For this edition of On The Ground Intel, we’re delighted to sit down with Beau Waters, newly appointed CEO of Hawaiian. Beau grew up in Adelaide before moving to Perth at 17, where he began his career as a professional footballer with the West Coast Eagles. His journey has since taken him from elite sport into the corporate world, including time living and working in the US, before eventually returning to Perth.
Now a business leader and dad to a young family, Beau has experienced Perth at very different stages of life and from both near and afar. He brings an interesting perspective on how the city has changed, what makes it a great place to build a life and where its opportunities lie for the future.
You spent more than a decade in elite sport with the West Coast Eagles. What did football teach you about leadership, resilience and building strong teams that you still draw on today?
Football taught me that people are the foundation of any high-performing team. You can have the best strategy in the world, but if people don’t trust each other, don’t feel valued or don’t understand what they’re working towards, you won’t get the best out of them.
I also learnt a lot about resilience. In football, you lose games, get injured, get dropped, have setbacks and have periods where things just don’t go your way. You learn to control what you can control, stay connected to the people around you and keep moving forward.
Probably the biggest thing I take from it into leadership today is that high standards and putting people first aren’t competing ideas. The best teams I was part of genuinely cared about each other, but they also held each other accountable. I think that combination is really powerful.
Hawaiian’s portfolio includes places that many Perth people interact with as part of their everyday lives. What do you think makes a great neighbourhood or community hub today, and how is that changing?
It’s about how a place makes people feel. The best neighbourhood centres are places where people naturally want to spend time — where you can grab a coffee, do your shopping, take the kids, meet a friend, exercise or simply bump into someone you know.
People increasingly want convenience, but they also want genuine connection and meaningful experiences. That’s probably the biggest change we’re seeing. We’re competing with the convenience of online shopping and everything being delivered to your door. While this convenience is undeniable, it reduces everyday human interactions. As more of our lives move online, we know that feelings of social isolation and disconnection can grow. Neighbourhood centres therefore play an increasingly important role as places not only to shop, but to meet, connect, share experiences and build a stronger sense of belonging.
You spent over six years in the US and returned to Perth in 2025. What made you decide that Perth was the city you wanted to come back to?
It was ultimately about family and a sense of belonging. Living overseas was an incredible experience and gave me a huge appreciation for what other cities can offer, but every time we came back to Perth there was this feeling that we were home.
We wanted our kids to grow up close to their grandparents, extended family and friends, and to have that sense of community around them. Perth also gives you something pretty special — you can have a great career and a vibrant city, but you’re never too far from the beach, the outdoors or your family.
I think spending time away actually made me appreciate Perth more.
What surprised you most about Perth when you returned?
Probably how much it had changed — and how much it hadn’t.
Perth feels much more confident and cosmopolitan than when I left. There’s a real energy around the city, particularly with the growth and investment that’s happening. But at the same time, it still has that incredibly relaxed, outdoorsy lifestyle and that strong sense of community.
I also realised how much I’d taken the lifestyle here for granted. You can finish work, go for a swim at the beach with the family, still be home at a decent hour. That’s pretty hard to beat.
As someone raising a young family in Perth, can you name one thing the city does particularly well for families, and one thing we could do better?
What we do really well is access to the outdoors. Beaches, parks, playgrounds, the river, Kings Park — there are so many ways for families to get outside and spend time together without it needing to be expensive or complicated.
What we could do better is connect our communities and transport a little more effectively. Perth is geographically spread out, and sometimes getting between great places can be harder than it should be. As the city grows, I’d love to see us continue to think about how we make neighbourhoods more connected, walkable and accessible for families.
A young family is visiting you in Perth for just 24 hours. Where are you taking them, and what do you want them to experience before they leave?
I’d start with North Street Store for a cinnamon scroll, then head down to the beach for a swim. From there, I’d take them up to Kings Park. There aren’t many cities in the world with a park that beautiful, sitting right on the doorstep of the city and looking back over the CBD and the river.
Then I’d head to Fremantle — wander through the markets, the streets, grab some lunch and soak up the atmosphere. And if there’s an Eagles game on, I’d finish the day at Optus Stadium watching West Coast.
I’d want them to experience a bit of everything that makes Perth special — great food, the beach, the outdoors, and sport. And if I had another day, Rotto would definitely be on the cards.
You can have a cinnamon scroll in the morning, swim at the beach, take in one of the best city views in the world and watch the Eagles that night. That’s a pretty good 24 hours.
Alone or with the family, do you have a favourite coffee spot in Perth?
Definitely Community Coffee on Mercantile Lane, with Loz and the crew. Sensational coffee and even better company. It’s one of those places where you’re always made to feel welcome, and I love how authentic they are.
What do you think will make your children want to stay in Perth when they grow up?
I hope it’s not because we’ve convinced them to stay, I hope it’s because they genuinely want to.
I think sometimes you have to leave somewhere to really appreciate what you had. Spending several years overseas gave me a completely different perspective on Perth and just how beautiful and unique this place is.
Perth has the opportunity to give them two things that are increasingly valuable: opportunity and quality of life. It’s a growing city with plenty of career and lifestyle opportunities, but you can still have a strong connection to family, community and the outdoors.
If they can build a great career here, have their own families here, and still be able to have an active and healthy lifestyle, I think that’s a pretty compelling proposition.
Ultimately, I’d love them to feel the same thing I felt when I came back, that Perth isn’t just somewhere you live, it’s home.