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Boeing has announced a new president to lead over Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific region. Air Vice-Marshal (Ret’d) Steve “Zed” Roberton will assume the position, also becoming the chairperson of Boeing Australia Holdings.
Succeeding Maria Fernandez who retired in October last year, the role involves overseeing strategic initiatives, partner collaborations and government liaising.
“Zed is a widely admired leader who is committed to advancing Australia’s national security and aviation priorities,” said Dr Brendan Nelson AO, president of Boeing Global.
“His decades of hands-on experience leading complex joint military operations demonstrate that he has the proven skills and values needed to guide our Oceania operations forward.”
For over three decades, Roberton served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), with 26 years as a fighter pilot, as well as serving in combat units and exchange postings with the US Marine Corps.
His experience in the RAAF has seen him assume a range of commander and leadership roles, such as the commander of the RAAD Air Combat Group, Air Commander Australia, and the Head Force Design in the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group.
In 2014 he commanded the first iteration of Operation Okra Air Task Group across the Middle East, which earned him the Distinguished Service Cross.
“I’m in awe of our broad commercial and defence portfolio across Australia and New Zealand, and I look forward to collaborating with our employees, customers and partners as we work together to define the future of aerospace in the region,” Roberton said.
Retiring from the RAAF in late 2022, Roberton has been acting as an adviser and began consulting with Boeing Defence in June 2025.
