Joint Winner

Tony Martin
CEO, Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach

Tony Martin has been the General Manager and then CEO of the Qantas Founders Museum since 2008 and has made many substantial contributions to the Museum, the way it tells its story and its place within the community of Longreach and Western Queensland. 

Tony is a person who leads by example and his impact on the culture of the organisation itself has been considerable. Training and participation are important ingredients in Tony’s approach to management. The Museum has become a place where visitors and staff want to be and maintains a successful balance as both a tourist attraction and a museum to tell the story of the people and planes which made Qantas.

Tony has created many reasons for people to see the Museum as a local community facility. Temporary exhibition galleries bring in displays that would not otherwise be seen in this region. The award-winning café is recognised as one of the best eateries in Longreach. The Museum gallery and lawn host musical events ranging from opera to classical to country to rap.

Tony takes part in and supports many local activities. The Museum was one of the first organisations to offer support to drought-affected families with a free lunch in the gallery. They also offered assistance to Winton when the Waltzing Matilda Centre burned down this year.

Tony’s management has seen the Museum win Tourism Awards and successfully apply for grants to enable the first major upgrading of displays in the hangar for thirteen years. In 2011, the Australian Institute of Management presented Tony with their Rural Remote Manager of the Year award and he is currently undertaking a Master of Business Administration.