Boeing has named Air Vice‑Marshal (Ret’d) Steve "Zed" Roberton as its new president for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
“Zed is a widely-admired leader who is committed to advancing Australia’s national security and aviation priorities," president of Boeing Global, Brendan Nelson, said.
"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.”
Starting on 5 January in Sydney, Roberton will oversee Boeing Australia Holdings as its chairperson, lead strategic initiatives, expand partner collaborations and serve as the company’s senior government liaison.
“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,” Air Vice‑Marshal (Ret’d) Roberton stated.
Roberton has over three decades of operational, command and capability development experience from his Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) career. He was a fighter pilot for 26 years and served in Australian combat units and an exchange posting with the United States Marine Corps.
In 2014, Roberton commanded the inaugural Operation Okra Air Task Group in the Middle East for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He later served as commander of the RAAF’s Air Combat Group, the Air Commander Australia, and as Head Force Design in the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group.
In September 2022, Roberton retired from the RAAF and began serving as a senior advisor with McKinsey & Company for two years. He began consulting for Boeing Defence Australia in June 2025.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Queensland and received a Master’s in Management from the University of Canberra. Roberton has succeeded Maria Fernandez who retired from Boeing in October 2025.