 What did you want to be when you grew up: Architect or accountant. My knack at organising parties must have won out in the end.
Your first job: I was a farmhand in the rural village of Murringo, central NSW, where I grew up. The most honest work I have ever done!
Your first pay packet: In the order of $65 ($5 per hour) which I thought was fantastic.
Your first break: Landing a job in an operations management position straight out of university at the Albury Convention & Performing Arts Centre.
Describe your current role: To attract business event activity into Geelong and the Great Ocean Road region through increasing awareness of the destination and the provision of convention bureau services.
The best part of your job: The best part of any tourism role has to be the encouragement to travel and engage in new experiences. Oh... and the social networking!
The worst: Spending time away from my partner.
Who has inspired you: My previous two managers have been a great wealth of knowledge and have provided with a vision addicting me to the industry - Brendan Maher, Albury Convention Centre, and Steve Cooper, ex Destination Albury Wodonga (now Tourism Noosa).
Your best achievement: Winning the 2006 Victorian MEA award in the category of Convention Bureau / Tourist Organisation and further taking the Albury Wodonga Convention Bureau to the national finals.
Where do you want to be in 10 years’ time: Continuing the fight for conferencing in regional Australia...
  
Alexandra Ridgway has been appointed director of sales and marketing of Fraser Suites Sydney. Ms Ridgeway has held senior roles with several large hotel organisations, and was previously senior manager with Marriott International overseeing major corporate accounts for the group Australia-wide.
Heidi Merchant has been appointed business development manager of Central Apartments & Hotels to support the new business growth of its conferencing venue offerings in Brisbane. With more than 14 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Ms Merchant’s capabilities span across the conference, accommodation and gaming sectors. Prior to her role with Central she held the positions of conference sales executive and accommodation sales agent for Brisbane’s Royal on the Park Hotel.
 
Sam Cameron has been appointed regional director New Zealand of Gold Coast Tourism. The New Zealand country role, based in Auckland, was established in November 2005 as part of Gold Coast Tourism’s strategy to focus on its key international markets. “New Zealand is the largest source of international tourists for the Gold Coast. More than 225,000 kiwis visited our destination last year alone”, said GCT CEO, Martin Winter.
Virgin Limited Edition, Sir Richard Branson’s luxury portfolio of unique retreats, has appointment Sarah Capogreco into the newly created role as corporate sales manager, and Sinead Kelly into the newly created role as PR manager, both UK based. As corporate sales manager, Sarah will be focused primarily on sales activities to the corporate and C&I markets, with the aim of driving groups and exclusive use business to all Virgin Limited Edition properties. As PR manager, Sinead will assume PR responsibility for Virgin Limited Edition’s retreats globally. Sinead has recently returned to the UK, having spent the past five years working in the Australian market.
 
Sue Wilkes has been appointed director of business development, UK and Europe, for the Sydney Convention & Visitors Bureau. She is the first full-time Europe representative employed solely by the SCVB and will be responsible for building new relationships with international associations and developing new business in one of the bureau’s most important markets. She has extensive experience in the Australian events and tourism sectors and was previously manager NSW/ACT for ICMS Pty Ltd, based in Sydney.
Shahram Saber has been appointed to the newly created role of regional director, Asia, for the Pacific Asia Travel Association. Based in Macau, Mr Saber is responsible for managing PATA’s marketing and membership programs across Asia, excluding China (PRC) which will continue to be managed by PATA China director, Kate Chang.
 
Wayne Horbach has been appointed executive assistant manager of the Swissotel Sydney, with a dual role as director of revenue and marketing. With more than 20 years of senior management experience within the hospitality industry, he is regarded as an accomplished hotelier with exceptional leadership in the areas of sales and marketing, operations, catering and events.
Kym Carter has been appointed general manager of the Stamford Plaza Brisbane. Ms Carter brings with her a wealth of hotel experience having worked with the Raptis Group where she was group hotel operations director responsible for the Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast, the 404 -room Holiday Inn (including overseeing a $21 million refurbishment), the Gold Coast International and the Towers of Chevron, a 720 holiday apartment property. Ms Carter also worked with the Accor group for more than a decade, including the opening of their Beijing hotel, and with Hilton International in Sydney, Adelaide, Tokyo and Chicago.
 
Damien Kitto has been appointed chief executive of the Adelaide Convention Tourism Authority. Mr Kitto previously headed up business development in the major events arm of the South Australian Tourism Commission and has an impressive background in senior management, sales, marketing and outstanding success in promoting South Australia as an events destination. Mr Kitto played a central role in securing a number of major events such as International Rugby 7s, FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball, World Bowls Championships, and the UCI BMX World Championships in Adelaide.
 
Bondie Fung has been appointed business development executive, Asia, based in the SCVB’s Hong Kong office. Bondie will support the bureau’s business development manager, Asia, Sinead Yeo, in mounting increased sales missions in China and other rapidly growing Asian markets. Bondie spent seven years in the travel industry before becoming commercial services manager of the ICI Group where she was responsible for organising corporate conferences and exhibitions for the company’s Hong Kong and China offices. More recently Bondie has worked in the Hong Kong offices of Tourism Victoria and the Singapore Tourism Board.
 
Camilla MacInnes has joined the growing team at The Unique Tourism Collection in the role of business development executive. Bringing with her more than 25 years of travel industry experience in both retail and wholesale, plus a strong background in hospitality, Ms MacInnes’ focus will be on meeting the needs of UTC’s prestigious portfolio of clients, which includes the Sarojin Thailand, COMO Hotels and Resorts, the Maldives Tourism Promotion Board and Bora Bora Lagoon Resort among others. With competencies as a retail consultant and a wholesale business development executive, she is well placed to ascertain the requirements of the travel industry from both angles.
Paul Hermann has joined Staging Connections Melbourne as director, major projects. Mr Hermann comes from Harry the Hirer where he established Harry the Hirer’s successful exhibition and conference division in Melbourne 16 years ago and its Sydney operation five years ago. During this time Paul and his team managed many major local events and exhibitions including the Grand Prix, the Spring Racing Carnival and DesignEX.
 
Andy North has been appointed executive chef of The Sebel & Citigate Albert Park Melbourne. He is one of the many outstanding English chefs who has decided to make this country their home. Andy’s passion for creating an exceptional dining experience spans more than 20 years, most recently as executive chef of Melbourne’s Crown Entertainment complex.
Amanda Simcic has been appointed human resources manager of the Stamford Grand North Ryde. Ms Simcic brings with her more than 14 years’ experience in the recruitment and human resources industry, with five of those years as owner and manager of her own small and successful recruitment agency.
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