During my internship, I was given significant responsibility and autonomy to rejuvenate and future-proof the Corporation’s post-COVID pitch to network planners and CEOs. While I initially saw this project as an opportunity to hone my research, quantitative analysis, and time management skills, the most significant growth came in enhancing my digital and marketing abilities. Tasked with graphically designing the PowerPoint presentation and brochure pack, I had to create something simple yet impactful, synthesizing the information I had gathered.
The pitch pack went through multiple rounds of feedback from my managers and colleagues, which sharpened my ability to embrace constructive criticism and appreciate the value of being professionally challenged. Deciding which facts, statistics, and graphics to include often involved subjective judgment, leading me to facilitate team meetings to resolve disagreements and reach a consensus. The pack would get the airport 50% of the way to securing deals in meetings with potential airline customers.
After completing the pitch pack, I integrated elements of it into a travel brochure for Vietnamese travel agents following the launch of the twice-weekly Vietjet service on the Sydney-Hanoi route. I also presented the deck to 12 new terminal Ambassadors—volunteers, often retirees from the airport or airlines—highlighting behind-the-scenes efforts to secure new airlines and routes, and discussing the unique characteristics of the airport's catchment area and how these influence travel propensity.
Given my background and interest in government and policy, I was eager to leverage my skills to contribute to the operational needs of the corporate team. I collaborated with the Government Relations group to investigate reforms to the regional price cap and the regional ring fence—the term used to describe government-protected slots for regional flights that often have low load factors and occupy valuable international slots. I proposed a strategic shift to reform and how the team engages with elected representatives and officials to maximise benefits for regional communities. Additionally, I was responsible for organizing the logistics of a meeting between Sydney Airport’s Leadership Team, Jinan Airport representatives, and Shandong Government officials. This involved creating nameplates, ordering refreshments, and setting up a model China Eastern plane for the conference table and a visual backdrop.
My work extended beyond the office as well. I had coffee with the Deputy Chief of Staff to the State Minister for Transport in my local area, discussing the state of local, state, and federal politics in Australia. I was also invited by the State Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism to her office in Parliament, where we discussed how her upbringing and education shaped her values and vision as an elected representative, as well as the Government’s mission to reduce crime by addressing its socio-economic roots. Perhaps the most impactful meeting I arranged was with the British Consul General to Sydney, the United Kingdom’s most senior representative in the city. Over tea and biscuits in her office, which offered a magnificent view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, we discussed my internship experience, the work of Entrepreneurial Scotland, and my career plans. The Consul General, previously unaware of the Saltire Scholars Programme, expressed interest in hosting a lunch for Sydney-based interns next year—a suggestion I passed on to the charity.
As for my fellow interns, I feel incredibly fortunate to have shared this life-changing adventure with them. Despite our different personalities and interests, we became an extremely close-knit group—a family, even. Together, we explored the Blue Mountains, held koalas in Queensland, attended Aussie football and rugby games, rode rollercoasters at Luna Park, watched a play at the Opera House, and climbed the Harbour Bridge.
I must admit, I shed a tear or two as my flight took off, watching the corporate office where I worked and the suburb where I lived fade into the distance. But I take comfort in knowing that I gave my best to the role, made lifelong friends, and explored as much as I could of one of the world’s greatest cities. This internship not only helped me grow professionally but also personally. It helped me confront imposter syndrome and taught me that if ye don’t ask, ye don’t get!
