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.

Nic Blackburn is the Principal Event Acquisition and Development Manager with Tourism Western Australia, specialising in the attraction and development of major events that drive visitation and regional dispersal. Nic’s work focuses on securing events that deliver significant economic, media and social benefits for Western Australia, with examples ranging from the development of hallmark regional events such as Pair’d Margaret River Region, Shinju Matsuri and Taste Great Southern, to the acquisition of major international events including WWE and SailGP.

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.

Allison Clark is a regional development and agritourism specialist with RMCG and a founding contributor to Agritourism Tasmania. She works with farmers, communities, industry and government to turn agritourism opportunities into viable visitor experiences, including through the Agritourism Accelerator and work to address the planning, regulatory and “red tape” barriers that can get in the way of good ideas.

Allison Chairs the Global Agritourism Network’s Australia/New Zealand region and is a published co-author on the development of a global definition of agritourism.

Fresh from presenting at the inaugural Global Agritourism Conference in Scotland in June 2026, Allison brings insights and case studies from a rapidly evolving global sector. Her focus is increasingly on a deceptively simple question: as agritourism grows, how do we maximise the benefits for farmers and regional communities without creating the unintended consequences we wish we’d seen coming?

Sharon Custers is the Venue Manager of Saltwater Busselton, bringing more than 25 years of experience in live entertainment, event operations, and venue management. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively in regional venues, developing a deep understanding of the unique role they play in strengthening communities, supporting local artists, and driving economic growth.

Passionate about the power of the arts and live performance, Sharon recognises the significant impact a venue like Saltwater Busselton can have on both the local economy and the broader tourism sector. She is committed to creating vibrant cultural experiences that attract visitors, showcase local talent, and contribute to the social and economic vitality of the region. With a strong focus on community engagement and industry excellence, Sharon is dedicated to ensuring Saltwater Busselton becomes a premier destination for entertainment, culture, and events in the South West.

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’.

Nicholas Dowie is the General Manager of the Australian Government’s Office of Tourism and the Visitor Economy where he is responsible for providing advice to the Australian Government on issues affecting the tourism industry and broader visitor economy and developing and administering policies relating to tourism. In this capacity he is also responsible for Tourism Research Australia, Australia’s provider of tourism statistics and data.

Prior to his appointment to the role earlier this year, Nicholas spent 7 years working on tourism policy issues at the Commonwealth and state level. He has worked in nine different government agencies across his almost three-decade public service career focusing on economic and industry development issues. He most recently worked in the Commonwealth Treasury on housing issues. He tells me that tourism issues are the most complex set of issues he has worked on his career but also the one with the most potential to deliver economic returns and increase Australia’s standard of living.

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.

Ryley Heap is an experienced economic development professional, specialising in regional and remote tourism development and economic diversification. Through his role at the Town of Port Hedland as Principal Economic Development and Tourism, Ryley is responsible for working collaboratively with the government, industry and community stakeholders to improve liveability and economic diversification in one of Australia’s largest regional economies.

Ryley was appointed Deputy Chair of Regional Development Australia (RDA) Pilbara in July 2025, having served on the board since November 2023. He holds a Master of Tourism, Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing), Grad. Cert. in Data Science, Grad. Cert. in Business (Behavioural Economics) and is in the final stages of completing a Master of Economics.

In 2020, Ryley was awarded the Economic Development Rising Star Leadership Award by Economic Development Australia for supporting post-mining futures in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, through tourism development.

​With a passion for promoting and facilitating sustainable economic development, Ryley is dedicated to fostering equitable prosperity throughout regional Australia through innovation, collaboration and a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing regional economies.

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.

Maxine Palmer is the Director Economic and Business Development at the City of Busselton, where she leads initiatives that drive regional growth, investment and community prosperity. With more than 30 years’ experience across local government and commercial sectors in Australia and the UK. Her current portfolio includes the Busselton Margaret Airport, economic development, tourism, property, major commercial assets and cultural infrastructure.

Maxine has led the development and delivery of significant strategic projects and helped shape the strategic direction of one of Western Australia’s most visited and fastest-growing regional cities. Throughout her career, Maxine has led the development and delivery of major tourism and community infrastructure, place-based economic development initiatives and business cases that have secured substantial investment. Notable achievements include the Busselton foreshore development, Saltwater Performing Arts and Convention Centre and advancing commercial opportunities that support regional growth and prosperity.

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.