Justin Giddings honoured with 2026 Frank Costa Leadership Award

11 hours ago

2 min read

We are delighted to share that Justin Giddings has received the 2026 Frank Costa Leadership Award, presented at the Future Geelong Leadership Awards on Tuesday evening.

During Justin’s 14 years as CEO of Avalon, he transformed a regional airport into Victoria’s second international airport, a logistics and freight hub and a growing commercial precinct home to more than 2500 jobs.

Justin warmly of his memories of Frank and the support he provided to ‘Team Avalon’ in its early years.

Justin’s story perfectly encapsulated Frank’s most enduring piece of advice which was "never ever, ever, ever, give up”. After patchy school attendance, failed subjects and rejected applications put young Justin on an uncertain path, a job sweeping the Avalon hangar floors lead to an apprenticeship in aircraft mechanics.

In his mid 20s, The Gordon provided the chance to return to education, opening the door to a Bachelor of Commerce and MBA at Deakin University. Years later, his relationship with The Gordon came full circle when he became Chair, a role he held for seven years.

Throughout it all, Justin has remained humble, built fiercely loyal teams and always shared the wins with the people around him. Committee for Geelong Chair Rebecca Bartel said Justin embodied the leadership the Frank Costa Leadership Award was created to recognise.

“Justin is humble and generous with his leadership. He has spent his career bringing people with him while making an extraordinary contribution to Geelong. His story is one of resilience, patience, persistence and heart”.

Today, Justin continues that leadership as CEO of the AMDA Foundation, while maintaining his deep connection and contribution to Geelong. Justin was also named Future Geelong City Shaper at the awards, presented by the Geelong Advertiser in partnership with Committee for Geelong.