlson Wagonlit, South Pacific Hotels and Laquinta Suites.
Chris is member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and sits as a trustee the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust, Ipiriri Nature Conservatory Trust and is as an Executive Committee member of the New Zealand Middle East Business Council, having served as both Treasurer then Vice Chair.
Sheryn Ambler
Regional Manager, Fiji Airways
Sheryn’s airline career started with United Airlines GSA in Wellington in the 1990’s as Corporate Account Manager South Pacific. Having taken a 10 year break from the airline industry to work on her own Corporate Catering Business she then had the opportunity to move to Fiji to work for Island Hoppers, an aviation company comprising of Helicopter, Fixed Wing and Skydiving Adventures.
After 9 years with Island Hoppers 3 of those living in Fiji, the role with Fiji Airways came up to which Sheryn joined the national carrier in 2018.
Daniel Eggenberger
General Manager Pacific, Air Tahiti Nui
Daniel joined Air Tahiti Nui in November 2018 as General Manager Pacific, after having run his own consultancy company – specialized in strategic development and re-organizations – in Amsterdam for 4 years. His working career started in the Banking Sector in Zürich, before moving into the airline industry where he gained over 14 years extensive aviation experience. During that time, Daniel hold several Commercial Management functions within the Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Group, such as Sales & Marketing Manager for Switzerland, Austria, and Slovakia in Zürich; Commercial Director for Central and Eastern Europe in Geneva; Director Project Management at KLM headquarters in Amsterdam; or Country Manager for Norway in Oslo.
Daniel holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), one in Economics & Marketing, and Executive Management Diplomas from IMD in Lausanne, MIT Sloan in Boston, Kellogg’s University in Chicago, Chartered Institute of Marketing in London, and Management Centre Europe in Brussels.
Shelley Musk
Head of Jetstar New Zealand
Shelley has been with the Qantas Group since 2005 and is currently the Head of Jetstar in New Zealand. Since joining the Qantas Group Shelley has held a variety of position in the areas of; general airline management, operations, and Cabin Crew management.
Prior to her current position, Shelley was the Head of Jetconnect where she was the first women in New Zealand to hold an Air Operations Certificate for a jet operation.
Before joining the Qantas Group, Shelley held a variety of positions at Air New Zealand including; marketing, revenue and pricing, product development and customer service delivery.
Shelley holds a master’s degree in Organisational Behaviour and Industrial Relations, and a post graduate diploma in Marketing from the University of Auckland.
Shelley is currently a Director of the Qantas Group subsidiaries; Jetconnect Limited and Jetstar Airways Limited in New Zealand.
Simon Hinman
Senior Vice President New Zealand & Pacific Islands – Menzies Aviation
Simon Hinman is the Senior Vice President, New Zealand & Pacific Islands for Menzies Aviation Services