Olivia Wirth is Qantas's high flyer THE cocktail crowd is humming as talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres waits to step up to the podium at Melbourne's Grand Hyatt and greet the city's black-tie celebrities. Among the sea of eager guests Olivia Wirth is furiously checking her phone, champagne in one hand and partner Paul Howes by her side. She looks up and grins, her face etched in equal parts with relief and joy. "What a day, what a great day," she says, shaking her head in disbelief. I think we got away with it. Qantas can never keep things secret, but this time we did.