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, Mr Gilfillan had served as Director of Operations for P&O Ports, Australia and New Zealand and as Managing Director of CSX World Terminals in Australia.

He 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 the Corporate Affairs Team as well as Trade and Logistics where he will be overseeing 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 a 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.

Arthur Gillen BCom, MEc, FCPA, FCIS, FFin, FAICD

Chief Financial Officer

Arthur has over 25 years experience at senior executive level in both the private sector (including ASX and AIM listed companies) and the public sector as CFO, executive director, and executive general manager. 

His experience spans mining and construction, telecommunications and utilities, and the ICT sector, where he has worked internationally across a range of corporations and joint ventures ranging from start-ups through to large multinationals. 

In addition to his extensive skills as CFO, Arthur has considerable experience in strategic planning, business transformation and the design and implementation of information systems. Arthur was appointed CFO of Sydney Ports Corporation in April 2008 and heads the Finance & IT Division which encompasses the departments of Finance, Corporate Planning, Information Technology, Business Analysis, Internal Audit, Company Secretariat and Administration.  Arthur is also the Chief Risk Officer for the Corporation.

Annette Woods BE(Civil) MIEAust

Executive General Manager, Planning and Infrastructure

Annette Woods joined Sydney Ports Corporation in September 2008. Her responsibilities include property development and commercial leasing, statutory planning approvals and compliance, long term port and logistics infrastructure planning, capital works delivery, asset management and maintenance. Annette is Project Director for the $1billion Port Botany Expansion Project.

Prior to joining Sydney Ports, Annette was Executive Manager Strategic Projects and General Manager Planning & Development at Newcastle Port Corporation. Projects under her guidance included the redevelopment of the former BHP steelworks site for port use, delivery of the third coal loader, delivery of a port and channel master plan and investigations into channel deepening. Annette has held senior project management, geotechnical engineering and contamination remediation roles with Parsons Brinckerhoff, and has worked with the Northern Territory Government Department of Transport and Works in strategic planning.

Annette is a Chartered Member of Engineers Australia.

Steven Young

Executive General Manager, Marine Services and Harbour Master

Captain Steven Young joined Sydney Ports in August 2009 as Harbour Master & General Manager Navigation Services and was appointed as Executive General Manager, Marine Services and Harbour Master in December 2009. His responsibilities include Marine Operations, Navigation Services, Harbour Master, Pilot Service, Safety, Security, Environment and Community.

Prior to joining Sydney Ports, Captain Young had over 30 years experience in the UK marine and ports industry. He has held a number of senior management operational and commercial roles including; Port Manager at a number of ports and Deputy to the Port Director at Associated British Ports, Port of Southampton, England. He has also been Harbour Master at the Port of Southampton and has extensive experience in navigation safety, vessel traffic services, oil pollution and incident management as well as the leadership of strategic port development projects.

In his earlier career Captain Young, a Master Mariner, served at sea with the P&O Group on General Cargo, Container, Tanker and Cruise Shipping.