For the first time, Australia's biggest airport will be managed by a woman effective on 1 July, the company said as Ms Kerrie Mather has been appointed as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sydney Airport.

The Board of Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL) today announced that Ms Mather will continue as CEO of MAp which holds a 74 percent interest in Sydney Airport.

Mr Max Moore-Wilton, Chairman of SACL said: "Kerrie Mather's appointment by the Board to the role of MD and CEO is the natural evolution of her long term association with the airport and the international aviation sector."

With her 15 years of relevant experience and broad perspective of the industry will hep develop strategic alliances with airlines, commercial partners and tourism industries both in Australia and around the world, Mr Moore-Wilton said.

"Through her role as CEO of MAp, Kerrie has deep knowledge of the Sydney Airport business, its customers and its broad range of stakeholders. Indeed she has been on the board of directors and a member of the Strategy Committee since 2002. We are delighted to have someone of her calibre take the role," he added.

The Sydney Airport serves Australia's largest population centre and makes a substantial contribution to the NSW economy and employment.

"The airport has significant growth potential. The business is well positioned to support major shifts in the aviation industry including servicing the needs of low cost carriers as they expand and harnessing market share as new air routes open up," Ms Mather noted.

She added that under her direction, the management and staff will be "focusing efforts on unlocking this potential to boost competitiveness, and by working more closely with the Qantas Group, Virgin Australia and all the valued airline partners, to deliver the services and products they need to serve their passengers and grow their businesses."

As CEO of MAp, Kerrie has overseen the strategic direction and financial management of a number of major international airports including Sydney Airport, Rome Airports, Copenhagen Airports, Brussels Airport, Bristol and Birmingham airports. Prior to that, she was a specialist corporate adviser, on acquisitions and various business and financial projects in the airports sector.

Ms Mather replaces Mr Russell Balding who last year advised he would leave the role at the end of his five year contract. Mr Balding introduced innovations to the airport management that dramatically improved airport traffic and customer services.