Hamilton Island Enterprises has appointed former Sunshine Coast Airport head Chris Mills as its new chief executive officer, while the NRL’s Renae Trimble joins as chief operating officer.
The appointments follows the acquisition of Hamilton Island from the Oatley family by global investment firm Blackstone in late 2025.
Mills brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across aviation, tourism and events.
He joins Hamilton Island from Sunshine Coast Airport, where he has been CEO for the past three years, delivering strong passenger growth and leading major planning and development initiatives. Mills announced his decision to step down from the role in May 2026.
Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Chris Mills announces resignation
Prior to this, Mills spent eight years as CEO of Queensland Airports Limited, overseeing the operations, capital investment and strategic development of multiple airports, and playing a key role in strengthening tourism connectivity and regional economic growth.
“Hamilton Island is one of Australia’s most iconic destinations, and I’m honoured to have the opportunity to lead it,” Mills said.
“I’m excited to build on the incredible foundation that’s been established here, and to work alongside a talented team to deliver exceptional experiences for our guests while unlocking new opportunities for growth.”
Mills will officially begin as CEO later this year.
From NRL to HTI
Trimble joins Hamilton Island from the National Rugby League (NRL), where she led commercial revenue and fan engagement as COO.
She brings more than 25 years of experience across hospitality, commercial strategy, loyalty and digital, including a 17-year career with Accor, where she was appointed CEO of Accor Plus Asia Pacific.
“Hamilton Island holds a truly special place in the hearts of Australians, and I couldn’t be more excited to join at such a pivotal moment,” Trimble said.
“I’ll be working closely with our teams to drive future commercial growth through deepening our customer focus.”
Hamilton Island Chairman John Borghetti welcomed both appointments, highlighting the calibre of leadership they bring to the island.
“Chris is an accomplished leader with extensive experience across aviation, tourism and major infrastructure, and a strong understanding of the role connectivity plays in growing successful destinations. He is exceptionally well placed to lead Hamilton Island through its next phase of growth and development,” Borghetti said.
“Renae brings deep hospitality expertise together with outstanding commercial, digital and operational experience. Her appointment further strengthens our leadership team as we continue to elevate the guest experience and build the long-term performance. of the business.
“On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Chris and Renae to Hamilton Island and look forward to working with them both.”
