Staff Profile - Karen White

24 May, 2016
Karen (Kaz) White has worked for Perth Airport since April 2013 and was recruited for the newly developed role of Manager, Ambassador Program. This involves managing volunteer Ambassadors, often referred to as the ‘Gold Coats’.

Kaz has grown the Ambassador team from 55 to 105 volunteers in the last two years, and they have a presence in all the terminals. Her role includes planning, developing and implementing strategies around recruitment, training, scheduling, recognition, and general day to day management of the team and continual improvement of processes.

 Kaz WhiteKaz studied Japanese, Tourism Management and Business at Curtin University, before moving to Hamamatsu, Japan (near Mount Fuji) for one year to teach English. Her students ranged in ages from 6 months to adults. Wanting to utilise her language skills, Kaz then worked for four years as a flight attendant and Japanese language speaker with Australian Airlines and Qantas.

Four years with the Activ Foundation followed as the Volunteer Coordinator and Team Leader of the Recreation team. Activ provides support and services for people with intellectual disabilities and their families in work, recreation, group homes and life skills. Kaz also got to travel with Activ Recreation, taking adults with disabilities on holidays along with volunteer carers, locally, interstate and over overseas.

Kaz’s love of aviation and travel is a perfect combination for her role here at Peth Airport. You might see her around the terminals with her teams of Gold Coats, or utilising the services at T1 International when she jets off around the world.