Strategies in Action

Background

More than any other country, Australians rely on aviation to remain connected to each other within and beyond our national border. When we fly, we can be assured knowing we have one of the safest and most efficient air traffic management systems in the world.

In declaring that safety will always be the priority consideration of Australia’s air traffic management system, the 2009 Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development released the National Aviation Policy White Paper in December of the same year. The Paper set out the Government’s Air Traffic Management policy goal with underpinning actions that involved major joint civil and military aviation initiatives for Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence, including the development and implementation of a national, harmonised civil-military air traffic management system.

As the two government agencies charged with the provision of air navigation services in Australia, and who together provide the air traffic services and infrastructure underpinning the national air traffic management system, Airservices and Defence needed to come together to implement a collaborative approach to nation-wide air traffic management - OneSKY Australia™.   

The Challenge

The OneSKY Australia™ program was one of the most ambitious and complex aviation initiatives undertaken in Australia given its objective to integrate the separate civil and military air traffic management systems into a unified, harmonised system. It would need to be one of the most advanced and efficient air traffic management systems globally in order to manage 11% of the world’s airspace, take into consideration the different roles the separate civil and military systems were optimised for, and encompass common operational and technical requirements. 

Understanding Complexity

My involvement in the OneSKY Australia™ program predominately began in 2013 when I took the reins as the Executive General Manager responsible for next generation services. Then responsible for this multi-year joint initiative, it wasn't long before I realised that the true complexity of this program lay not in the technology, but in the challenge of aligning the priorities and objectives of diverse, multidisciplinary stakeholders. Later, as Chief Executive Officer, this early realisation provided solid foundation to tackle a number of challenges including:

• Balancing the distinct operational and strategic needs of civil aviation - that focused on safety and efficiency, with those of the Australian Defence Force - that prioritising national security and operational control.
• Addressing financial concerns and risk aversion among key parties which threatened to derail progress at critical stages.
• Navigating evolving stakeholder leadership, requiring continuous re-engagement, alignment, and trust-building.
• Managing approval processes involving multiple layers of oversight, ensuring alignment on national priorities while addressing asymmetric commercial issues like taxation and foreign exchange.

The Approach - Strategic Actions

Delivering the OneSKY Australia™ program would require a dynamic, multi-faceted strategy that placed stakeholder alignment at its core. While the technological shift from analogue to digital systems was a significant undertaking, success depended primarily on overcoming these stakeholder complexities and achieving cohesive alignment. The key elements I focused on included:

1. Building Stakeholder Consensus: 

• Developing a compelling strategic case through comprehensive briefing materials and presentations, articulating the long-term national benefits of a harmonised air traffic management system.
• Establishing forums for regular engagement, fostering dialogue and collaboration among civil, defence, and government stakeholders to bridge differing priorities and perspectives.

2. Addressing Financial Concerns:

• Introducing innovative hybrid contractual mechanisms, such as fixed-price agreements combined with pain share/gain share mechanisms with shared accountability frameworks, to address risk concerns and ensure financial alignment.

3. Navigating Leadership Changes:

• Maintaining program continuity through multiple leadership transitions and changes across key stakeholders. Each leadership change required re-establishing trust, re-communicating the program’s vision, and reinforcing shared commitments to national objectives.

4. Adaptive Program Management:

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, logistical disruptions caused delays and rising costs. A strategic re-plan streamlined the rollout sequence, prioritising high-impact national benefits and reducing delays by 12 to 18 months.
• Aligning all stakeholders on the revised approach through sustained engagement and a clear focus on mutual goals.

5. Simplifying Complex Relationships:

• Implementing governance structures to clarify roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority, reducing ambiguity and fostering alignment across a wide array of stakeholders.

A Reflection on the Results and Impact

For me, the OneSKY Australia™ program stands as a testament to the power of multidisciplinary collaboration and strategic leadership. Despite much complexity we achieved significant outcomes including:    

• Stakeholder Alignment: Successfully blending the objectives of diverse stakeholders, ensuring a unified vision for Australia’s airspace management.
• Accelerated Implementation: Despite significant delays during the pandemic, the program’s replan brought timelines forward by 12 to 18 months, with testing completed at major centres and full rollout commencing in 2025.
• Economic and Operational Benefits: Projecting to deliver over AUD 1.2 billion in economic benefits, improving flight efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and providing advanced decision-making tools for air traffic controllers.
• Global Leadership: Positioning Australia at the forefront of air traffic management, with the OneSKY Australia™ program setting a global benchmark for integration and efficiency.
• Enhanced Resilience and Safety: Integrating civil and military airspace management improving national visibility, operational resilience during crises, and real-time airspace management capabilities.

Universal Insights

OneSKY Australia™ is among the most ambitious aviation initiatives globally, requiring alignment between Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence—two organisations with fundamentally different missions. My OneSKY experience gave me several critical insights into managing complexity in large-scale programs:

Stakeholder Alignment is Paramount: The success of OneSKY was not about technology alone—it was about bridging the priorities of diverse stakeholders. Civil aviation prioritises safety and efficiency, while the Australian Defence Force emphasises national security and operational control. Achieving harmonisation required a relentless focus on communication, trust-building, and demonstrating mutual benefit.

Financial and Risk Management Require Innovation: The financial and contractual frameworks underpinning OneSKY needed to address risk aversion among key stakeholders. We introduced innovative hybrid contracting models, balancing fixed-price structures with gain-share mechanisms to ensure shared accountability and risk mitigation.

Agility is Key in Long-Term Programs: Over the program’s lifespan, leadership changes and external disruptions (including the COVID-19 pandemic) threatened progress.  Maintaining momentum required adaptability, continuous stakeholder engagement, and a clear strategic vision that could withstand external pressures.

Governance Must Evolve with Complexity: Large-scale programs require governance structures that clarify roles, streamline decision-making, and prevent bureaucratic inertia. By reinforcing a structured yet flexible governance framework, we enabled timely approvals and strategic alignment at all levels.

Resilience Drives Long-Term Success: OneSKY encountered political, financial, and logistical challenges. Yet, through disciplined execution and a focus on long-term national benefits, we addressed implementation timelines, secured economic efficiencies, and positioned Australia as a global leader in air traffic management innovation.

Final Thoughts

The OneSKY Australia™ program is a landmark achievement in air traffic management, demonstrating the power of strategic leadership, stakeholder alignment, and innovative governance in delivering national-scale infrastructure. Integrating civil and military airspace management in one of the world’s most complex operational environments was never just a technical challenge—it was a challenge of vision, collaboration, and resilience.

Through disciplined execution, adaptive program management, and an unwavering commitment to shared national objectives, OneSKY has positioned Australia as a global leader in air traffic management. The program’s projected economic, operational, and security benefits are a testament to the long-term value of cohesive strategy and cross-sectoral collaboration.

As OneSKY continues toward full implementation, its legacy will extend beyond improved efficiency and safety. It will stand as a model for how ambitious national programs can be delivered through strategic leadership, financial innovation, and a relentless focus on alignment between diverse stakeholders. Most importantly, it will reaffirm Australia’s place at the forefront of global aviation innovation, ensuring our skies remain among the safest and most efficiently managed in the world.

• Airservices Australia website: OneSKY Australia™ program