Top five priorities for first woman ACI chair

The Airports Council International ( ACI), is the voice of the world’s airports. It is a global organisation which represents the interests of airports and also promotes airport standards and excellence in the aviation industry. ACI World is the leader globally in airport management and represents more than 2600 airports across more than 190 countries and territories. It represents the collective interests of airports around the world to promote excellence in the aviation industry. It does this by working with governments, regional ACI members, experts, and international organisations like ICAO to develop policies, programmes, and best practices that advance airport standards globally. 

Among its stated objectives are: To Promote industry excellence by providing members with innovative tools and expertise, supporting the capacity of airports to provide safe, secure air transportation, representing the interests of airports to international and national policymakers, fostering collaboration between airports, governments, industry stakeholders, and international organisations, maximise cooperation and assistance between airports, increasing public awareness of the social and economic importance of airports.

Candace McGraw, chief executive officer of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), from January 2024, will chair the ACI World Governing Board (WGB) that consists of 28 leading airport CEOs. The ACI WGB directs the organisation through strategic discussions on key subjects for airport operators that reflect the concerns and interests of ACI members for the benefit of travellers and communities worldwide. She will be the first woman chair of the organisation. In her interview she lists her top five priorities as chair of the board.

Her first priority, she states, is to remain mission focused to ensure ACI World maintains its position as the voice of the world’s airports. As board chair she says that her primary duty is to ensure that the board and management work together to advance the mission of the organisation. Her role is to ensure that there is focus on the mission of the organisation to deliver results for members and stakeholders. This includes working with global regulatory bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). She hopes to continue to work diligently to prepare ACI World’s advocacy positions and engagement strategy to represent their members’ needs at the ICAO Assembly.

Her second top priority will be to ensure continuity of dynamic and respected leadership. Now that the ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, announced he will be leaving ACI World at the end of 2024; as board chair she intends to “ lead a thorough and transparent recruitment process to secure a dynamic and respected leader to continue the important work of ACI World to ensure its ongoing, future success.”

The third priority will be to forge even stronger relationships between ACI World and its global industry partners. She states the power of collaboration and the importance of working collectively. She says, “It is immensely important that ACI serve as an equal and trusted partner to ICAO, IATA, and other international organisations, like WHO. Whether our issues deal with safety, climate action, workforce training, health concerns, or so many other pressing needs, our aviation industry is strongest when we are united.”

Her fourth priority is to maintain and strengthen the relationship between ACI World and the regions. She believes that ACI World can only be a unifying global voice for the airport industry if the entire ACI Federation is strong. Healthy and engaged partners in a federation are crucial for them to reach their fullest potentials, she states. The ACI regions cut across ACI Africa, Asia-Pacific & Middle East, Europe, Latin America-Caribbean, as well as North America.

The fifth of her priorities is to champion best practices in workforce development, attraction and retention efforts that promote inclusivity. She expects that the challenge of having available workers to fill all the roles available at airports will likely be the case for years to come. She hopes that alongside industry partners and stakeholders, that ACI should be looked at as a thought leader and resource in promoting efforts and programmes that are effective in championing workforce development, participation, and retention in an inclusive manner. She states further: “I take any opportunity I have to remind my colleagues of airports’ collective purpose. It is much broader than moving people and boxes; our purpose is to drive the economic well-being of our regions so that our friends, families, and neighbours can have access to well-paying jobs and our communities remain relevant in the global economy.” 

She has a very inspiring message in the interview: “This industry has been very good to me, and I would hope, as aviation professionals, we would like to welcome everyone’s participation in this fascinating and challenging business.” This is a call to all aviators to give back to this industry and to leave it better than we met it.

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