BAVINA SOOKDEO
Hayden Newton, general manager of the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, brings a blend of academic and corporate expertise to the aviation industry.
In an interview with Business Day, Newton provided perspectives on his professional journey, the challenges encountered in supervising airport operations and the strategic vision he foresees for the authority.
Newton’s journey into the aviation sector is marked by a diverse background, encompassing academic achievements and corporate roles.
Armed with a degree in economics from UWI, he ventured into banking before doing law, earning an LLB at UWI, St Augustine and a legal education certificate at the Hugh Wooding Law School.
His career later led him to the corporate sector, notably at Lake Asphalt, where he ascended to acting general manager.
In 2005, he joined the Airports Authority as corporate secretary and legal advisor, eventually becoming deputy general manager, corporate services/legal adviser in 2010.
Newton was one of the first graduates of the master of science in aviation management programme at UWI, St Augustine.
As the general manager, he emphasises the importance of leadership in managing the complex and multifaceted operations of the authority.
He discussed the critical challenge of responding to various stakeholders – public, regulators, international aviation organisations and the government.
Newton underscored the delicate balance between safety and security, the core goals of the organisation and the commercial realities of the aviation business.
He acknowledges the necessity of compliance with international standards, particularly those of organisations like the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), while also dealing with ageing facilities and the need for capital renewal.
[caption id="attachment_1068416" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Solar panel installations at the Piarco Solar Park in February 2023. - Photo courtesy Ministry of Planning and Development. -[/caption]
"Our focus is on becoming world-class in talent management, prioritising safety and security with a business-oriented approach," he said.
Asked about the challenges of his job, Newton said, "The challenge of this environment is one where you are answering to a number of voices at the same time and you are required to ensure that you're effective in terms of your answers to these various voices.
"We must respond to the voice of the customers who use the facilities, the voice of the government, the owners of the facilities, shareholders (so to speak), the voice of the regulator, because this is a highly regulated industry. Civil Aviation regulates us – they are the government representative under the ICAO, so they must comply with the standards and recommended practices that the ICAO has put in place – and we, as the airport operator, must also ensure we comply with that."
It does not stop there, however, as Newton explai
