Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine)

Adrian has over 40 years’ experience in the aviation industry. Holding an Engineers License in numerous countries, he has worked in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Kuwait and the UAE.

Working across a variety of regional airlines, Adrian has over 20 years’ experience on Regional Turbo-Props, Dash-8, and ATRs.

Adrian has held Senior Management positions in Australia and Papua New Guinea and most recently as the Accountable Manager for the first PNG EASA Part 145 Approved Maintenance Organisation.

With over two decades of experience in the aviation industry, Richard brings deep industry insight, strategic vision, and a customer solution focus to his role as Chief Commercial Officer. With an Aviation degree from Swinburne University and starting out in aviation as a commercial pilot his experience spans a broad spectrum of aviation operations and commercial leadership.

He has held senior commercial roles with prominent Australian regional airlines including National Jet, Skywest, and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines. He has been instrumental in providing tailored FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) charter solutions for the mining sector, as well as delivering bespoke charter services for government agencies, tourism operators, and clients in the sporting and entertainment industries.

As Head of Corporate Sales at Virgin Australia, where he led international account strategies and customer engagement initiatives, Richard delivered high-impact solutions that drove customer value and loyalty. His experience in leading teams through complex transformations and successfully managing customer acquisitions as well as high-value partnerships ensures that the vast breadth of SmartLynx Australia offerings are tailored to customer requirements.

Marijus Milasius is a highly experienced aviation professional with a proven track record in leadership roles across airlines, crew training centers, and maintenance organisations. Currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, having previously held the role of Deputy Managing Director. With a career spanning over 15 years, Marijus has developed deep expertise in EASA, ICAO, IATA, and CASA regulations, with a focus on safety management, quality and compliance, operations, and aircraft maintenance.

Marijus holds a Master’s Degree in Production Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management. His professional training covers safety management systems, EASA regulations, IOSA auditing, fuel efficiency, and systems such as AMOS, MS Project, and Quantum. His diverse skill set, global experience, and dedication to excellence define him as a strong leader in the aviation industry.

Alan has over 39 years’ experience in the aviation industry, spanning a diverse range of operational, regulatory and strategic management roles. Beginning his career as an aircraft maintenance engineer, Alan progressed through the management ranks to become a senior executive at Qantas.

Alan then advanced to become the CEO of Air Niugini in the Pacific region before joining Skytrans in 2020.

As a double degree qualified professional, a private pilot and a licensed engineer, Alan brings a vast wealth of knowledge of the airline industry to Skytrans.

Jaydip is a seasoned finance executive with extensive experience in regional airlines. Prior to joining SmartLynx Australia, Jaydip worked with an international regional airline operator as well as large organisations in diverse sectors, both in Australia and abroad.

Having worked in senior management positions, he has proven to be a high-level strategist, capable of developing and implementing innovative solutions. He holds a Master Degree in Commerce and is a member of CPA Australia as well as The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Stuart Friend is an accomplished airline Captain with over 23,500 flying hours. He began his career in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), where he served in Fleet Support operations and as an International Check and Training Captain, flying MB326H and C130E aircraft respectively. Stuart then transitioned to commercial aviation, spending 25 years with Qantas, including 15 years on the B737 Pilot in Command. More recently, he has held management positions at Air Vanuatu and served in Check and Training roles for both Air Vanuatu and Bonza. Stuart brings extensive airline experience to SmartLynx Australia and is eager to contribute to the introduction of the A319 to their fleet.

Captain David Wates is an accomplished airline Captain with extensive experience in international and domestic operations. This includes Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia and Europe. Additionally, he has for the past 20 years been heavily involved in Training and Checking activities. Occupying positions in Entry to Service Teams, and as a critical member in AOC application development teams. His experience includes operator exposition manual development and regulatory negotiations. Over the past 4 years David held the post of the Head of Training and Checking at Bonza Airlines and then Skytrans. David brings substantial experience in the operation of aircraft manufactured by both major aircraft corporations, Airbus and Boeing . He also holds tertiary qualifications in Aviation, Business, and Information Systems and Technology. David is determined to provide a valuable contribution to SmartLynx Australia.

Suzanne is a highly experienced aviation professional with a distinguished career spanning over 25 years across regional, domestic, and international aviation.

She brings extensive leadership, regulatory, and operational expertise to her current role, where she oversees Cabin Crew Operations for the Airbus A319 and Dash 8 fleets, while driving continuous improvements in safety and service delivery.

Throughout her career, Suzanne has held key leadership positions with prominent Australian carriers, including managing a team of over 350 cabin crew across Australia and New Zealand. She has played a critical role in regulatory compliance, enterprise agreement negotiations, recruitment, and fleet expansion projects.

She holds Diplomas in Human Resources Management and General Management, is certified as an RABQSA (Exemplar Global) Lead Auditor, and serves as a Queensland Justice of the Peace—credentials that underscore her strong foundation in compliance, governance, people leadership, and community service.

Suzanne is passionate about building high-performing, safety-focused teams that embody Skytrans’ values and commitment to excellence in regional aviation.

Vivian Pont is a highly experienced operations leader with over a decade of expertise in frontline ground operations. As Ground Operations Manager at SmartLynx Australia, he has played a key role in integrating A319 jet operations into the airline’s network and has authored critical operational manuals, including those for Ground Operations, Weight and Balance, and Dangerous Goods.

Vivian has successfully led both national and regional ground operations and has negotiated essential contracts for refuelling, handling, catering, and freight services.

Known for his calm and decisive leadership in high-pressure environments, Vivian combines operational rigour, deep regulatory knowledge, and a people-focused management style. His career includes key roles at Air New Zealand, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Swissport, where he consistently delivered measurable improvements in on-time performance, safety outcomes, and team capability.

Having lived in the Middle East for 12 years and flying internationally as a Senior Flight Stewardess with Emirates Airline, Tamara brings a wealth of experience to Skytrans.

As the cabin crew checker and trainer, Tamara takes great pride in ensuring her ever expanding team of Cabin Crew delivers the highest level of safety and service to our passengers.

Paul was a manager in the British government, overseeing significant projects, before moving to Australia in 2011. He managed revenue on regional, domestic, and international routes for Qantas and Virgin Australia, then joined Skytrans in June 2020.

He is an award-winning writer of non-fiction and fiction with over 100 publications and has a PhD in folklore.

Campbell joined Skytrans early in 2021 as part of the Commercial team, bringing fresh eyes to the business.

His extensive experience across both commercial and consumer sector organisations in project and client management, positions him well within our business to build and develop our services along with identifying new opportunities for Skytrans.

A Bachelor Degree in Marketing and certified Change Manager, Campbell thrives in dynamic environments and values great customer outcomes.

Julie has over 25 years experience in human resources and industrial relations in the private and public sectors.  Julie has a passion for leadership and developing an organisational culture that recognises the value of people.

Her experience in hospitality, consulting and health has provided a broad range of capabilities in employee engagement, change management, mediation and industrial relations.

Julie focusses on positioning the people and culture team as trusted advisors within the business and works closely with the leadership team to recognise SmartLynx Australia as an employer of choice.

Gytis is a proven aviation leader with nearly 20 years of experience across several European airlines and aviation services companies. Before joining SmartLynx Australia as Managing Director and CEO, he held a variety of senior roles, including ISAGO Lead Auditor, IATA DAQCP specialist, Nominated Post Holder for Ground Operations, COO, CEO, and Accountable Manager.

With an educational background in aviation mechanics, Gytis brings a solid technical foundation to his leadership style. He’s known for his ability to balance strategic thinking with a practical, hands-on approach.

Gytis helps teams navigate operational challenges, drive performance, and implement lasting change. His focus has always been on building accountable, safety-driven organizations that are ready to adapt and grow in a fast-moving industry.