Our Alumni, Their Journey

My daa International journey began in December 2018, when I supported the successful launch of the GA2 Private Aviation Terminal at Riyadh Airport. In June 2022, I re-joined the daa International team as Terminal Operations Control Centre Duty Supervisor at Jeddah Airport, later transitioning into the role of Guest Hospitality Manager- Private Aviation in Riyadh in early 2023. Over time, my remit expanded beyond guest services. I was entrusted to support a variety of commercial projects, particularly around Food & Beverage strategy and Executive Lounge operations. That evolution led me to serve as Senior Commercial Operations Manager, where I collaborated with RAC teams to resolve operational challenges and enhance leadership capability across the organisation.

My proudest achievement was building and mentoring a team of 11 individuals who came together to deliver a professional and seamless hospitality service at Riyadh’s VVIP Terminal. Watching both the business and the people grow in sync was one of the defining experiences of my 34-year aviation career. Learning was at the heart of our success; creating a culture of continuous improvement and team-led ideation. Being part of daa International’s dynamic network, which places trust and responsibility in its people, gave me the space to lead, shape, and engage meaningfully. I also took pride in contributing to daa International’s broader offering—helping clients meet strategic goals by tapping into daa International’s vast experience and delivery expertise. We achieved success through consistent engagement and collaboration.

In Riyadh, I implemented a blended learning model and ongoing team dialogue to enhance both service quality and team cohesion. The result was not only a strong guest hospitality proposition, but a replicable framework- something daa International can use when entering future tenders. The talent developed locally has since expanded its impact across commercial operations, supporting beyond private aviation. This highlights the broader value of daa International’s investment in talent and delivery culture.

Since returning to Dublin Airport, I’ve brought home both technical knowledge and strategic insight from my time abroad. That experience reignited my passion for innovation and customer excellence, and I now seek further overseas opportunities with daa International to continue growing and contributing. Working in a global environment, I acquired new leadership skills—particularly in strategic management, opex budgeting, and the tendering process. I would not have gained these capabilities without the trust and exposure given to me during my daa International assignment.

One of the most rewarding leadership moments was guiding a newly formed team through its early stages. By opening dialogue and learning about each member’s motivations, we created an ideation wall-a space where team members could write suggestions for service improvements or personal development. This sparked creativity and built trust across the team. The formula was simple: open communication fosters innovation. Through that, we established a collaborative, high-performing culture rooted in respect, curiosity, and continuous improvement.

daa International is truly unique in its ability to empower its people. It offers the tools, resources, and support needed to grow professionally-while encouraging individuals to step beyond their comfort zone and deliver meaningful impact. If you’re self-driven, embrace challenge, and value cultural diversity, daa International offers a platform to accelerate your growth. It opens doors to new horizons, builds confidence, and aligns personal development with organisational success.

Back at Dublin Airport, I’m applying the lessons learned overseas every day. The daa International experience strengthened my mindset, helping me operate with agility, trust, and strategic focus in a fast-moving commercial setting. Working with daa International encouraged me to design and lead training programmes. That empowerment helped elevate my leadership capability and remains a cornerstone of how I approach new projects.

By creating and delivering an on-the-ground training programme for Private Aviation, I hope I’ve contributed to daa International’s ongoing growth in that sector. My vision is for daa International to build on the Riyadh Terminal’s success and expand its footprint and I’d be proud to play a role in that journey again.