Todd Babiak is the co-founder of Story Engine, a global consultancy that uses narrative to solve business problems in North America, Europe, Africa, and Australasia. He is the former CEO of Brand Tasmania and current CEO of Brand Gold Coast. Todd is the author of several books, including What Gentlemen Do, which will be published in Australia and New Zealand on 1 December.

Tim Brady is Head of Heyscape, a Western Australian tourism business specialising in premium, low-impact accommodation in regional locations. He has led Heyscape’s evolving partnership model, working with landowners, tourism operators and government to combine accommodation with authentic experiences of place.

In Denmark, Heyscape’s partnership with regenerative Raintree Farm brings together off-grid accommodation, farming, local food and paddock-to-plate experiences, providing a practical example of how accommodation can support successful agritourism diversification.

Linda Bridges is the Manager Visitor Experience at Tamworth Regional Council and has worked across a range of roles within the organisation. She most recently contributed to the delivery of major events, including the Tamworth Country Music Festival, before returning to the tourism sector several years ago. Linda now leads the Visitor Experience team and focuses on destination development, industry collaboration and enhancing the overall visitor experience across the Tamworth region.

Rayleen Brown is a nationally recognised leader in the Indigenous bushfoods and tourism industries, and the founder of Kungkas Can Cook, a 100 % owned and operated First Nations business, sharing knowledge and native flavours with people from around the world and supporting local community native harvest programs for over 25 years.

Specialising in wild-harvested and ethically sourced bush foods from the Central Desert, Rayleen has spent her entire life learning about bush foods, harvesting, preparation and preservation from her Elders. Sharing ancient knowledge, cultural stories and innovative recipes, Kungkas Can Cook connects visitors with Country through a unique, hands-on culinary experience.

In addition to tours, tastings, cooking classes and catering, Kungkas Can Cook offers a range of jams, chutneys, syrups, spices and native herbal teas, keeping you connected to Country – wherever you are in the world.

Rayleen is the current Chair, First Nations Bushfoods and Botanicals Alliance Australia and Chair of the newly formed NT Aboriginal Tourism Council. She is passionate about facilitating sustainable partnerships between First Nations people and industry and is the co-author of Food and Drink Partnerships for Aboriginal Cultural Tourism developed in collaboration with TRC Tourism.

She has been featured on Channel 10’s Master Chef, BBC’s Great Railway Journeys, and in numerous publications. Rayleen’s work focuses on building an Indigenous-led bushfoods industry with strong cultural leadership, supply chain equity, and global potential.

Lauren Caverley leads sustainability initiatives at Tourism Australia. Her work focuses on supporting the sustainable growth of Australia’s tourism industry, helping businesses respond to changing traveller expectations and encouraging more sustainable practices across the sector, including through Tourism Australia’s Green is Our Gold initiative.

Futurist, Strategist and Researcher Carolyn Childs’ passion is empowering travel organisations to thrive into the future. Her career spans more than 35 years & nearly 40 countries with roles at Travel Research Centre, the International Air Transport Association & TNS (now Kantsr).  She is a top-rated speaker and published author on travel markets, sectors and trends. In 2025 she will be joining place-making consultancy SHP as Director of Tourism. She is a Certified Market Research Practitioner and winner of the Sue Beeton Award for services to tourism research.  A proud ART board member she looks after the Regional Tourism Ambassador Programme and is one herself.

Troy is a WA tourism leader with over 15 years’ experience across visitor servicing, commercial partnerships and product innovation. As The Tourism Group’s Partnerships and Business Development Manager, he leads commercial growth initiatives, manages the WAVC’s tourism stakeholder relationships, and drives the centre’s marketing and digital strategy.

Previously, Troy was the WAVC Manager where he managed day-to-day operations at the WA Visitor Centre — visitor servicing, booking management, retail, staff training and rostering — while also leading business planning, budgeting, tender submissions, and delivering industry familiarisation and product training programs. Troy is a longstanding member of the Visitor Centre of WA Reference Group, having served as Chair from 2021–2023, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Tourism Management) and Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) from Curtin University.

A specialist in protected area, remote and regional tourism development, Tracey is passionate about helping destinations, regional communities and First Nations businesses across Australia to realise their tourism potential.

Tracey has over 25 years’ experience working across a range of tourism disciplines. From operations and regional business management with Australia’s largest small group tour company, to spending five years as the Tourism and Visitor Services Manager for the World Heritage listed and Commonwealth jointly managed Kakadu National Park. Since 2017, Tracey has been a tourism strategist and planning consultant. Her project work incorporates leadership of regional and destination strategies, through to start-up tourism business and operational planning across Australia.

Based in TRC’s Alice Springs office as a Senior Tourism Consultant, Tracey is skilled in working together with First Nations and remote communities and businesses, co-creating sustainable tourism solutions that benefits for culture, community and Country. She was the project lead and co-author of the award winning NT Aboriginal Cultural Tourism Framework and toolkit and Food and Drink Partnership Opportunities for Aboriginal Cultural Tourism, a project recognised for excellence in culturally appropriate collaborative partnerships and balancing ‘cultural way’ and ‘business way’.

Sveva Falletto is the Executive Director of Nature-based Tourism at the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). She leads initiatives that showcase Western Australia’s world-class natural and cultural assets through sustainable tourism development.

Sveva is an experienced nature-based tourism and hospitality leader, having held leadership positions in Europe, the Middle East, South-East Asia and Australia. From high end accommodation to glamping and campgrounds, SCUBA diving to small expedition cruises, Aboriginal tourism to a variety of nature-based experiences, she has worked at multiple levels of tourism management, planning and destination development, particularly in challenging and remote areas. Her work is driven by a strong commitment to conservation and capacity building.

As the CEO of Ecotourism Australia, Elissa leads a team of dedicated professionals supporting more 2500 certified tourism operators, tours, accommodation and attractions and 15 certified destinations across Australia, who are committed to protecting our natural environment, promoting our culture and heritage, and implementing global best practice sustainable tourism practices. Elissa is the Chair of the international Tourism Sustainability Certifications Alliance, a not for profit global organisation responsible for setting international best practice sustainability standards and the certification of more than 19,000 tourism enterprises world-wide.

A passionate advocate for wildlife, marine and environmental conservation, Elissa is on the Board of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Elissa champions female representation in leadership and a mentor in the Australian Tourism Export Council Elite Program supporting young professionals in tourism, and a mentor and former Corporate Executive Board Member with Women in Aviation International. She is also on the inaugural Advisory Committee for WomenTHAT, an entity established to champion women in the Travel, Hospitality, Accommodation, Tourism and Events industries.

Elissa has vast executive experience within the tourism, aviation, government, corporate, and peak body sectors.

Robin Mack was appointed as the Managing Director of Tourism Australia, in January 2026, bringing almost 30 years of multi sector experience in travel and tourism sector to the role. As the Managing Director, Robin is responsible for driving the organisation’s strategies to create sustainable demand for the nation’s tourism experiences with a purpose-led approach to ensure Australia is not only the destination every traveller dreams of, but one they ultimately choose to visit.

Felicia has had an accomplished career in the tourism and events sector across both the USA and Australia, commencing her Australian career in Melbourne in the early 90’s with Tourism Victoria. Since then, she’s held C-suite executive roles in the sector across Australia, leading significant transformational projects as the GM of Tourism Sydney, CEO of Tourism Tasmania, and Managing Director of the Australian Tourism Export Council.

In 2013, Felicia returned to Victoria where for nearly eight years she led the state’s peak industry association as CEO of the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC). In July 2025, she departed that role to take up a portfolio career.

Felicia is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She’s a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, RSPCA Tasmania, Food + Drink Victoria, and has been appointed as Chair of the Committee for Ballarat.

With extensive experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, Catrin’s career has included resort brand and marketing, small business ownership and destination management. Catrin is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s South West, one of Western Australia’s five Regional Tourism Organisations. In this role, Catrin advocates for and manages the destination marketing, development and management of the South West region. Catrin has a deep commitment to promoting the region whilst conserving its environment, ensuring a strong foundation for future sustainability. She has significant experience in fostering wellness tourism, aviation route development and collaborative partnerships.

Catrin holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in International Management Business Administration, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Curtin University and is a Graduate of the Australian Company Directors Course (GAICD).

Australia’s South West is the regional tourism organisation responsible for the promotion of product and experiences in the Australia’s South West region into the intrastate, interstate and international markets. Partially funded by Tourism Western Australia and a member base of operators, Australia’s South West has four sub-regions for implementation of co-operative marketing activities and liaison on a local level Bunbury Geographe, Margaret River Region, Southern Forests and Valleys and Great Southern.

Tracey Riggs Barker is the Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Visitor Information Network, representing 28 Visitor Information Centres across Tasmania’s accredited and associate network.

With more than 30 years of experience across tourism, hospitality, visitor servicing, marketing, accommodation, training and business operations, Tracey brings both strategic leadership and practical industry knowledge to her work.

She is a passionate advocate for recognising Visitor Information Centres as contributors to regional dispersal, local expenditure, stronger tourism businesses and better visitor experiences. Through statewide research, industry evidence, and public advocacy, Tracey is encouraging governments and the tourism sector to look beyond traditional performance measures and recognise the broader economic and community value generated by trusted visitor servicing.

With a career spanning senior leadership roles in some of Australia’s most recognised tourism organisations, Danial has been a strong advocate for building vibrant, resilient communities through the visitor economy. He is the current Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Central Australia, where he works closely with local businesses, government, and industry partners to grow the region’s profile and attract visitors from across Australia and the world. He has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Whitsundays Marketing and Development, CEO of Gladstone Area Promotion and Development, and held the role of Director of Tourism at the Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania.

Danial is also the current Deputy Mayor of Alice Springs Town Council.

Ryan Smith is the Founder of The Access Agency, a practising, qualified Access Consultant (Dip.) and communications professional with a degree in design.

He is an award-winning digital design expert with decades of experience in creative design, communications and marketing. His work as a creative director informs projects relating to accessible information for visitors and his understanding of customer journey mapping and lived experience of travel planning afford him deep insight into visitors with access needs.

He has delivered visitor information projects for Destination Central Coast, Queensland Country Tourism, Parks Victoria, Destination Gold Coast and many others. Ryan has been invited to speak on Accessible Tourism in Italy, the UK, Argentina and Colombia.

A finalist in Queensland’s 40 Under 40, named among Australia’s Top 250 Young Entrepreneurs and an Australian Regional Tourism Ambassador, Hannah Statham is an award-winning marketer, keynote speaker and founder of Media Mortar, a leading content marketing agency.
Awards aside, Hannah’s real superpower is storytelling. Correction, storyselling. She has built a career helping global organisations turn words, images and video into attention, trust, more customers and stronger commercial results.

Since 2017, she has brought that same expertise to the stage, sharing her Storyselling™ framework with thousands of people at major tourism, marketing and industry conferences across Australia.

Equal parts strategist and storyteller, Hannah delivers high-energy keynotes packed with practical ideas audiences can use immediately. Whether she’s speaking to small businesses, marketers, business leaders or industry organisations, Hannah challenges people to stop competing on price and start competing on story. In her world, to do anything else is simply to put yourself in a race to the bottom. Hannah is fast becoming one of Australia’s most engaging voices on storytelling, destination marketing and building brands people choose.

Garrett Tyler-Parker is a research and insights leader with over 15 years’ experience across data, research and strategy. In a world with more data than ever, Garrett focuses on the ‘so what’ and ‘now what’ – translating complex information into practical insights that help organisations make better decisions and take action. His experience spans international and boutique consulting, federal government and local government, giving him an end-to-end understanding of the research and insights process.

Garrett is currently National Director of Analysis & Insights at Tourism Research Australia within Austrade, and Australia’s representative to the OECD Tourism Statistics Working Group. He transforms complex data into actionable insights for government and industry, supporting more informed decision making. He holds degrees in Arts (International Relations), Science (Psychology), and a Master of Philosophy from ANU.

Cameron Tynan is the Executive Manager of Development and Planning at Reflections Holidays. With extensive experience across commercial property, tourism development, and strategic asset management focused on transforming tourism assets into more sustainable and enduring destinations. He has helped shape and grow one of NSW’s most significant holiday park portfolios, leading major park developments, capital investment programs, and key partnerships with councils and communities.

Cameron believes tourism can be a force for good — strengthening communities, protecting the environment, respecting culture and place, and creating sustainable products and destinations that deliver lasting value for future generations.

Liz Ward is a tourism strategist, business mentor and AI digital specialist who helps tourism businesses turn opportunity into practical, commercially viable experiences that customers genuinely value. With more than 30 years’ experience across tourism, marketing, business development and technology, Liz works closely with operators to define their ideal customers, shape compelling products and experiences, improve the customer journey and build stronger, more sustainable tourism businesses.

Liz is the co-founder of Tourism Tribe, an award-winning training and support platform trusted by tourism businesses and destinations across Australia. She has also led major national tourism initiatives, including pioneering ecommerce-enabled destination websites, leading the creation of the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse, and serving as CEO for 10 years.
Known for her straight-talking, practical approach, Liz combines business mentoring, customer insight and contemporary tools such as AI to help operators and destinations improve experience quality, respond to changing visitor expectations and create tourism experiences people love, recommend and are happy to pay for.