AIPA ‘Stick With It’
Presented by the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), Stick With It is a podcast for pilots who want to learn, reflect, and grow in their profession.
Each episode features conversations with experienced guests from current to former pilots and aviation experts, sharing stories, practical skills, and timeless advice for navigating a career in aviation.
Fly safe and stick with it.
AIPA ‘Stick With It’
John Mullen
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For our final episode of the season, we’re joined by John Mullen, Chair of Qantas, and one of Australia’s most respected and globally experienced business leaders. With more than two decades spent leading major transport, logistics, and infrastructure companies around the world, John brings a rare mix of boardroom insight, historical perspective, and genuine curiosity to this conversation.
John shares his own career journey and we dive into the enduring excitement of flying, how John came to take on the role of Qantas Chair, and the realities of leading an organisation made up of very different personalities — from managers to pilots. We discuss ambitious initiatives like Project Sunrise, reflect on the legacy of Sir Hudson Fysh and early aviation pioneers, and look ahead to what’s next for Qantas in an evolving global industry.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
00:58 - How Boards Function
04:20 - How Former Board Members Might View Today’s Boards
05:10 - How Boards Communicate Internally
07:04 - John’s Career Journey
13:27 - Interest in Maritime History
17:05 - The Feeling of Underwater Discovery & Adventure
20:00 - Flinders: Can Leaders Still Lead Like They Did Centuries Ago?
22:07 - How Qantas Compares to Other Companies
23:57 - How the Qantas Brand Evokes “Home” and Australian Identity
25:30 - Why Stay Involved in Leading Major Companies?
28:00 - The Importance of the Qantas Founders Museum
28:55 - The DNA of Qantas
30:43 - The Ongoing Excitement of Flying
31:34 - Becoming Qantas Chair: How the Role Came About
34:00 - Managers and Pilots: Navigating Different Personalities
37:20 - The Sunrise Project
40:00 - Sir Hudson Fysh: From Pioneering Aviation to Today
41:57 - What’s Next for Qantas
44:40 - Parallels Between Aviation and the Wine Industry
45:58 - Do People Want the Chairman’s Phone Number?
47:07 - Outro
Fly safe and stick with it.