Vanessa Hudson
CEO & Managing Director, Qantas Airways
Vanessa Hudson is an Australian business executive who became CEO and Managing Director of Qantas Airways in September 2023, the first woman to lead the airline. She joined Qantas in 1994 and held senior roles across customer, commercial, international and finance functions, serving as Group Chief Financial Officer before succeeding Alan Joyce as CEO.
Fast facts
| Role | CEO & Managing Director |
|---|---|
| Company | Qantas Airways ASX:QAN |
| Sector | Airlines / Transportation |
| Headquarters | NSW |
| In role since | 2023 |
| Education | Pymble Ladies' College (matriculated 1986); Bachelor of Business, University of Technology Sydney (1991); Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia. |
Background
First female CEO of Qantas, appointed late 2023 succeeding Alan Joyce; previously Qantas CFO; 28+ years at the airline.
Career timeline
- 1994Joined Qantas as director of internal audit
- 2018Appointed Chief Customer Officer of the Qantas Group
- 2019Became Group Chief Financial Officer of Qantas
- 2023Became CEO and Managing Director of Qantas in September, succeeding Alan Joyce as the airline's first female CEO
Notable
- First woman to lead Qantas as CEO in the airline's history.
- Has spent more than 28 years at Qantas across multiple divisions.
- Served as Group CFO for about four years, including through the COVID-19 pandemic and the airline's recovery.
- Held an international posting as senior vice president for the Americas, based in Los Angeles.
- Succeeded long-serving CEO Alan Joyce after his resignation in 2023.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the CEO of Qantas?
Vanessa Hudson has been CEO and Managing Director of Qantas since September 2023.
Is Vanessa Hudson the first female CEO of Qantas?
Yes. She is the first woman to lead Qantas as its chief executive.
What was Vanessa Hudson's role before becoming CEO?
She was Qantas Group Chief Financial Officer for about four years before being appointed CEO.
How long has Vanessa Hudson worked at Qantas?
She joined in 1994 and has worked at the airline for more than 28 years across many divisions.
Public profiles
Sources
- https://www.qantas.com/corporate/about-us/our-leadership
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-23/salvaging-qantas-just-the-start-as-new-ceo-pledges-more-to-come
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_Hudson_(executive)
Last verified 2026-07-13. Professionally-public, sourced information only.