Federal government announces changes to Tourism Australia board

Closeup of an empty conference room before meeting

The federal government has announced two new appointments and three reappointments to the Tourism Australia board, who will oversee the local tourism industry’s recovery.

Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page and The Landsmith Collection co-founder Alexandra Burt have both been appointed for three-year terms at the organisation.

Tourism Australia chair Bob East has been reappointed to the position, while board member Jeffrey Ellison has been appointed deputy chair. Board member Bradley Woods has also been reappointed for another term.

These appointments come at a critical time for Tourism Australia who in the Budget received a record $231.6 million for 2020-21 to ramp up domestic marketing activities to encourage Australians to travel again, and ensure they are well placed to aggressively execute new campaigns to again attract international visitors when overseas travel is back on the table.

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said the new appointments would inject further breadth of experience to the Tourism Australia board, while the reappointments would bring more stability and continuity to the leadership of the organisation.

“Australia’s tourism industry will continue to face immense challenges, and clear and decisive leadership will be crucial to ensuring Tourism Australia plays its part in helping the industry rebound from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister Birmingham said.

“Ms Page and Ms Burt will bring to the board further knowledge and experience in tourism product, marketing and advertising, playing an important role in the execution of Tourism Australia’s strategic and targeted marketing initiatives going forward.

“The reappointments of Mr East, Mr Ellison and Mr Woods will also bring important stability to the leadership of the organisation through a period of unprecedented upheaval for our tourism industry.

I would also like to thank the outgoing deputy chair Anna Guillan and fellow board member David Seargeant for their significant contributions to Tourism Australia.”

The government also recently announced that George Mina has commenced his appointment as Australia’s ambassador and permanent representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva.

Mina is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and has also served overseas as deputy head of mission in Paris, ambassador and permanent delegate of Australia to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and as the Australian permanent mission to the WTO.

Mina replaces Frances Lisson, who recently finished her three-year term as Australia’s ambassador to the WTO.

Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison will be speaking at the travel industry’s most thought-provoking conference, Travel DAZE 2020, next week. To find out more or to register, click here.

Featured image source: iStock/opolja

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Alexandra Burt Anna Guillan bob east bradley woods david seargeant George Mina Harvey Norman Jeffrey Ellison Katie Page simon Birmingham The Landsmith Collection tourism australia World Trade Organization WTO