Executive Bios

Grant Gilfillan

Chief Executive Officer

Grant Gilfillan joined Sydney Ports Corporation as its Chief Executive Officer in January 2008 and was appointed as a Director in April 2009.

Prior to joining Sydney Ports, Mr Gilfillan worked in Africa, the Middle East and Europe (Romania) as a Senior Vice President, Managing Director and General Manager for DP World. Prior to this, he had served as Director of Operations for P&O Ports, Australia and New Zealand and as Managing Director of CSX World Terminals in Australia.

Mr Gilfillan also sits on the Executive Committee of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) as its Vice President for the Asia/Oceania region.

In an earlier life, Mr Gilfillan was a mining engineer and mine manager in the NSW Hunter Valley and the North-West of Western Australia.

Lachlan Benson CMILT

Executive General Manager, Industry Relations and Logistics

Lachlan Benson joined Sydney Ports Corporation in November 2008. His responsibilities include leading the
Corporate Affairs Team as well as Trade and Logistics where he oversees the Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy.

Prior to joining Sydney Ports, Mr Benson worked as Manager, Industry Relations for AWB Limited, where he was responsible for the management of supply chain issues for road, rail and ports and managing key government and industry stakeholders. Earlier in his career, Mr Benson developed and implemented process improvements for ports and freight as Senior Policy Officer within the Industry Reforms Division of the NSW Ministry of Transport.

Mr Benson has extensive experience working with government at a Ministerial level and has forged strong relationships within the port, freight and transport industries in Australia.

Lawrence Ho 

Chief Financial Officer

Lawrence Ho joined Sydney Ports Corporation as its Chief Financial Officer in October 2011 and heads the Finance Division with responsibility for Finance, Corporate Planning, Business Analysis, Internal Audit, Company Secretariat, Administration, and is also the Chief Risk Officer for the Corporation.

Lawrence has over 18 years of senior management experience in the logistics and transport industry both in Australia and Asia, having worked for one of the world’s largest shipping and terminal operators. His extensive overseas experience included three start-up terminal developments in China, the last of which is China’s largest single container terminal. Lawrence also has considerable experience in leading IT infrastructure and design, project negotiations, shareholding restructuring and representation.

Lawrence has a Bachelor of Economics (Accounting) Degree, Certificate in Operation Management, Post Graduate Certificate in Management (Intermodal System Management) and a Master in Business Administration.

Captain Philip Holliday

Executive General Manager, Marine Services and Harbour Master

Captain Philip Holliday joined Sydney Ports in May 2011 as Executive General Manager Marine Services & Harbour Master. 

In this role he is responsible for all aspects of the Marine Services function including Pilotage, Marine Operations, Vessel Traffic Services, Safety, Security, Environment, Community and Hydrographic Survey.

Prior to joining Sydney Ports, Captain Holliday had worked for over 25 years in the Merchant Navy and Ports Industry. He started his seagoing career as a 16 year old cadet when he joined Ropner Shipping Services and later moved to Souter Shipping, where he gained his Class 1 (FGN) Masters certificate. A period at University saw him gain a 1st class BSc (Hons) degree in Business Information Studies and then came a move into port operations when he joined Associated British Ports (ABP) in 1998. Having undertaken a number of roles within ABP, including that of Marine Manager for the ABP South Wales Ports, he became the Harbour Master for the ABP Port of Southampton and the Marine Advisor for the group’s twenty one UK ports.

Philip has taken a lead role in the UK representing ports in areas such as developing industry guidelines for Port Marine Safety, regulating the standards associated with Vessel Traffic Services and ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Port Marine Safety Code. 

Alex Nedeljkovic BE MIE FAICD

Executive General Manager, Planning & Infrastructure

Alex Nedeljkovic joined Sydney Ports Corporation in September 2011, as Executive General Manager, Planning & Infrastructure. 

In leading the Planning & Infrastructure Division, he is responsible for delivering and managing the Corporation’s fixed infrastructure assets, including strategic and statutory planning, property and asset management, project management, survey, development management, and maintenance.  The Division’s major projects include Port Botany Expansion, Bulk Liquids Berth 2, and the ILC at Enfield.

Mr Nedeljkovic has over 30 years of experience in managing and directing business organisations, and managing and directing major and minor projects, including complex multi-disciplinary projects with joint private sector/ government sector participation, land development, engineering, construction, infrastructure, and property projects.

Operating over the last 20 years in consulting and contracting roles through his own companies, Alex also has extensive experience in establishing and structuring organisations and projects in the fields of: finance; real estate; property; infrastructure; engineering; and construction.

Martin Wandmaker B.Bus (Marketing & Employee Relations)

Executive General Manager, Human Resources

Martin Wandmaker joined Sydney Ports in December 2010. Prior to being appointed to his current role, Martin consulted for 12 months in the area of strategic Human Resources to various organisations operating in the transport, logistics, and consumer products industry sectors. During the previous 11 years he was employed by DHL Express in a number of generalist Human Resources roles based in Sydney, Singapore and Bonn in Germany where he led talent management initiatives for the organisation globally.

His experience includes strategic talent management, organisation design/development, mergers and acquisitions, remuneration strategies, employee relations, performance management, leadership development, and being an astute judge of talent.

Martin is degree qualified with a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney with majors in Marketing and Employee Relations.