Honourary
Member Award Recipient:
Mr Matthew Wilfred Anthonisz
Pioneer
Civil Aviation Administrator,
Pioneer in Ground Handling & Support Services
Pioneer in Civil Aviation Personnel and Industrial Relations
After
graduating from Australia's
University
of Adelaide
on a Colombo Plan scholarship, Mr Matthew Wilfred Anthonsiz served as
an
Assistant Secretary in the Chief Secretary's Office, 1955 during Singapore's
pre-independence era. During his career in the civil service, he also
served as
the Assistant Commissioner for Labour and Acting Deputy Secretary in
the
Ministry of Health.
After
leaving the civil service, he commenced his illustrious career in the
civil aviation as a Personnel Superintendent, Malayan Airways Limited
(MAL) in
1961. He made
history when he became one
of the first locally born citizens who were selected and promoted to
the
managerial position. He served as a Staff Manager when Malaysian
Airlines
Limited succeeded the Malayan Airways Limited after Malaysia
gained its independence.
He later served as the Director of Personnel and Industrial Relations
and
eventually he held the responsibilities of the Managing Director of
Singapore
Airport Terminal Services (SATS), Singapore International Airlines
(SIA).
He
initiated the
establishment of the "Duty Free Shopping" for passengers who are coming
into Singapore,
through the Changi
International
Airport
or going to another destination via Singapore
as a transit point. Appropriately,
with his vast knowledge and experience, he became a Consultant
to the SIA Group upon his retirement.
In
many ways, Mr
Matthew W. Anthonisz is considered a pioneer civil aviation
administrator in Singapore's
and Malaysia's
civil aviation
history. He oversaw
the establishments
of the airlines, its organisations, its business development, passenger
services, in-flight catering, ground handling and further expansions of
its
services within South East Asia and internationally.
|