Current Tourism Whitsundays Board Members
Chris Jacobs, Cruise Whitsundays - Chairman of Tourism Whitsundays
Chris has been involved in tourism for over 20 years now and has always been involved in regional tourism promotion. He is one of the owners of Cruise Whitsundays. They still have a business in Fiji as well which gives him a good ongoing comparison to what is happening here. He is also now a resident here having moved here with his partner and son in January and loving it. Chris strongly believes that this region is underperforming given all the things it has going for it and that it is pretty much our own fault. Too many businesses are working in isolation when what is needed is for ALL businesses to work together with Tourism Whitsundays, to tell firstly Australia and then the western international markets what a fantastic place this is and why they should all come here for their holidays! Bringing that level of co-operation and the success that will follow, is Chris’s primary goal of being on the TW Board.
Adrian Bram, Whitsundays Sailing Adventures - Deputy Chairman of Tourism Whitsundays
Adrian has been an active member of the Whitsunday Tourism Industry since 1996 and is dedicated the ongoing development of our magnificent region.While his recent focus has been Marine Tourism, he has many varied years of experience in Tourism Marketing and Regional Development having held various positions within the Western Australian Tourism Commission, both in Australia and abroad. In 1996 he moved to Airlie Beach to take on the role of International Sales Manager for Tourism Whitsundays and is now Managing Director of Cumberland Charter Yachts. Adrian is also on the Board of Tourism Queensland.
Jeff Aquilina, at Hotel Group - Treasurer of Tourism Whitsundays
Jeff has been involved in various community organisations including the Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce as Treasurer and President, and the Whitsunday Reef Festival as Chairman. Jeff is passionate about the Whitsunday region and in particular what the region has to offer the varied and at times eclectic mix of people visiting the region. Jeff has gained substantial understanding of the challenges faced by the region, both as a tourism industry business manager (particularly as a tourism industry business manager situated on the mainland), and as a local resident. Jeff believes he can offer Tourism Whitsundays a unique skill set to enhance the organisation.
Peter O'Reilly, Chief Executive Officer - Secretary of Tourism Whitsundays
Peter comes to Tourism Whitsundays from Tourism Queensland (TQ), where as Manager Market Development he was responsible for the planning, development and marketing of the ecotourism, marine, backpacking and adventure experiential sectors. In this role he has led implementation of the Queensland Ecotourism Plan, authored the Indigenous Tourism Strategy, and overseen the production of the Adventure Tourism Strategy - including its subordinate Dive Tourism Strategy. For five years Peter was President of Ecotourism Australia, the industry's peak membership organisation, and was responsible for the internationally recognised EcoCertification program. Peter has also fulfilled senior executive positions at both Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat.
Phil Casey, Daydream Island Resort & Spa
Phil Casey is the CEO of Daydream Island Resort and Spa and is the newest member of the Tourism Whitsundays Board. Phil has been involved in the hotel and resort industry for some 20 years. After serving both in the Military and Police Services he specialized in risk management and applied these skills to the various senior management positions in the hospitality industry. Phil is no stranger to the Whitsundays as he was previously the General Manager of Daydream Island Resort and Spa from 2003-2007, and returned to the position of Chief Executive Officer in March 2011. He shares the owner, Vaughan Bullivant’s, passion for providing a high quality product at affordable rates, so that all visitors to the Whitsundays can enjoy a truly unique experience.
Allen Grundy, Explore Whitsundays
Allen joined Explore Whitsundays in 1997, becoming a director in 1999. Today Allen’s main role is marketing domestically and internationally. Since 2000, he has travelled overseas each year and has a good understanding of the international distribution channels. He has also attended the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) for the last 3 years. Allen has also been a Board Member of Backpacking Queensland for the last 4 years, is a delegate on the State Tourism Ministers Working Parties, and is active in the Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association. Allen’s primary concern for the region is to continue to enhance partnerships with stakeholders, to achieve best results for all Whitsunday Businesses.
David Stielow, Cruise Indigo
David first relocated to the Whitsundays in 1991 and spent the first six years based in Airlie Beach as Marketing Manager for Fantasea Cruises. In 1998 he purchased the sailing vessel Banjo Paterson and has grown the business over the last decade to include Denison Star. Cruise Indigo now employs 20 people, servicing approximately 20000 guests per year. David’s time in the region over the last 17 years has evolved around hospitality and tourism and he looks forward to continuing his contribution to the board of TW after election at the 2009 AGM.
Kelli Medford, Boathaven Spa Resort
Kelli Medford has been passionately involved in the tourism industry in the Whitsunday region for the past 13 years working as a senior manager on the islands and a business owner on the mainland. Kelli is currently the Resident Manager/owner of Boathaven Spa Resort. Being heavily involved in a variety of local businesses, Kelli has an in-depth knowledge of what the regions tourisms needs are. As a parent of two school aged kids, Kelli understands the importance of tourism to the community and it’s role in bettering the community we live in for the future growth of the region.
Jan Clifford, Whitsunday Regional Council
Jan has lived in the Whitsundays for the past 15 years, with a strong background in management, marketing and training. Her working life took her from retail & fashion, to hi-tech manufacturing as National Sales Manager with Laser Cutting & Robotic Welding. Jan’s first role in the region was Sales and Marketing Manager with South Molle Island/Jewel Hotels & Resorts. Two years later she started her own sales & marketing business and still travels extensively in an extended drive market area on behalf of the Whitsunday’s and the many businesses she represents. A founding member of the Save our Foreshore and Save the Airport Groups, Jan works with other resident action groups including Resident Traffic Action and Landcare and Mangrove Watch. She was the immediate past treasurer of the Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the 2015 Land Use & Infrastructure Advisory Committee. Now Councillor for Division One, Jan is the Whitsunday Regional Council’s representative on the Tourism Whitsundays Board.
Glenn Bourke, Hamilton Island
Glenn Bourke shares the Oatleys’ vision for the island, to create a truly world-class destination. Prior to joining Hamilton Island, Glenn was Chief Executive of the Volvo Ocean Race, and a member of the board of Volvo Penta. Glenn is both a highly respected professional yachtsman and accomplished business operator.
Glenn worked for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Organising Committee as Competition and Venue Manager for Sailing and Precinct Manager for Sydney East. In these roles he was responsible for event planning, venue construction, project management and financial control for projects including the Marathon, Triathlon and Beach Volleyball venues. Following the Sydney Olympics, Glenn was appointed CEO of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the largest and most respected yacht-racing club in Australia.
Remo Di Benedetto, Fantasea Adventure Cruising
Arriving in the Whitsundays in 2000 and beginning work with Fantasea Cruises, Remo is currently employed as Relationships Manager. He has worked most aspects of the Fantasea business which has given him a solid understanding of the challenges of the industry and the region, from the important high street agents to wholesalers and inbound tour operators. As a University graduate, Master 5, Dive Master, fluent in Japanese and Italian, Remo has a strong skill base to drive development in a marine tourism destination. He has international tourism experience in Japan and Europe providing a strong foundation to develop the Whitsundays’ emerging markets such as China and Korea. As a long term resident, property owner and father of three kids born at Proserpine Hospital, Remo is committed to the future of tourism in the region.