The head of the Halifax International Airport Authority has become the first woman elected to chair the Canadian Airports Council, representing the country’s largest airports.

Joyce Carter has been President and Chief Executive Officer at Halifax International since 2014, one of the few women to hold a top airport post in Canada. She has worked at the authority since 1999, occupying senior strategy and financial roles.

Toronto International Airport recently announced that it had lured away a woman, Deborah Flint, from Los Angeles to assume the leadership of Canada’s largest airport.

“I’m looking forward to my new role with the CAC, the voice of Canada’s airport’s, working with government and other industry stakeholders to provide travellers with safe, comfortable air access that connects Canada with the world,” said Ms. Carter. “Canada’s airports are an economic success story both nationally and regionally, with airport operations sustaining nearly 200,000 direct jobs across Canada.”

Carter is a member of Women in Aviation International and Women in Aerospace Canada – Atlantic and helps promote the role women play in the transportation and aviation industry. 

Carter will also join the executive committee of Airports Council International, North America.

“The partnership and collaboration between airports in Canada and the U.S. has never been stronger,” said Ms. Carter. “The multinational nature of ACI-NA means Canadian airports can continue to work closely with colleagues in the U.S. to improve cross border processes, while learning from innovation and best practices being developed at airports around the world.”

Sam Samaddar, the previous chair of the CAC, moves on to a new role as Vice Chair of ACI-NA. He is also the Airport Director of Kelowna International Airport

Carter takes on the role at a pivotal time for airports, including dealing with declining passenger numbers this year at more than half the country’s airports, accommodating the rise of ultra low-cost carriers, and developing new ways to handle drones.

The council represents 54 members, accounting for more than 400,000 jobs, and some $27 billion in infrastructure investment over the past 27 years.