Nev Power leaves airport board

Perth Airport has revealed its chairman, Nev Power, has taken a leave of absence from its board while he deals with charges related to breaching COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The airport’s chief executive, Kevin Brown, said today that Mr Power had requested a leave of absence last week.

The acting chair in Mr Power's absence is long-serving board member Lyndon Rowe.

It comes after WA Police disclosed that Mr Power allegedly breached Western Australia’s quarantine laws last month.

Police allege Mr Power, aged 63, and a second man, aged 36, failed to complete G2G passes before flying into WA from Queensland on a private helicopter.

They flew into Exmouth on October 9 before stopping at Carnarvon and Geraldton to refuel on their way to Jandakot Airport.

Mr Power chaired the Australian government’s National COVID-19 Coordination Commission, which operated from March 2020 to May 2021.

Apart from Perth Airport, he is understood to have maintained his other board roles, which include chairing the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s federation board.

He is deputy chair of ASX-listed Strike Energy, which said last week Mr Power would continue to perform his duties as a director of the company.

He has also recently joined the board of APM Human Services International, which is in the process of raising $982 million ahead of a planned ASX listing.

APM noted the charges in its propectus but added Mr Power would continue as a director.

He is also chair of the Foundation for the WA Museum and a director of ASX-listed Genesis Minerals.

Mr Power and the second man are due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on November 15.

They each face three charges relating to their alleged failure to comply with directions of WA’s Emergency Management Act.

The maximum penalty for failing to comply with a direction under WA's Emergency Management Act is imprisonment for 12 months or a fine of $50,000.