Former Qantas boss Alan Joyce discusses his 'cathartic' new memoir
Alan Joyce promises a story of ‘grit, conviction and the price of taking a stand’ in his impending memoir to be released three years after his reputation was trashed on his exit from Qantas.
Former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says it’s been a cathartic experience writing his memoir, which will cover his family life in Ireland right through to the final tumultuous years at the airline.
The book is expected to be released in September – three years after his departure from Qantas – “depending on when we get everything done”.
Mr Joyce promised a “fascinating” read as he delved into his own history and that of the Qantas which he led from 2008 to 2023.
“I’m finding that it’s good bringing back all the history, and it’s amazing what you remember,” Mr Joyce told The Australian on Wednesday at the launch of an unrelated book – the Sydney Seaplanes.
“I’m talking to people and getting their memories, cross-checking and corroborating. There’s a lot in it, and I think it will be an interesting read.”
He stopped short of suggesting the book would “set the record straight” after his name and reputation were soundly rubbished in the wake of his exit from Qantas. A series of controversies embroiling the airline, from the illegal outsourcing of ground crews to the sale of tickets aboard “ghost” flights, led to the board slashing $9.3m from what would have been a $23m farewell payout.
The massive cut was justified by the board’s finding that the CEO held overall accountability for the business.
In the two years since his departure, Mr Joyce has maintained a relatively low profile, avoided media interviews and only recently joined the public speaking circuit.
He said writing the book had been cathartic, and more involved than he expected.
“It’s a big activity. I’ve got lots of pictures (in the book) and we have to get permission to use them; it’s a long process,” Mr Joyce said. “I can’t say much more, the publisher will kill me.”
Hardie Grant will publish the memoir, which it described as a “story of grit, conviction, and the price of taking a stand”.
It was expected Mr Joyce would take a much higher public profile upon the book’s release. In the meantime, he would continue to make appearances for causes close to his heart.
Last week, Mr Joyce addressed about 800 people at a Perth Pride luncheon, donating his payment to The Pinnacle Foundation to provide scholarships for “young gay kids who essentially get kicked out”.
“I’m a lot more relaxed these days. I’m no longer wearing a tie,” he laughed, pointing at his black polo shirt under a sports jacket.
Mr Joyce has penned the introduction for the Sydney Seaplanes book describing the story of Rose Bay as “a remarkable chapter in Australian aviation history”.
He pointed out the waterfront site became Australia’s first international airport in 1938, serving as a base for Qantas Empire Airways and Imperial Airlines.
Sydney Seaplanes owner Jerry Schwarz funded the book by author Carolen Barripp, to document the evolution of the business he said was as much a part of Sydney as the Harbour Bridge or Opera House.
Qantas chairman John Mullen told shareholders at the airline’s annual meeting this month that he had not been contacted about Mr Joyce’s tome. “We would very much hope that if he does go ahead with the book it doesn’t disparage Qantas or its employees,” he said.
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