Key Speaker Snapshots
The Hon. Tim Holding MP - Minister for Tourism
Malcolm Auld - Principal, Malcolm Auld Direct (MAD)
Gala Dinner Guest Speaker Snapshot
Panel Members
Peter Abbott,
Executive Manager, Flagstaff Hill Tourism
Precinct, Warrnambool
Jodie Willmer, CEO, Travellers Aid
Janelle Boynton, Chair, North East Valleys
Food & Wine
Sarah Davies, CEO, Melbourne Community
Foundation
Alysia Brandenburg, Strategic Tourism
Adviser, Parks Victoria
Garry Watson, National Capital Attractions
Association
Peter Broschofsky, General Manager
Environment and Fuel Efficiency, Qantas
Annabelle Johnstone, Group Account
Director, The Marketing Pool
Ian Nicolson, CEO, Service Skills Victoria
Tony Walker, National Manager-Hospitality,
OAMPS Insurance Brokers
The Hon. Tim Holding - Minister for Tourism
Tim Holding represents the electorate of Lyndhurst and is currently Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Minister for Finance, WorkCover and Transport Accident Commission and Minister for Water.
Mr Holding was Minister for Police & Emergency Services and Minister for Corrections, 2005-2006, Minister for Financial Services Industry and Minister for Manufacturing and Export, 2002- 2005.
Tom O'Toole - Beechworth Bakery
Tom O’Toole is the charismatic and inspirational ‘Baker’ from Beechworth. His bakery has become one of Australia’s greatest business success stories.
Tom shares his story of business and community renewal and how he took on a bakery in a small and isolated county town with a population of 3,000 people: from two staff to 200 full and part timers; from an annual turnover of $100,000 to in excess of $8 million; now serving well over 600,000 customers per year; and the rebirth of a community.
Malcolm Bell, CEO - South West Tourism (UK)
South West Tourism is the regional tourism Board for the South West of England who yearly receive over 26 million visitors and have a total visitor spend of over £8 billion. Perceived by many worldwide as a benchmark for regional tourism, their 12 year regional tourism strategy Towards 2015 has been adopted across the region and is seen as one of the best tourism strategies that embraces the challenges of driving up quality, destination management and especially sustainability. Malcolm Bell is their CEO whose previous appointment was as Director of Economic Development for Devon & Cornwall.
With his wealth of industry experience and achievements, Malcolm will provide invaluable insight into innovative sustainable tourism practices for the future of tourism.
John McIntyre, Director, Destination Development - Tourism Tropical North Queensland
There is growing desire among travellers to support those destinations which do not damage their precious areas but protect them for all to enjoy. Equally prevalent is the growing responsibility of tourism businesses to protect the ‘assets’ upon which their livelihoods are founded. The Planet Safe Partnerships Program is a recognition program implemented to recognise Tropical North Queensland products and businesses who are achieving excellent results in terms of environmental sustainability.
John McIntyre is currently the Director of Destination Development with Tourism Tropical North Queensland. He has over 20 years experience in senior Government and private sector program management in: Science; Education and Training; Conservation and Land Management; Cultural Heritage and Community Development and tourism development and marketing.
Malcolm Auld, Principal - Malcolm Auld Direct (MAD)
Malcolm is Principal of Malcolm Auld Direct (MAD) and is regarded as one of the direct marketing industry's pioneers, with nearly 30 years experience.
He has owned Malcolm Auld Direct (MAD) since 1991 and is also Principal of The Marketing Campus, a specialist marketing publishing and education company and has educated marketing executives in 16 countries. His e-mail company BuzzMail, was Australia's first specialist e-mail marketing agency. Malcolm's book Direct Marketing Made Easy is the largest selling marketing text in Australia.
His agency(s) have won numerous awards internationally and Malcolm is a major contributor to local marketing education programmes. Malcolm will use his wealth of industry knowledge to outline some of the leading edge directions in marketing today and provide insight on where we are headed for the future.
Fiona Sweetman, Director - Hidden Secret Tours
Fiona began Hidden Secrets Tours in May 2004, with no capital - other than a small grant from Business Melbourne, and an empty office of a friend and mentor. An innovative idea back then and still now, in supplying a tourism product that breaks the mould in terms of financial relationships, and flexible tour itineraries.
Fiona and her team continues to look for gaps in the tourism and experiential market within their target area - central Melbourne. Her passion for innovation in her own product design, and innovation at the establishments she visits, IS the realisation of creative ideas!
Nicola Reynolds, Marketing & Business Development Manager - V/Line Passenger P/L
V/Line has traditionally thought of itself as a transport operator however, following significant investment by the state government over recent years, is emerging as a major partner across regional Victoria. With patronage growth of over 30% in just 12 months, V/Line provides millions of journeys to commuters and discretionary travellers alike. It is broadening it’s involvement in local regional economies, the environment and, most importantly regional tourism. Nicola Reynolds has over 20 years services marketing experience in both the private and public sector. All her skills and ingenuity are being put fully to the test in her current role as Marketing & Business Development Manager for V/Line as this business undergoes some of its biggest changes is in 120 years.
Dr. Peter Ellyard - Chairman of the Preferred Futures Institute and Preferred Futures Group
Dr Peter Ellyard is a futurist and strategist. He is currently Chairman of the Preferred Futures institute and the Preferred Futures Group, which he founded in 1991. He has been a Senior Adviser to the United Nations system for more than 30 years in which time he has worked in 25 developing countries. Peter is the author of the best selling book Ideas for the New Millennium and of Designing 2050; Pathways to sustainable prosperity on Spaceship Earth. His new book provides a framework for predicting, and becoming successful in, the emerging markets and global economy of the 21st century. The book also describes the innovations, products and services which will enter the global market over the next 20 years.
With an impressive list of credentials, Dr Ellyard will provide a highly thought provoking insight into the issues currently facing regional and rural tourism destinations and the ways in which they can be better planned for in the future.
David Simmons, Director of Research - Sustainable Tourism CRC
The Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) has been in existence for 10 years and has recently undergone significant management change. The core foci remain on research into: sustainable resources, enterprises, and destinations – and delivering practical outcomes to support the long-term development of the tourism sector in Australia. As the STCRC seeks a re-bid of its programme it is important to assess these issues and with sector partners build these into a viable research programme. Prof David Simmons has recently been appointed as Australia's STCRC’s Director of Research. He comes to the STCRC from a 28 year career at Lincoln University (New Zealand), where he has been integral in building and leading New Zealand's tourism research and education programmes.
Martin Flanagan - storyteller, writer, journalist and public speaker
Martin Flanagan was described as “a legend of Australian journalism” in TIME magazine in 2003 after his last book, The Game In Time of War. He is a storyteller, journalist, poet, author, public speaker and is the author of ten books including The Call, an imaginative re-construction of the life of Tom Wills, the founder of Australian football that was adapted into a stage play for the Malthouse Theatre in 2004. His other books include Shorts (1984), a collection of poetry, and One of the Crowd (1990), a collection of his early newspaper writing, and an autobiographical novel, Going Away. One of his more recent books is The Line, which he co-wrote with his 91-year-old father, Arch Flanagan, and is based on Arch’s experience of the Burma Railway.
William Kestin, CEO - Australian Promotional Products Association
William Kestin has been lecturing and public speaking for over 10 years on sales and motivation, internal and external incentives, marketing and work place communications. With over 15 years experience in senior management, his career includes 14 years in telecommunications, three years managing a global training and development company and four years as a Director of two major promotional marketing agencies. William is currently the CEO of APPA (the Australasian Promotional Products Association). With total promotional product sales in Australia estimated at $1.56 billion (an increase of 35% on previous figures) William will highlight the reach and potential of merchandise as part of below the line advertising strategies.
Susan Wright, Director - Q Strategies
Susan Wright established boutique PR consultancy, Q Strategies in 2003 and has earned a reputation for delivering creative marketing communications campaigns and projects in the tourism, lifestyle and arts industries. From devising and implementing PR strategies for new five star hotel openings, international and regional tourism destinations, to major events and product launches, Susan will highlight how PR can be an effective tool for gaining media, consumer and stakeholder support by developing media profile, building reputation, loyalty and delivering business benefits.
Steve Bird has been Chief Executive Officer at the Victorian Water Industry Association (VicWater) since his appointment in December 2004. Prior to this he spent over 32 years working for a number of rural and urban water authorities throughout Victoria.
In his current position Steve chairs a number of committees in policy development and works closely with key stakeholders, including the State Government, to address a broad range of strategic issues which are of concern to the water industry. Steve’s presentation will focus on the role VicWater plays within the tourism industry and how they can more effectively assist the tourism industry in communicating water conservation messaging.
Matthew McMaster, Business Development Manager - Aruspex
Aruspex is a leading expert on workforce planning and strategy. Aruspex’s workforce planning model was developed through years of practical experience and Matthew will use this insight to highlight the need for executives and professionals to analyse internal and external demographic trends and identify future workforce challenges. Matthew is currently the organisation’s Business Development Manager and has been in the software & technology industry for over seven years, working for organisations across industries including Retail, FMCG and Software Development, where he supported & consulted with clients worldwide.
Clive Dwyer, Director of Business Development - Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
Clive is currently the Director of Business Development for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), where construction is underway on what will be the largest combined convention and exhibition centre in Australasia when it opens for business in 2009. Clive Dwyer has had over 20 years experience in the events and tourism industry, specialising in Brand Management, Destination Marketing and Major Events.
His previous roles include Marketing Manager at Mt Buller Ski resort, General Manager at Tourism Victoria, delivering the acclaimed ‘You’ll love every piece of Victoria’s Jigsaw campaign.
In his last role, Clive was Marketing Manager for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, the most successful Commonwealth Games ever held, attracting over 120,000 visitors to Melbourne.