What did you want to be when you grew up: I always wanted to be like Kelly from Charlie’s Angels – I wanted to be a policewoman.
Your first job: My first real job after completing year 12 was working as an apprentice chef in a fine dining restaurant with a head chef who was exactly like Gordon Ramsey.
Your first pay packet: It’s funny; I can definitely remember my first pay. After working 70 hours, split shifts and the weekend, my first pay packet was a whopping $163!
Your first break: Leaving the heat of the kitchen and being offered a front of house position, while studying my hospitality degree.
Describe your current role: My current role is very exciting. It’s a newly created position which provides me with fantastic challenges. I am responsible for selling the impressive conference and event facilities at RACV’s Regional Clubs and Resorts; which includes RACV Healesville Country Club, Cape Schanck Resort and Inverloch Resort.
The best part of your job: is that every day is a different day. My work allows me to meet a diverse group of people and I love the team I work with.
The worst: Finding the time to stay fit.
Who has inspired you: My first boss, executive chef Steve Szabo, who is now the executive chef at PalazzoVersace Hotel. I never really thanked him.
Your best quality: My best quality is honesty.
Your worst quality: Being a perfectionist and having too much attention to detail - sometimes I know I need to relax.
AMANDA THOMPSON
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT MANAGER – SALES & MARKETING
THE LANGHAM, MELBOURNE
Amanda Thompson has joined The Langham, Melbourne as the executive assistant manager – sales & marketing. Amanda brings 18 years’ experience working with global hotel brands in area sales and marketing roles. Amanda’s strategic approach and wealth of industry knowledge will be put to good use in her new position with Langham. She will be responsible for the sales and marketing of the 387-room luxury property in Melbourne while continuing to build the profile and reputation of the Langham brand which is an exciting newcomer among international hotel groups.
ALAN MORLEY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EEAA
Alan Morley has been appointed executive director of the Exhibition and Event Association of Australia. With more than three decades of experience in information technology and general management roles in Australia and abroad – including a four-year-long assignment at the Institute of Strata Title Management – Mr Morley has worked for and consulted to many multi-national corporations as well as owning and operating small businesses, with a focus for the past five years in the not-for-profit sector.
SARAH CUSACK
DIRECTOR OF SALES, QLD
ACCOR ASIA PACIFIC
Sarah Cusack has been appointed director of sales, QLD, of Accor Asia Pacific. She was previously director of sales & marketing at Great Keppel Island Resort, and prior to this was the associate director of sales for Sofitel Brisbane. She brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge of the Queensland tourism market, and as part of her new role will co-ordinate Queensland sales and marketing strategies in addition to being responsible for key national accounts based in Brisbane.
LISA DAVIES
MARKET DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
ADELAIDE CONVENTION CENTRE
Lisa Davies has joined the Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC) in the newly created position of market development manager. With more than 10 years’ experience at senior management level in marketing and business development positions across the travel, tourism, accommodation, wine and international education industries, Ms Davies brings a wealth of experience to the role. Welcoming Ms Davies’ appointment, ACC chief executive Alec Gilbert said the market development manager position was crucial, ensuring the centre continued to attract high profile events from across Australia and the globe.
MICHAEL BOURNE
GENERAL MANAGER
HILTON SOUTH WHARF
Michael Bourne has been appointed general manager of the Hilton South Wharf, the only hotel located on-site at the new Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre in Australia. Currently under construction, the Hilton South Wharf is scheduled to open in early 2009.
IVAN SUARDI
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT MANAGER, F&B
GRAND HYATT MELBOURNE
Ivan Suardi has been appointed executive assistant manager food and beverage for Grand Hyatt Melbourne and area director of food and beverage for the Pacific region including all nine Hyatt hotels and resorts in Australia and New Zealand. Mr Suardi, a veteran of Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, started with the company back in 1993 when he joined the team of the Hyatt Regency Dubai as executive sous chef.
CRAIG WOOD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – MARKETING
ACCOR PREMIERE VACATION CLUB
Craig Wood has been appointed executive director–marketing of Accor Première Vacation Club, based in Robina on the Gold Coast. He has an impressive history in the hotel branded vacation club industry with his most recent role as GM and regional director of Marriott Ownership Resorts in the Middle East.
MAEVE CHOMPHUNUT
DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
SCVB
Maeve Chomphunut has been appointed director of strategic alliances at the Sydney Convention & Visitors Bureau, taking responsibility for the bureau’s partnerships with members and other stakeholders. Ms Chomphunut joins the SCVB from the Dockside Group where she served as group project manager for the organisation’s portfolio of Sydney venues. Past positions include sales manager at Dockside as well as other sales and marketing positions at several prominent Sydney hotels.
MICHAEL DAVISS
GENERAL MANAGER
ALL SEASONS KATHERINE
Michael Daviss has been appointed general manager of the All Seasons Katherine. He began his career with Accor in May 1999 in Brisbane, later relocating to Darwin and then Sydney. For the last 10 months he has been working on a rooms division project for French Polynesia.
LEEANN COLE
DOSM
OFF-SITE CONNECTIONS
Leeann Cole has been appointed director of sales and marketing for Off-Site Connections Event Management (OSC) based in Sydney. With more than 10 years’ extensive experience in meetings and events, Leeann will represent all OSC offices in Australia and Asia including Cairns, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore.
CHLOE NOEL DE KERBRECH
EVENT PRODUCER
OFF-SITE CONNECTIONS
Chloe Noel De Kerbrech has joined Off-Site Connections Event Management as an event producer based in Sydney. Chloe most recently worked with Opera Australia and has extensive creative, staging and technical experience. Chloe will design and deliver events for OSC throughout Australia.
JUSTIN BOYDELL
GENERAL MANAGER
RYDGES CAPRICORN RESORT
Justin Boydell has been appointed Rydges Capricorn Resort general manager. For five-and-a-half years Mr Boydell was running two different properties in New Zealand, one of which was a hotel in Queenstown with 255 rooms. Returning to Australia and taking up the challenge of running the larger Rydges Capricorn Resort with 281 rooms he has overseen the resort trade at its most profitable over the last year. The resort is re-establishing itself in the conference market and can only see this market growing with further development of the resort. Mr Boydell has also worked in the past for Bass Hotels (now IHG) and spent 10 years working for SPHC in Australia and Indonesia.
SIMON LEE
GENERAL MANAGER
ESPLANADE RIVER SUITES
Simon Lee has been appointed general manager of the 101-room four-star Esplanade River Suites (formerly Broadwater Pagoda) in South Perth. Mr Lee has 15 years’ previous experience in the hospitality industry, including Hyatt Perth, Hyatt Melbourne, Versace on the Gold Coast, Stamford Plaza Adelaide and more recently as catering and corporate event manager for Mustard Catering at Subiaco Oval and Members Equity Stadium. He said he was looking forward to firmly positioning the Esplanade brand on the group’s recent acquisition.
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