When did you join Emirates?

I joined Emirates in March 2011 as a Cabin Crew Duty Manager in Service Delivery. In 2014, I moved to Flight Operations as Fleet Duty Manager. I was promoted to Manager Crew Operations in 2018.

What does your current role involve?

My key responsibilities are leading, directing and overseeing the ‘Emirates Group HQ Crew Airport’, which facilitates 3.7 million flight and cabin crew movements per year and the handling of 1.3 million suitcases. It’s not widely known that the scale of our crew operation in the headquarters is greater than that of Aberdeen airport, which is rated as the UK’s 16th busiest airport.
With more than 10,000 daily crew movements, a key part of my role is ensuring that our service levels, facility and operational efficiency are continuously enhanced to meet our current and future business requirements.
I also oversee a fantastic team of duty managers and coordinators who work tirelessly to ensure a safe, secure and efficient daily crew operation across the global network around the clock, every day of the year.

What are the highlights of your career?

The highlight of my career has been my recent promotion to Manager Crew Operations. We’ve made some good progress over the past nine months in our area of operations since I took on the role, including a restructure of roles and responsibilities, improving many of our processes.
I’m excited at the huge opportunity we have to enhance every aspect of the end-to-end crew journey. Our crew community, which has more than 25,000 colleagues, represents over 40% of the airline’s entire workforce. The chance to have a direct and positive impact on such a large group is the highlight of my job.

What do you love about your job?

I know that it is a cliché, but every single day is different. The scope of my role is very broad so I get the opportunity to work closely with many different departments across the business as well as our stakeholders such as Dubai Police, Dubai Customs, and immigration authorities.
I also have the opportunity to resolve short-term issues through process improvements that benefit our daily operation, as well as leading infrastructure projects including a new crew check-in and baggage system, new briefing rooms and the rebranding of our facility to future-proof our services.

What are some of the challenges you face on the job?

One of our biggest challenges is how we upgrade our facility and systems, while maintaining efficiency in a dynamic 24/7 operational environment. We have just started upgrading our crew baggage handling system, and are investigating how we can harness new mobile technology to improve crew check-ins.

If you weren’t in crew operations, what would you be doing?

I would have loved to become a professional sportsman, a sports journalist or even working in a sport sponsorship role, as it would allow me to combine my love of sport and travel.

What do you do to relax and de-stress?

Away from work I love spending time with my family, enjoying all the amazing things that Dubai has to offer a young family. I have two boys, aged 7 and 6 years, who love playing football and swimming at many of the beach clubs around the city.
As a huge sports fan, I also try and play as much football, golf and cricket as I can. I love travelling and I still get excited travelling to new destinations. Being based in Dubai is great, as it’s so easy to get anywhere in the world with our amazing direct connections.