Practical short courses help Adelaide Airport staff take flight
In an industry like aviation — where agility, safety, and customer experience are paramount — investing in staff professional development isn’t just a nice to have. It’s essential.
That’s according to Travis Davies, Learning & Development Manager at Adelaide Airport.
We’ve been proud to partner with Travis and his team throughout 2025, as the Airport undergoes a period of significant growth.
The five short courses delivered for Adelaide Airport – Confident and Persuasive Presentations, Critical Thinking, Finance for Non-Financial Managers, Strategic Thinking and Introduction to Project Management – were selected to help the organisation address skills gaps and support future workforce growth, Travis said.
“We’re at an important stage of growth and transformation…the courses we selected directly align with capability gaps we had identified.
“They also support our long-term workforce planning, ensuring we build a pipeline of colleagues who can step into more complex roles and lead effectively in a changing airport environment,” he said.
Looking for high-quality, flexible professional development options that could be delivered locally and at scale, Professional and Continuing Education was the perfect fit for Adelaide Airport.
"Professional and Continuing Education stood out for its strong reputation, breadth of course offerings, and practical, workplace-oriented approach.
"Being part of the University of Adelaide, Professional and Continuing Education also brought credibility and a level of academic rigour that reassured all colleagues, especially leadership, that the investment would deliver real value."Travis Davies, Learning & Development Manager, Adelaide Airport
“Beyond the classroom, having a partnership with an institution of this standing also adds weight when we showcase our people capability internationally.
“It signals to airlines and partners that Adelaide Airport invests in learning through reputable, world-class providers.”
Adelaide Airport colleagues who attended the training were quick to apply the learnings back in the workplace, and importantly, keen to share new knowledge with their peers.
“The facilitators created safe, engaging environments where people could test out new approaches and immediately see their relevance to their day-to-day work,” Travis said.
“We’ve seen stronger confidence in presenting ideas, sharper problem-solving and decision-making, and a better understanding of financial and strategic levers in the business. For us, the real measure of success has been our people proactively sharing their learnings with peers, which has created a ripple effect beyond the individual participant.”
Beyond the practical skills uplift, the courses have had a significant impact on the personal and professional outlook of many Adelaide Airport team members too, Travis said.
"Our people have appreciated the sense of investment the airport is making in their development. Many mentioned feeling more confident in stepping up to new challenges, and some have even said the courses sparked fresh motivation and career aspirations."Travis Davies, Learning & Development Manager, Adelaide Airport
We’re looking forward to expanding on our partnership with Adelaide Airport in 2026, and as its workforce continues to develop in line with the Airport’s exciting and ambitious plans.
“These partnerships are powerful beyond immediate skills uplift,” Travis said.
“They help us position Adelaide Airport as an organisation that takes learning and excellence seriously — not just as a local employer of choice, but something that resonates strongly when we are in conversations with airlines, investors, and international partners.
“In a competitive aviation market, that credibility and strength of brand is invaluable.”
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