News & Photos

Ian Thomas, President, Boeing Australia & South Pacific - Thursday, 23 September 2010

Ian Thomas addressed a business luncheon with 80 senior business executives and presented "Boeing - an Australian story".

Boeing is the world’s leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined.

The new 787 Dreamliner is the biggest selling jetliner in history attracting more than 840 orders from 56 airlines. Qantas is buying 50 of the mid-size, twin jets which will be badged with both the flying kangaroo and the star used by Jetstar. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures fighters, transport aircraft, rotorcraft, electronic and defence systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems.

Boeing’s presence in Australia is the company’s largest footprint outside the United States. Boeing employs about 2,800 people at its 28 facilities and offices throughout Australia. A large number of Australian suppliers and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) support Boeing's activities in Australia. In the past 10 years alone, it has invested more than $350 million in local facilities, plant, equipment and the training of Australians, more than $200 million in local research and development, and a further $100 million in technology transferred to Australia. Boeing has exported from Australia $2.5 billion worth of complex aerostructure components and donated more than $2 million to support local technical education, universities, and charities.

Ian Thomas was named President of Boeing Australia and South Pacific in March 2009. Previously, Thomas was president of Boeing India and served as vice president, Business Development, leading Boeing’s defence activities in the United Kingdom. He joined The Boeing Company in 2001. From 1997 to 2001, he served in a variety of policy roles at the Pentagon during the Clinton Administration.