The Aviation Security Service's long-serving Queenstown Station Manager, Mike Rivers, has signed off for the last time and passed the role to Barry Taylor.
Mike has retired after more than 25 years with AvSec, the government agency tasked with keeping New Zealand's aviation safe and secure, and the largest employer at Queenstown Airport.
He was appointed Station Manager in 2007, when ZQN first became a security designated aerodrome. He managed and led the significant change from an airport that serviced relatively few jet flights to the busy airport it is today. Over his tenure, AvSec staff numbers increased from about 15 to about 150.
Mike intends to stay in Queenstown for his retirement, working on his hobbies and playing a bit more golf.
Barry comes to AvSec after an extensive career holding senior strategic and operational leadership positions in the New Zealand Police. His most recent positions have been Director of Major Events, National Manager Police Professional Standards, Police Liaison Officer in London and National Manager Operations. Through his career, he has built up an extensive range of skills but is particularly strong in the areas of people leadership, operational management, staff development and stakeholder relationships – skills that will be invaluable in his new position.
Barry describes himself as a 'parochial Southern Man' and is excited not only about the challenge of taking up a new role in a new organisation, but also to be returning to the area where he was born and brought up.