Wendy Johnson, Airport Manager, Air New Zealand

1. In three words – what does Cairns mean to you?
Family, (my Mother, brother and his family live in Cairns), relaxing, (as I no
longer live in Cairns any trip back means relaxing) and catching up with old
friends

2. What was your first ever job?
I worked in the office of my Father’s wholesale and retail butchers business in the
Wimmera in country Victoria.

3. For people just starting their own business – what are your 3 success
tips?
Research your market, listen to what other people are telling you, and learn from
their experience
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and be prepared to pay for expert opinions
Don’t do it unless you are passionate about your product, service or idea.

4. What business decision or action have you taken that you are most
proud of?
When my Mother and I bought management rights at Palm Cove, they were being
sold as mortgagee in possession and we took a risk. We were able to build up the
business before selling 4 years later.

5. What do you dislike most about your industry?
Airline delays and disrupts, many times weather related that you have no
influence over.

6. What motivates you most to go to work each day?
The excitement of working at an airport, no two days are ever the same and right
now we are going through great change bought about by competition from low
cost carriers, so the pressure is on airlines to reduce their airport costs.
7. If you had an opportunity to change careers for a month – what would
you do?
I would love a month testing out hotels and resorts world wide, check in, try the
rooms, the restaurants and spas, maybe try out a few shops, I am sure I could
manage that for a month and I would be happy to write a report on what I had
seen and experienced!
8. Have you ever had a great idea or innovation that wish you had the
time to pursue?
I have started a book on shopping in Bangkok I just wish I had the time to finish
and publish it, meanwhile I still manage at least one trip to Bangkok each year
for research!

9. If you could change one thing about your past, what would it be?
It’s funny but not everything has gone how I planned, a marriage failure, being a
single Mother, being made redundant a couple of time when airlines pulled out of
Cairns. In reality my life has worked out well so I wouldn’t change anything, I
have learned something from every experience.

10. Tell us something we don't know about you?
I lived for two years on a cargo ship in the Middle East as the wife of an Officer; it
was all very British and great fun at the time. We did three months trips between
Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Pakistan and all the Gulf ports; Dubai, Kuwait,
Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Doha. We would collect the cargo around the
Japanese ports, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Karachi before taking our load up to
the Gulf Ports. I spent my days lying by the swimming pool, reading, teaching
English to the Chinese crew, making Pavlovas and trifles (the Captain and I
usually finished off the sherry, much to the disgust of my then husband!). Of
course once we hit port I was off to the shops, because not many wives came out
for the full two year term I was considered a novelty so everybody went out of
their way to make sure I saw all the sights and met the locals. The boys once
took me up the road to the cages in Bombay and I spent many nights having a quiet drink in bars of ill repute chatting to the mamma san about business! We
had our own steward so I did little housework and every night we dressed for
dinner, the guys in mess kits and the wives in evening dresses. It wasn’t the real
world but it was great fun while it lasted.

11. Who do you aspire to?
Nobody really, just for my loved ones and me to be healthy and happy.

12. If you could re-live one moment in your life – what would it be?
It’s all been great fun even when it was going wrong but why look back I have a
million things I want to do yet!

13. If you could invite someone famous for dinner (dead or alive) – who
would it be?
Hilary Clinton, I would love to know what makes her tick.

14. When was your last overseas holiday and where?
My partner Bruce and I went to Vietnam for three weeks in May, we started in Ho
Chi Ming City took the train up to Danang, spent a few days in Hoi An, then on to
Hanoi and from Hanoi we did an over night boat trip to Halong Bay and then
hiked for 3 days in the Sapa Valley. The hiking was Bruce’s idea not mine but it
was incredible, the people were lovely and the children were beautiful. It was
fantastic holiday I would recommend it. Oh and the shopping was amazing!

15. What’s your favourite journey?
In Air New Zealand’s new business class with our wide leather armchairs that
convert to 6ft7.5 (2.2m) beds, on my way to Hong Kong for a little shopping and
Yum Cha with my friend Dorothy Lee, Air NZ’s Hong Kong Airport Manager. Of
course I would have a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a little Kapiti
(NZ) cheese!

16. Your favourite time of day?
A quiet drink before dinner

17. Your favourite restaurant for that Friday afternoon lunch?
When we are back in Cairns we always make sure we have at least one meal at
L’Unico at Trinity Beach

18. What music or radio station do you listen to in your car?
Anything easy listening especially if I am caught up in traffic.

19. Your favourite author or book?
I love books on Asia, history, politics and also biographies, especially women. I
am a devotee of Amy Tan and of course I am a fan of our Cairns neighbour
Andrew Matthews and his motivational books.

20. What will you be doing when you’re 80?
I hope I will still be travelling, especially in Asia which I love. My Mother is only a
few years off 80 and still drives well and is very active and loves to travel, here’s
hoping I have my Mother’s genes!