STR

AHA(WA) — CEO

Bradley is one of Australia’s most respected tourism, hotel and hospitality industry leader and advocate. Bradley has a degree in International Business Relations. For over 30 years he has held leadership roles in the tourism and hospitality industries and has been the CEO of the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) WA since 1998. Bradley also supports the following organisations:

• Chair, Business Events Perth – WA’s Convention Bureau
• Chair, Australia Day Council WA (Australian of the Year Awards)
• Chair, Hospitality Group Training
• Chair, ECU Tourism & Hospitality Industry Consultative Committee
• Board Member, Ronald McDonald House Charities Perth
• Co-Founder and Board Member of mental health charity, Healthy Mind Menu Inc. Bradley is also a former Board Member of Tourism Australia, serving from 2017 to 2023. Regarded as an expert in tourism, accommodation and hospitality, Bradley has led industry through major crises including the Tasmanian Tourism sector’s strategic response after the Port Arthur massacre, the collapse of Ansett, SARS, the hotel and hospitality sectors’ management through and recovery from COVID 19 and responding to critical international events impacting on the Australian hospitality and tourism industry.

Business Events Perth — CEO

Choice Hotels Asia-Pac — Senior Director, Strategy, Sales, & Marketing

Kari has over 20 years marketing experience in the Franchise, tourism, leisure and accommodation industries. In her role at Choice Hotels Asia-Pac, Kari oversees the sales and marketing functions, with a focus on digital channels, growing existing and developing new revenue streams, and continuing to drive direct business for Choice Hotels franchisee network, comprising of approximately 170 properties. Prior to joining Choice Hotels Asia Pac, Kari was General Manager – Marketing for the Belgravia Health and Leisure Group overseeing the marketing strategy and function across four verticals and eight brands (and 160+ facilities). Kari actively championed Belgravia’s digital strategy across the organization. Kari also held the role of General Manager – Marketing, Strategy and Sales at BIG4 Holiday Parks for nine years, a national marketing franchise network comprising of approximately 180 properties, where she was responsible for all marketing functions with a focus on brand and driving digital sales channels, growing existing and developing new revenue streams and maximizing customer retention. Kari’s track record and rapport with franchisees saw her appointed Acting CEO of BIG4 for six months.
Kari has a Masters of Tourism Marketing and Bachelor of Arts from Monash University, has been a co-chair of the Future Leaders Committee for the Caravan Industry Association of Australia and is a guest lecturer for the Masters of Tourism Marketing program at Monash University. And currently sits on the Accommodation Association of Australia’s State Advisory Council (Victoria).

Australian Revenue Management Association — Acting CEO

Georgina Williams is a seasoned leader with decades of experience in the hospitality industry. She is currently serving as Acting Chief Executive Officer, Australian Revenue Management Association (ARMA) and formerly held the position of Head of Commercial and Industry Partnerships for ARMA.
Prior to her roles at ARMA, Georgina held prominent positions at Elanor Investors Group, Pegasus Hospitality, BWH Hotel Group, and SilverNeedle Hospitality Group. As Head of Commercial for Hotels, Tourism, and Leisure at Elanor Investors Group, she demonstrated her ability to drive revenue growth and develop strategic alliances.
Further, Georgina’s impact extends to industry-wide initiatives. She played a crucial role in orchestrating the phenomenally successful Tourism Employee Awards by ARMA, underscoring her dedication to advancing the sector. With her passion for the industry and commitment to excellence, Georgina continues to make a significant impact in the hospitality sector.

Expedia — Program Performance Manager, Revenue

Fastrack Digital — Group Managing Director

Adrian is the founder and Group Managing Director of Australasia's leading travel, tourism and lifestyle full-service digital marketing and media agency, Fastrack Digital in APAC. Adrian is considered a leader in direct booking strategy and digital growth. He has worked with some of Australia, New Zealand and Asia's leading hotel and travel brands on improving their direct bookings. He has been responsible in some cases of doubling their direct bookings and revenue.

The Ritz-Carlton Perth & Courtyard by Marriott, Murdoch, Perth — Director of Revenue

Intercontinental Perth — General Manager

Anna Edie is the General Manager of the InterContinental Perth City Centre. Anna’s extensive hotel career spans the globe across operational aspects of both Rooms an Food & Beverage disciplines, in new and established hotels, and across a variety of brands, predominately in the luxury realm. Anna has called IHG Hotels & Resorts home for the past 15 years and is passionate about people being the heart and soul of delivering hospitality and contributing to the industry as a whole. Anna sits on the board of Western Australia’s own industry led hospitality mental health charity, Healthy Mind Menu, and in 2023 was inducted into the AHA Hall of fame for her advocacy for the colleagues in our industry during some of the most difficult years in living memory.

Vetroblu Hotels — Group General Manager

Unorthodox. Focused. Engaging. Energetic. These are words most often used by those who know him professionally to describe Nathan Baker. As the Group General Manager of Vetroblu Hotels Group, Nathan proudly stands beside an exceptional and noteworthy portfolio of hotels in Perth, keenly focused on providing guests with the highest level of comfort and localized amenities and services. He firmly believes that effortless comfort and authentic hospitality through key touches are key to every guest experience.

With over twenty-five years of experience within hospitality and the accommodation services sector specifically, Nathan has managed several properties across the country and has a proven track record in capital management to back it up. His overall industry experience can also be seen in his time on the board of Destination Perth as well as his role as Vice Chair Of Stirling Business Association. Having a hands-on approach has made him a good all-rounder not only selling and marketing the properties he has managed but also Perth as a destination to the world.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Nathan has built a foundation for the Vetroblu group slowly solidifying the brand using an acute hands-on approach together with his extensive knowledge of the industry that he is passionate about. Since 2017, Nathan has grown the Vetroblu Hotel Group from inception starting with Ramada Vetroblu Scarborough Beach to a thriving operation of multiple locations across Perth. These include Airport Apartments by Vetroblu and most recently Bailey Parkside Motel by Vetroblu. This success story is even more noteworthy, considering the significant adversities facing the regions and industry over this period. Throughout years of trial and error, testing, and conservative risk-taking, Nathan has developed into a trusted leader in the hospitality industry.

The Hotel Photographer

Mauro Risch is an award-winning photographer specializing in conceptual still life shots and lifestyle. Involved into the world of Photography since the age of 13, he loves the chance of telling stories through the images he creates. A lot of warm and vibrant colours are the unmistakable elements of his style. He became a member of Melbourne Advertising And Design Club (MADC) in 2007 and a member of Australia Commercial And Media Photographers (ACMP) in 2008, establishing his base in the Studio at Aileen Ave, Melbourne, Australia. Hotels & Resorts have become a major subject in his photographic life, shooting for the hospitality industry in Asia-Pacific and in South America.

Kallis Hospitality Group — Managing Director

KHG is a multi-award winning boutique hospitality group headed by industry leader George V Kailis. Mr Kailis’ career spans some 25 years of hospitality operations, management and development with a focus on creating unique concepts
that are market leaders. KHG focuses on taking underperforming restaurants and cafes in prime locations and redevelops
them into cutting edge hospitality concepts. KHG prides itself on being a specialist in developing progressive hospitality operations in environmentally sensitive locations. KHG is also one of the only food and wine focused restaurant groups in WA and our culinary offers are always at the forefront of any concept. Food is our focus. All of our restaurants offer different hospitality experiences, from their décor to culinary agendas to fast casual or semi formal ambiances. No two venues are the same which cements our belief that unique locations require unique offers. Our focus is quality over quantity and we only look to grow into sites where we have a firm vision which can significantly benefit the community.
Over the years Mr. Kailis has risen to be regarded as one of Perth’s most influential and leading hospitality identities.
Having been recognised as the WA Good Food Guide Hospitality Operator of the Year, The AHA Group Venue Operator of the Year and been inducted into the AHA Legends of Hospitality Hall of Fame our track record in delivering outstanding restaurants is firmly recognised. These awards sit alongside the numerous accolades each venue has achieved cementing a proven track record of delivering outstanding hospitality venues in prime locations.

me&u — Senior Account Manager | WA

A ‘hospo lifer’, Ben Kershaw spent the first 20 years of his career working in 5-star hotels across operations and F&B. His search for tech that could enhance the guest experience while supporting profitability led him to jump ship and join me&u in 2022. Ben now works with 150 venues across WA and QLD, leveraging data and tech to create thriving hospitality businesses.

Waders Hotel — Director of Hospitality- Warders / Emily Taylor / Garde Hotel Group.

Mews — Commercial Director - APAC

Hayden is the Commercial Director for APAC at Mews, a cloud-native, innovative hospitality management system. Hayden’s expertise in hospitality management, hotel technology, and corporate travel technology spans across the past 15 years, with a focus in commercial strategy and customer engagement. His passion for innovation has driven him to explore leading hotel technology solutions and partnerships, with an emphasis on AI and automation, to improve processes and enhance the customer journey. A passionate traveller, foodie and adventure seeker, searching for the world’s best hospitality experiences.

Tourism Western Australia — Managing Director

Anneke Brown is a passionate tourism industry professional, having spent the past 25 years in the hospitality and tourism industry, both in Australia and overseas. Calling Western Australia home, Anneke has a strong desire to see the State takes it’s deserved place on the global stage for tourism excellence.

Whilst completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree, Anneke worked in hospitality at the Subiaco Hotel. With her love of travel, Anneke joined Flight Centre as a Travel Agent in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics. From there, Anneke moved to Bali and became the Reservation Manager of the central reservations office supporting 5 resorts across Aman resorts Indonesia.

In 2001 Anneke took on the role of global Director of Training with Aman Resorts, and was part of the project team for 8 resort openings in Cambodia, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean.  In Australia Anneke has held management roles in Margaret River, and in central Australia as the Resort Manager of Longitude 131 at Uluru. In 2010 Anneke moved back to Perth and became the WA General Manager of an Australian Registered Training Organisation, delivering hospitality training across the Pilbara. In 2014 Anneke joined the Old Treasury Buildings refurbishment project and took on the role of General Manager of the award-winning COMO The Treasury hotel from 2015 - 2020.

Anneke’s passion for Western Australia and the tourism industry led her to forming Anneke Brown Consulting in 2020, specialising in hospitality and tourism projects.  Bringing international standards to hotel design and operations, along with excellence in training and education, the business provides solutions to local and international organisations with the desire to elevate their offering.

Anneke holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a founding member and former Chair of Women in Tourism and Hospitality WA, Board Member of the Rottnest Island Authority and a former Commissioner on the Board of Tourism WA.

Crown Perth Hotels at Crown Perth — Executive General Manager

Andrew Cairns – Executive General Manager, Crown Hotels Perth
Andrew is part of the Executive team for Crown Perth and responsible for the operational and strategic planning of the Crown Perth Hotels portfolio, comprising Crown Towers Perth, Crown Metropol Perth and Crown Promenade.

Andrew has over twenty-five years’ experience in the hospitality industry, both domestically and internationally. He has had a lifelong passion for hospitality and kicked off his career, spending six years with Hyatt Hotels before moving into other roles including Group Manager – Tourism at General Travel (Australia), Property and Operations Management roles within TFE Hotels and time in the UK with The Hempel Hotel – London.

Throughout his career, Andrew has gained an extensive knowledge of operational, personnel and marketing strategies to ensure the success and effectiveness of various business entities. He has a management style that strives to create an inclusive culture with a strong sense of commitment, ownership and self-motivation within all employees. In his executive capacity, he has worked collaboratively to develop company brand values to enhance the customer and employee experience and drive positive business returns.

Andrew has developed strong stakeholder networks within Perth to assist in wider beneficial tourism strategies and currently holds the role of Accommodation Division President for the AHA WA.

Accor Hotels WA — Senior Director of Revenue

Margaret River Holiday Cottages — Hotel Owner

The Gerald Apartment Hotel, Geraldton — General Manager

Gemma Clark is a seasoned hospitality professional with a passion for curating unparalleled guest experiences. Currently serving as the General Manager at The Gerald Apartment Hotel in Geraldton, Gemma brings a wealth of expertise and a dedication to providing memorable, personable service that transforms every stay into the ultimate home away from home.

With a solid background as the award winner of AHAWA Hotel Executive Manager in 2023, Gemma has honed her skills in customer service, people management, and administration. Her resourcefulness and experience enable her to orchestrate optimal resource utilization, ensuring that operational needs are not just met but exceeded.

Accor — Accor - Vice President Operations – Western Australia, Tasmania & Fragrance Group

Nathan Frost is not only a seasoned leader in the hospitality industry but also a dedicated mentor and coach, passionate about the development of team members. As the Portfolio General Manager of Operations for WA and Fragrance Group, Nathan oversees a vast portfolio of hotels stretching from Mandurah to Karratha, with additional properties in Tasmania and Melbourne. His journey in hospitality began over 25 years ago when he graduated from the prestigious Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School in 1998, setting the foundation for a career marked by innovation, excellence, and a genuine commitment to his team's growth.

Having completed ACCOR’s National Management Traineeship in 2002, Nathan's leadership journey has been defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a deep-seated passion for hospitality. Throughout his tenure with ACCOR, Nathan has held senior management roles across Australia and New Zealand, where he has demonstrated a keen ability to foster talent and inspire his team members to reach their full potential. He believes in creating a supportive and nurturing environment where team members can thrive and grow, recognizing that their development is integral to the success of the organization.

In addition to his operational prowess, Nathan is a fervent advocate for leveraging technology to enhance guest experiences and streamline hotel operations. With a keen understanding of the evolving landscape of technology in hospitality, Nathan is committed to striking the perfect balance between simplifying procedures and maximizing guest satisfaction and interaction. His innovative approach has led to the implementation of solutions that seamlessly integrate into the guest experience, ensuring a harmonious blend of efficiency and hospitality.

Beyond his professional achievements, Nathan prioritizes his own well-being, starting most mornings with a visit to the gym to recharge both his mind and body. On weekends, you'll often find him hitting the waves, indulging in his love for surfing and embracing the natural beauty of the coast. These moments of relaxation and rejuvenation not only fuel Nathan's personal passions but also serve as a source of inspiration and creativity in his professional life. Nathan is a dedicated husband to his wife Victoria and a loving father to his two children, Lachlan and Mikayla.

BWH Hotels — Managing Director Australasia

Hilton Garden Inn Albany — Cluster Hotel Manager

Steve is a widely experienced hospitality manager that has dedicated over 25 years to the industry. Gaining experience throughout Australia & Overseas he has a wealth of knowledge of the Hospitality & Tourism industry within an international chain.

Steve’s operational knowledge has been developed through large projects assisting with refurbishments, managing teams throughout multiple locations and opening the first Hilton Garden Inn within the Australasian region, located in Albany and more recently opening Hilton Garden Inn Busselton.

Conference Organiser, Maximum Occupancy, Managing Director, Fastrack Group — Conference Organiser

IHG — Area Director of Sales and Marketing

WA Government — Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Transport; Tourism

Rita Saffioti was elected to State Parliament in 2008 for the electorate of West Swan, and became a Shadow Minister in 2013.

In 2017, Rita was appointed Minister for Transport and Planning in the McGowan Government.

Following the re-election of the Labor Government in March 2021, Rita was reappointed as the Minister for Transport and Planning, while also being named as the Minister for Ports.

Oversight of the Transport, Planning and Ports portfolios gives Rita the opportunity to take an integrated approach to transport and land use planning, and responsibility of delivering the Governments major METRONET project.

There are now a range of major road and rail projects across the state that are either underway or completed.

This year alone she is overseeing the construction of major METRONET projects, almost 40 major road projects.

Rita’s priority is to see the State of Western Australia thrive through planning reform and a first class transport network.

Some of her proudest achievements include returning railcar manufacturing to Western Australia, starting construction on the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line and securing record funding from the Commonwealth to upgrade regional roads.

After finishing her schooling at Kelmscott Senior High School, Rita gained a Bachelor of Business at Curtin University before moving to Canberra to work at the Department of Finance and then returning to Western Australia to work at the Department of Treasury.

In 1997 Rita commenced working for then Opposition Leader Geoff Gallop as an economic adviser, continuing this role into Government before ultimately becoming Chief of Staff to Premier Alan Carpenter.

Rita has three young children, a 11 -year-old and nine-year-old twins. When not at Parliament, Rita can usually be found with her family at the footy cheering on her team, the Fremantle Dockers.Saff

Lighthouse — Business Development Manager ANZ & Pacific

BIG4 Holiday Parks — CEO

Accomplished marketing strategist Sean Jenner was appointed Chief Executive Officer of BIG4 Holiday Parks in July 2021 to steer its network of more than 200 holiday parks and partners through its post-pandemic business recovery and beyond. Sean has more than two decades’ marketing and commercial experience, previously holding senior positions at some of Australia’s and the world’s leading brands including Nike, Virgin, Starbucks and Myer, while based in Australia and Europe. Most recently, Sean was Head of Marketing at SWEAT, a highly successful global technology start-up in the health and fitness sector.

Sean’s expertise and passion for digital transformation has come to the fore in his leadership of the development and execution of BIG4 Holiday Parks’ new digital strategy, aimed at aggressively expanding the brand’s digital footprint across the country as well as strengthening its overall brand. A key enabler of this transformation is for BIG4.com.au to be the leading portal for Australian holiday parks. A major component of the digital strategy and BIG4’s evolution has been the expansion and improvement of its website (BIG4.com.au) to better meet the needs of customers and trends towards ease, choice and user experience.

During his first two years as CEO, the company has achieved 30% growth in online revenue, brought 40+ new parks into the BIG4 network and launched the brand’s largest ever brand campaign.

Sean is based in Melbourne, married and a father of two young boys. He is an avid runner, movie lover and wine enthusiast.

Horwath HTL — Manager, Perth

Martyna is a seasoned hospitality industry professional with over 15 years of experience spanning across Poland and Australia. As a Manager at Horwath HTL in the Perth office, she represents the company in Western Australia while undertaking assignments and conducting market research across Australia, New Zealand, and the North Pacific region. Specializing in feasibility assessment, branding and positioning strategy, operator selection processes, and expert witness assistance, Martyna ensures projects are strategically aligned with market conditions to maximize their future potential.

With a focus on in-market research, supply and demand analysis, and concept development, Martyna collaborates directly with investors and owners to drive project success. Her expertise extends to conducting operator search and selection processes, further enhancing project viability.

Martyna's journey includes diverse roles encompassing event management, sales and revenue management, business development, and client relations within independent hotels and global hotel brand companies before joining Horwath HTL. Over the last five years with Horwath HTL, initially based in Sydney and later relocating to Perth, Martyna has continuously demonstrated her dedication to the sustainable hotel market development.

Beyond her professional commitments, Martyna contributes to academia as a casual lecturer at Torrens University and Kaplan Business School, where she lectures subjects, such as hotel investment and destination and visitor management. Martyna holds a Masters in International Hotel Management from the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School and is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy at Torrens University, focusing on destination competitiveness models.

Otelier — VP of Sales, APAC

Joey is a seasoned sales and revenue management professional with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. She has worked with global international and regional chains like FRHI, Four Seasons, Meritus, Stamford and Banyan Tree as well as hospitality technology firms like TravelClick/Amadeus, IDeaS, Rainmaker and Cendyn. Joey is currently based in Singapore but her career has led her to places such as Australia, China, Dubai and Thailand. As VP of Sales for Otelier, she is involved in all aspects of growing the company’s footprint in Asia Pacific with a focus on sales and marketing and account management. Joey is also currently serving as President on the board of HSMAI Singapore.

Google — Industry Manager, Travel

Swiss Belhotel International — Chairman and President at Swiss-Belhotel International

The Shores Motel Group — Chief Operating Officer

Alloggio — Founder & CEO

Australian Revenue Management Association — CEO

REVINATE — General Manager, APAC

Revinate — Senior Sales Manager, APAC

Joel Lee is passionate about driving revenue growth and enhancing guest experiences through cutting-edge technology solutions. Currently serving as the Senior Sales Manager, APAC at Revinate, Joel proactively connects with hoteliers across the region, assisting them in boosting their revenue.

Data Expert & Consultant

STR — Business Development Manager, Pacific

Paul Hammond is the Business Development Manager, Pacific at STR, a global company who collects performance data from accommodation properties all over the world and provides aggregated reports and insights on market performance for accommodation providers and custom groups, which enables them to make better business decisions.

Paul has over 30 years of experience in tourism & hospitality in a variety of management and sales & marketing roles with numerous Hotels and Hotel Chains nationally and internationally with independent hotels such as Palazzo Versace and global chains including Hyatt and Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG). Paul has also had extensive experience in the Online Travel (OTA) industry with global companies Orbitz, part of the Expedia Group, and Booking.com, as well as major sports projects including the Nagano Winter Olympics in Japan and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) organising committee.

STR — Account Manager - Pacific

Jo has over 20 + years of experience in tourism & hospitality, and more than 10 years in the Corporate Travel industry with global company FCM, part of the Flight Centre Travel Group. With a passion for analysis, and with more than 2 years under her belt with STR CoStar Group, she works to increase the engagement in hospitality data intelligence and provide clarity to decision making for hospitality, research and investment companies across the region. She supports global hotel groups and large property portfolio’s across the Pacific. Jo frequently presents the latest trends and updates at industry events.

STR, part of the CoStar Group, is a global company who tracks supply and demand data for the hotel industry and provides valuable market share analysis, aggregated reports and insights on performance for accommodation providers, investment companies and agencies, tourism bodies and custom groups, which enables them to make better business decisions.

Ted Horner & Associates Pty Ltd — Managing Director

In 1989, he established E Horner & Associates Pty Ltd a Consulting Practice specializing in Technology Consulting to the Hospitality Industry and he is now widely respected as Australia's leading consultant in this area.

In 1996 created Australia’s first dedicated Hotel Technology Exhibition which ran for more than 10 years before it was sold to a UK based conference vendor

In 2002 he was a founding member of HTNG ( Hotel Technology Next Generation ) a not for profit body which was established in the US to promote open systems integrations between vendors in the industry and today he is an Executive Advisor to HTNG In 2022 HTNG became part of the American Lodging Hotel Association

In 2004 he was the first non US person to be elected to the HITEC Technology Hall of Fame for his contribution to the advancement of technology in the hospitality industry .

In 2012 created a new conference called Teds Technology Summit which is designed to educate senior decision makers on latest technology trends and it has now become Australia’s leading hotel technology conference

In 2014 was elected to the International Board of Directors of Hotel Technology Financial Professionals (HFTP ) who run the largest hotel technology exhibition/conference in the world (HITEC ) and he served on this board for 3 years

He has done consulting assignments in the following countries over the last 33 years
Australia , New Zealand , Singapore , Indonesia , Sri Lanka , USA , Malaysia , Dubai, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji

La Vie Hotels & Resorts — Group Director of Commercial

Selina — Chief Operating Officer

BWH Hotels — Director of Revenue Optimisation

Kristy is based in Sydney as the current Director of Revenue Optimisation for BWH Hotel Group Australasia, leading the Revenue Management team to optimise distribution channels, drive revenue performance and educate hotel owners in effectively implementing revenue management strategies. She is a highly experienced and respected revenue analysis expert with nearly 20 years of experience in delivering technology-led solutions across the Australasia hospitality sector. As a strong supporter of revenue enhancement, Kristy works closely with each hotel in the BWH portfolio to support them in making smarter revenue and distribution decisions. With a strong commercial awareness and implementation of successful system projects, she plays an integral role in contributing to BWH hotels surpassing their financial targets.

Fastrack Digital — Digital Marketing Specialist

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia — CEO

Merivale — General Manager New Projects

Fastrack Digital — Digital Marketing Manager

Fastrack Digital — Lead SEO Specialist

Launch Us — Founder & Director

Encore — Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships Asia Pacific

Business Events Sydney — Strategic Partnerships Manager

Shiji Review Pro — Director of Sales Asia Pacific

As a Sales Director at Shiji Group, Avril’s passion is supporting the hospitality industry to deliver exceptional guest experiences. Responsible for developing the sales and growth of Shiji in Australia & New Zealand, Avril works with accommodation and tourism brands to help them gain and act upon the unique insights provided via ReviewPro’s Guest Experience Platform. Avril has more than 20 years experience in hospitality and travel in Australia and Europe, including strategic roles at TripAdvisor, Orbitz, and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

Ananas Consulting — Managing Director

Michael Smith, Managing Director of Ananas Consulting, brings over 25 years of experience in management and leadership within global hotel companies. Known for his entrepreneurial flair and financial acumen, Michael excels in building strong relationships with clients, employees, and industry leaders. His passion for creating unparalleled experiences for all stakeholders is evident in his commitment to excellence and delivering exceptional results. At Ananas Consulting, Michael leverages his extensive expertise to oversee projects meticulously, driving success and growth in the hospitality industry.

Trilogy Hotels — Chief Commercial Officer

Accor Plus — CEO

Renae Trimble, a seasoned professional in the hospitality industry, was appointed CEO of Accor Plus, Asia Pacific, in February 2023. With a remarkable career spanning over 25 years, Renae has dedicated over 15 years of her expertise to Accor, showcasing a deep understanding of the company's operations and values.

In her role as CEO, Renae is responsible for overseeing the growth and development of Accor Plus across Asia Pacific, ensuring the programme continues to provide valuable benefits and experiences for its 435,000 members. Spanning more than 20 countries and including more than 1,000 participating hotels, the Accor Plus loyalty programme is designed to give members access to incredible experiences, bonus night stays, and discounted dining and accommodation options, wherever they travel across the Asia Pacific region.

Before taking on the CEO position of Accor Plus, Renae spent 5 years leading the Commercial Division for Accor Pacific where she was charged with driving commercial performance, strategy, loyalty, distribution and revenue for the hotel group. Prior to this,
Renae held numerous senior executive roles at Accor, in regional operations and with Accor’s central team – including Sales, Loyalty, Digital and Marketing.

During her time at Accor, Renae played an integral role in two major acquisition integrations during her time at Accor Hotels – with the integration of Mirvac in 2012 and Mantra in 2019. In addition, Renae led the launch of Accor’s leading lifestyle loyalty programme, ALL (Accor Live Limitless), which provides members with incredible experiences that go beyond the hotel stay and enable them to enjoy experiences, encounters and events that money simply can’t buy.

Trip.com — Head of Oceania

Park Hyatt Sydney — Director of Revenue Management

TikTok — Client Partner

Accor — Director of Revenue - Apartments and Realty

Lynn is currently Director of Revenue for Accor, working with A&R. She has been with Accor/ Mantra since 2016, during this time she has overseen properties across the country including 4 years looking after WA.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney — Director of Sales & Marketing

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney — Hotel Manager

Owsin is a seasoned hotel professional with over 32 years’ experience primarily in F&B and is currently the Hotel Manager at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney. He has worked across two Globally recognised hotel chains in Asia- Pacific besides the Radisson Hotel Group he has worked with the various hotels within the Taj Group of hotels. During his career in F&B he has launched restaurants in the hotel environment, initiated concepts in pre-openings and managed the big Indian weddings.Oswin has been a guest lecturer at hospitality institutes and was the Chairperson of the industry advisory committee at the Kenvale college. He is currently a part of the industry group contributing towards developing the new Cert III in Tourism (Visitor Economy) for Tafe NSW in conjunction with NSW department of education initiative of its “Launch Your Career” project.

Lylo — Managing Director

Salter Brothers Hospitality — Portfolio Manager

Wesley has almost 20 years’ experience in the hotels sectors, with extensive experience working in locations across Australia and throughout the Pacific Region.

Wesley commenced with Salter Brothers in 2022 as a Senior Manager within the Capital Transactions team, transitioning into the Portfolio Manager for the Retreat Fund which includes 13 boutique luxury assets located in Queensland, NSW and SA. Prior to joining Salter Brothers, Wesley had 2 years with Elanor as the Director of Investment for the Hotels and Tourism Group and 14 years at CBRE where he was the National Director of the Hotels Valuation business.

ACI HR Solutions — Founder & CEO

Andrew Chan, MBA is the Founder and CEO of ACI HR Solutions ( Asia Pacific's largest recruitment agency dedicated to the travel and hospitality sector He is responsible for the company's overall operations and strategic direction. He has worked in many facets of the industry, commencing his career as a Travel Agent in
Australia and subsequently joining the airline industry, working with Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines in customer service and business development roles.

Andrew furthered his experience by entering the hospitality sector, working for brands such as Stamford Hotels Resorts and the Carlton Hotel Group, and later joining Hospitality Marketing Concepts ( as their Director of Business Development, overseeing all sales and marketing activities in Australia, New Zealand and Asia In 2005 Andrew took his wealth of industry experience into the world of Executive Search and was appointed CEO of a major recruitment firm before founding ACI in October 2012. He has since established himself as one of the leading human capital experts in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector.

Hotel Etico Australia — Co-Founder & CEO

National Media — Chief Executive Officer

Hotel X — General Manager

Jeremy Colahan, General Manager, Hotel X a Vignette Collection. With over 20 years’ experience in Hospitality across Australia, Jeremy has found his comfort zone in uncomfortable environments. His career took off with several highly-anticipated pre-openings for international brands new to market, including introducing the Four Points by Sheraton into the Brisbane market, and The Westin into Perth. Hotel X is now in its third year, since opening in a pandemic, and continuing exceptional growth.

Tourism Australia — Executive General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Government and Industry

Macquarie University + Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence — Founder & Director

Prof. Dr. Amin Beheshti is a Full Professor of Data Science at Macquarie University, and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at UNSW Sydney, Australia. Amin is the founder and director of the Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence, the head of the Data Science Lab, and the founder of the Big Data Society at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Amin completed his PhD and Postdoc in Computer Science and Engineering at UNSW Sydney, and holds a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, both with First Class Honours. Before starting his PhD in 2009, Amin had over a decade of industry experience as a founder and CEO, consultant, and Solution Architect in national and international organizations. Alongside his teaching activities, Amin has made significant contributions to research projects and successfully secured 40+ research projects (Over $32 million in Research Funding). Amin received prestigious awards, including Excellence Award (Macquarie University, 2023), Excellence in Research Innovation, Partnership Entrepreneurship (Macquarie University, 2022), National Security Impact Award (D2D CRC, 2016 and 2017), Recognition Award (D2D CRC, 2016 and 2017), Australian Postgraduate Award (APA 2009-2012), and several Best Paper awards. In 2021, due to his outstanding performance, Amin was promoted from Senior Lecturer to Full Professor at Macquarie University. As a distinguished researcher in Data and AI Science, Amin has been invited to serve as a Keynote Speaker, General-Chair, PC-Chair, Organisation-Chair, and program committee member of top international conferences. He is also a leading author of several authored books in data, social, and process analytics, co-authored with other high-profile researchers.

Australian Revenue Management Association — Senior Revenue Manager

Nicole Hollmann is a seasoned revenue management specialist whose career spans various roles across the globe. Nicole has demonstrated expertise in driving revenue growth and optimising rate management strategies for members. Her tenure in Sydney has been marked by significant contributions at notable establishments such as Novotel Sydney International Airport and Best Western Australasia, where she leveraged her deep industry knowledge to enhance revenue performance and maximise profitability. Nicole’s skill set includes advanced capabilities in revenue and rate management, underpinned by a strategic approach to market dynamics and pricing models.
Nicole honed her skills in the United Kingdom and Germany, serving as a Cluster Revenue Manager for Hilton Worldwide in London and a Revenue Manager for Novotel Munich Messe. These international roles enriched her perspective and equipped her with a global understanding of the hospitality industry’s financial drivers. Her earlier position as a Service Delivery Specialist with Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight) in Sydney further diversified her expertise.

Ovolo Hotels — Director of Food And Beverage - Australia

SiteMinder — Senior Director Corporate Travel

For 13 years, Mike Kinloch has developed an intimate understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing hoteliers around the world. From his days leading the Pacific commercial arm for SiteMinder, the world’s leading hotel revenue platform, to his current position growing corporate travel business for hotels, Mike has become a trusted partner to hoteliers looking to navigate an ever-dynamic landscape through best practice in distribution and revenue management.

Ovolo Hotels — CEO

Young Hotel Leaders | Mercure Sydney Manly — President | General Manager

W Hotels — Director of Marketing - W Brisbane

Stacey is a global award-winning hospitality marketing specialist with 14 years experience working in luxury/ lifestyle hotels and resorts across UK, Europe, Maldives & Australia. She is a passionate brand builder and foodie who has developed over 50 restaurant and bar brands across the world. (Including co-owning and operating a rooftop bar in Mayfair).

She has been recognised within the industry as a 'Future Leader' and '30 under 30' at the Restaurant Marketer & Innovation, European Summit and also won the 'Marriott European Marketing & Brand Leadership Award' for results driven across a portfolio of 65 x Marriott International Hotels and 9 brands in the UK. More recently she was announced as the '2023 Marriott International APEC Elite PR & Communications Leader Of The Year' of which I went onto receive the 'Global Elite Award for PR & Communications Leader of the Year'. Stacey also recenlty won the '2023 QHA Awards for Excellence - Best Marketed Hotel'.

For the past 3 years Stacey has been Director of Marketing at W Brisbane where she has delivered record breaking commercial results, year-on year.

Crystalbrook Collection — Group Director, People and Culture

As a Senior HR Executive, my focus is to develop HR strategy that positively impacts culture, performance and capability.

Throughout my career I have had the pleasure of leading cultural and operational transformation for dynamic organisations including Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Trippas White Group, Sodexho and Compass Group UK/Ireland. In each company, I worked collaboratively to refine the HR approach and organisational culture so that people felt visible, included and valued, and so that important processes were automated, integrated and standardised for optimal efficiency.

With a commercial mind-set, and significant experience across all HR functions I enjoy both designing strategy and partnering operationally to support employees at all levels. I believe in the power of diversity and am passionate about building inclusive, respectful and engaged cultures that maximise talent opportunities from all sectors of the community.

25hours Hotel Sydney — General Manager

With over 20 years of experience in the hotel industry Silvia Kypriotis began her career in 2004 with Stamford Hotels & Resorts. Joining Accor in 2010 where she has held various key positions, including Reservations Manager, Rooms Division Manager, Talent & Culture Manager, Executive Assistant Manager, Hotel Manager, and General Manager across eight Accor hotels. In 2021, Silvia received the prestigious HM Australian General Manager of the Year award. Transitioning Accor's Lifestyle Collection - Ennismore, where she is General Manager, leading the pre-opening for 25hours The Olympia, located in Paddington.

JACK Hospitality — Co-Founder

Catherine is the Co Founder and director JACK hospitality Consulting. A highly accomplished and commercially focused hospitality operations professional with an impressive track record spanning over 30 years. HER expertise encompasses a diverse range of hospitality operations including contract catering, venues, hotels, events, restaurants, stadia, travel hubs, and high street retail.

One of her key strengths is her ability to design and deliver products and services that optimise service efficiency and enhance the overall customer experience. Her extensive experience in this area has enabled HER to consistently exceed operational expectations and ensure high-quality service delivery.

Hospitality International Australia Pty Ltd — Owner

Day Seven — Founder / Creative Director

Horwath HTL — Managing Director

Katalyma Hotels & Hospitality — Managing Director

Bachcare — Managing Director - NZ

Hospitality NZ — Chief Executive

Masters of Arts (Hons) in Political Science (University of Auckland).

Steve is of Ngāpuhi descent with strong familial connections to Whangārei and the Far North.

He has most recently been Managing Director at Daylight, a strategic consultancy specialising in major events, tourism and business events for the betterment of local communities, visitors and businesses.

He was previously General Manager Destination at Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (now Tataki Auckland Unlimited), the region's cultural and economic growth agency, where he had oversight of tourism marketing, destination management, major events, business events and international education.

Steve oversaw the development of Auckland’s major events portfolio, including the Cricket World Cup, 36th America’s Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup and Rugby World Cup. He also led the Auckland Convention Bureau to grow Auckland as a premium destination for business events in domestic and international markets.

Steve has previously worked in the New Zealand Government as a strategist advising the government on a range of portfolios, including tourism.

He is also past-Chair of Business Events Industry Aotearoa and current co-Chair of the Tourism Data Leadership Group.

Steve's vision is to lead a collaborative organisation which engages efficiently and effectively on behalf of the membership, delivers meaningful action through the insights of members, and continues to support, attract and develop capability for the sector.

Business Events Industry Aotearoa — Chief Executive

Scenic Hotel Group — CEO

Motive Group — CEO

Expedia — Director, Market Management

Brook Serene — Managing Director

Bruce caught the hotel bug while washing dishes at a local hotel as a part-time job while still at school. The other side of the pot-wash bench seemed so much more glamorous!
After studying hotel management he took on a trainee manager position with Hyatt, focussing on Food and Beverage services. Following this, a brief stint with IHG before embarking on his OE. Bruce travelled extensively through the USA before basing himself in England for seven years, working for Forte, Marriot, and Thistle hotels, ranging in size from 50 to 800 rooms. An opportunity to work at the world-renowned Huka Lodge brought him back to New Zealand. This was followed up with his first general manager stint at Wharekauhau Country Estate, another luxury lodge. An opening at The George took him back to city life, and nearly 20 years later he has steered the company to considerable success along with adding other hotels to the management company. In addition to his role with Brook Serene, Bruce was also regional chair of the Christchurch hotel sector from 2010 – 2015, President of Skål Christchurch from 2016 – 2019, and is currently on the Skål International Board, representing Oceania.

Terry Ngan & Associates Ltd — Director

Tourism New Zealand — GM - International

U Hotel Group — CEO & Founder

Suresh Subramaniam is the CEO/Founder of U Hotel Group, a boutique hotel company in New Zealand with 6 hotels, motels and sleeperies and manages 30 short term accommodation rentals in New Zealand. With extensive experience in hotel management across various countries, including Singapore, Switzerland, Scotland, the USA, New Zealand, Australia, India, and Thailand, Suresh has built a respected brand in the small accommodation sector.

His passion for hospitality began at Les Roches Swiss Hotel Management School and continued with a Bachelor’s degree from the Scottish Hotel School at the University of Strathclyde. Suresh’s career started at Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Florida, where he gained expertise in revenue management, distribution, sales, and marketing.

Before 2018, he held General Manager positions with international brands like Grand Central Group and Accor, including managing the Novotel Bangkok Platinum in Thailand. He also served as Brand Manager for Novotel in multiple countries, which inspired him to establish the U Hotel Group in Wellington.

Now based in Wellington with his wife and business partner, Katrina, and their two children, Suresh focuses on development of his own brands + affiliate brands as well as empowering independent hotel and motel owners through his industry knowledge.

Google — Industry Manager, Travel at Google

Mia leads the Travel and Tourism portfolio at Google New Zealand. She is passionate about the interconnection of effective storytelling, consumer behaviour and technology. Specifically, how travel providers and tourism organisations can be more effective in connecting with the considered traveller through insights, creative, technology and a digital customer experience.

Hind Management & Sudima Hotels — Chief People Officer

Phillipa Gimmillaro brings over two decades of hospitality industry expertise to her role as Chief People Officer at Hind Management Group. Since 2017, she has led initiatives in people, culture, health, and safety for over 700 employees across nine locations.

In addition to championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Phillipa developed the group’s Code of Conduct, including a Modern Slavery Statement, to align with ethical and sustainable practices. She also established scholarship and internship programs for minority groups and people with disabilities to gain practical work experience in hospitality, with the most recent Māori and Pacific youth scholarship launching in February 2025. In 2024, Hind Management achieved a 93% retention rate for permanent employees under her leadership, far exceeding the hospitality industry’s average retention rate of 23%. Her leadership through the pandemic, including pivoting from hotel operations to managed quarantine facilities, earned her New Zealand HR Director of the Year (2023) and recognition on HRD Magazine’s 2024 HR Hot List.

Phillipa is a Chartered Member of HRNZ, holds Professional Accreditation in Workplace Inclusion (2024), and has an Advanced Diploma in Travel, Tourism, and Business. She also serves on an Industry Advisory Board and is pursuing an MBA through the Australian Institute of Business.

Phillipa’s vision is to build a sustainable, thriving workforce, reflected in her leadership of Hind Management’s celebrated mentoring and development programs

Tourism Talent — Senior Associate

Kelly is a Senior Associate at Tourism Talent, specializing in recruitment for hotels, resorts, and accommodation. With almost two decades in the hospitality industry, including leadership roles at Expedia Group and Starwood Hotels, she brings a wealth of experience in strategic revenue growth and data-driven consultancy. Originally from the USA, Kelly now calls New Zealand home and is passionate about enhancing both individuals and businesses in the sector. A strategic thinker and self-proclaimed "data nerd," she excels at driving results through deep industry insights and genuine connections. Outside work, Kelly enjoys exploring the world with her husband and two children.

The Hotel Britomart — Sustainability and Procurement Coordinator

Clarity Hospitality Software Solutions Ltd — Owner/CEO

Swiss-Belhotel International — Vice President - Operations & Development, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific

Degree qualified international hotelier with over 38 years experience in hotel management, including 27 years as General Manager. Experience across 5 hotel management companies, Sheraton 8 years, Millennium and Copthorne 5 years, Accor 9 years, IHG 14 Years and Swiss-BelHotel International, across 3 regional roles, 18 hotel locations, in 5 countries.

HP AI Consulting — Director | Founder

Howard Phung is an award-winning technology leader with over 20 years of experience in hospitality technology, specialising in virtual CIO services, digital transformation, AI adoption, and IT strategy. Recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 CIOs in 2024, he has led large-scale technology transformations across global hotel groups, driving innovation in cloud PMS, AI-powered analytics, and data-driven decision-making.
As the founder of HP AI Consulting, Howard advises hospitality organisations on leveraging AI, automation, and emerging technologies to enhance guest experiences, optimise operations, and scale effectively. His expertise spans multi-cloud strategies, PMS modernisation, and integrating AI to drive efficiency, having successfully launched AI initiatives that delivered double digit productivity gains in key roles.

Howard has worked with industry leaders such as EVT, Frasers Hospitality, and Pro-invest, overseeing IT strategies for high-growth hotel portfolios. He is passionate about bridging the gap between technology and business outcomes, helping hoteliers navigate the evolving digital landscape with practical, future-ready solutions.

IHG Hotels & Resorts — Country Manager New Zealand

Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa — General Manager

Jeremy has been passionately involved in the Hotel Industry since finishing school, starting in the industry as a porter in one of Sydney’s well-loved 5 star hotels. After completing his degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management with Southern Cross University, his career has taken him across Asia-Pacific working in a diverse range of hotels – from big cities to country towns, corporate hotels to leisure resorts and from islands to deserts. Over this time, he has learned the value and power of strong relationships – with guests, community, team, stakeholders and industry - and that together in partnership we can make some truly beautiful things happen.

After spending 20 years travelling the Pacific and abroad – his family has settled in Queenstown, a place they have called home for the past 7 years and have formed a very special bond with. Whilst the scenery and quality of life is outstanding there – it is the community and their passion for their town, the industry and the land that has inspired them to call this place home.

Sarin Hotels — Commercial Director

Rajeev Sharma is a hospitality leader with over 28 years of experience in hotel pre-openings, revenue management, market expansion, and destination promotion. As the Commercial Director at Sarin Hotels, he drives business growth, brand positioning, and operational efficiency across multiple properties.

Rajeev has successfully led hotel launches, revenue optimization strategies, and international tourism collaborations, working with global travel agencies, ITO’s, Tourism New Zealand and regional tourism boards. His expertise includes dynamic pricing, digital transformation, and AI-driven guest experiences, helping hotels adapt to evolving industry challenges.

A recognized industry innovator and mentor, Rajeev is passionate about developing future leaders, implementing data-driven strategies, and transforming hospitality operations. His insights into market trends, corporate partnerships, and technology adoption make him a leading voice on the current challenges and opportunities in the hospitality industry.

Amadeus — Director of Sales - New Zealand & South Pacific

Cordis Hotel Auckland — Assistant Director of Human Resources

With over a decade of operations experience, Carol leads the largest hotel in New Zealand’s people & culture, learning & development and sustainability initiatives. Her achievements in employee development, retention, and fostering a strong workplace culture led to her winning HRD’s HR Manager of the Year award in 2024.

LyLo Auckland — General Manager

Tataki Auckland Unlimited — Head of Auckland Convention Bureau

SkyCity Entertainment Group — Director of Hotel Operations

Australian Revenue Management Association — Advisory Board

Grand Millennium Auckland — General Manager

Holiday Accommodation Parks Association of New Zealand — CEO

Hotel Council Aotearoa — Strategic Director

Duetto — Director of Hospitality Solutions, APAC

Jeong Pyon joined Duetto in April 2022 as Director of Hospitality Solutions. In this role within the Sales division, Jeong helps hotels leverage Duetto's suite of solutions to achieve their revenue objectives.
A graduate of the Glion Institute of Higher Education with a degree in Hospitality Finance and Revenue Management, Jeong has extensive experience in various revenue management roles across the hospitality industry. His career spans Marriott's corporate office in Bethesda, a boutique Relais & Châteaux property, airport hotels, resorts, casino hotels, convention hotels, hotel openings, and Forbes 5-star hotels across North America and APAC.
Jeong is also a seasoned speaker, sharing his expertise in revenue management, industry trends, and revenue optimization at Duetto Revenue Strategy Seminars and industry events like the Australia Revenue Management Summit.

Minister for Tourism and Hospitality (New Zealand) — Minister for Tourism and Hospitality (New Zealand)

Cordis Auckland — Managing Director

With over 30 year of experience in hotels, Craig has managed properties across Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia & New Zealand. , in the Upper upscale and Luxury categories. With a background in both Operations and Business Development, customers experience, leadership and business development are his passions. Returning to New Zealand in December 2023 after a 17-year absence, he is Managing Director of Cordis, Auckland, part of the Langham Hospitality Group.

JW Marriott Auckland — Human Resources Director

Befficienz Consulting — Founder, Managing Director

Starting his journey in fine dining when he was just 16 years old, and with over 15 years of management and project management experience across hospitality, travel, tourism, and education sectors, Nicolas Aillaud brings a wealth of expertise to Befficienz. Holding an MBA in Tourism & Hospitality Management and a Bachelor of Business, Nicolas has worked in six countries, including Aotearoa New Zealand, leading significant projects.
Nicolas excels in optimising workflows, driving efficiency, and collaborating closely with clients to co-create tailored solutions that enhance quality and profitability. His hands-on approach focuses on trust, communication, and continuous improvement, making him a true partner in driving business success.

Pacific STR — Sales

Experienced digital marketing and revenue professional with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry. Specializing in revenue management, digital marketing, and market intelligence. Currently supporting the hospitality sector at STR and CoStar, providing data-driven insights that help hotels, investors, and industry stakeholders optimize performance and strategic decision-making.
Expertise includes yield management, revenue analysis and hotel management, with a focus on leveraging benchmarking data, market trends, and competitive intelligence to drive revenue growth. Committed to helping independent and chain hotels develop effective pricing, distribution, and marketing strategies that maximize profitability and market positioning.

A passionate advocate for tourism, destinations, and immersive travel experiences, with a deep understanding of hospitality analytics and industry dynamics. Dedicated to empowering hoteliers with actionable insights, helping businesses enhance visibility, optimize channel distribution, and capitalize on market opportunities in an evolving landscape.

Accor — Talent & Culture Manager

A seasoned HR professional with over 19 years of experience, 16 of those in hospitality, Jai McNaughton has dedicated her career to shaping workplace culture and driving people-focused initiatives.

She began her hospitality journey with Mirvac in 2008, supporting all Mirvac hotels in Western Australia. Over four years, Jai provided strategic HR support, leadership coaching, policy implementation, health and safety compliance, recruitment, and training coordination across multiple hotels. Her ability to drive cultural transformation and foster engaged teams became a hallmark of her career.

Jai then took on the role of pre-opening HR Manager for Fraser Suites Perth, where she played a key role in building a strong workplace culture from the ground up. For the past 7.5 years, she has been a key Senior Talent & Culture leader within Accor WA, contributing to one of the world’s largest hospitality groups and continuing her mission of creating exceptional workplaces.

A specialist in culture transformation, strategic business planning, leadership development, employee engagement, and organizational behaviour, Jai is highly regarded for fostering high-performing teams and driving meaningful workplace change.

A passionate advocate for inclusion and diversity, Jai sits on the boards of Hospitality Disability Network WA and Women in Tourism and Hospitality WA, championing equity and accessibility in the industry. She is also deeply committed to eliminating family and domestic violence, embedding advocacy into her work to create safer, more supportive workplaces.

Jai’s leadership extends beyond HR—mentoring future leaders, implementing innovative workplace initiatives, and spearheading progressive policies. Through initiatives like partnering with Share the Dignity, she ensures tangible support for team members and guests alike.

When not shaping workplace culture, Jai is a single mum to an 8-year-old daughter, and a firm believer in the power of hospitality to transform lives and careers.

Quay Perth — Director of Sales

With over 19 years of experience in hospitality sales and marketing, Paula Navarro is a dynamic leader known for her ability to drive growth, lead high-performing teams, and deliver outstanding guest and client experiences.

As Director of Sales at Quay Perth Hotel, Paula oversees both sales and marketing strategy—bringing a hands-on, people-focused approach to every facet of the business.

She is extremely passionate about customer service and building lasting client relationships, with a track record of success in hotel pre-openings, business development, public relations, and marketing. Paula is committed to elevating brand presence while staying focused on measurable, results-driven outcomes.

Quay Perth — Events Sales Executive

Kezia Purnomo is a highly experienced Events Sales Executive at Quay Perth, specialising in corporate functions and private events. With over four years at Quay Perth, she has honed her expertise in event planning, sales, and marketing, delivering seamless and memorable experiences for clients, including the City of Perth’s City of Light launch and events for McDermott, BHP, Rio Tinto, and Chevron.

Her background includes extensive social media marketing experience from her time at Pan Pacific Perth and as a freelancer, where she managed content creation, brand promotion, and digital marketing strategies. She leverages this expertise to enhance event visibility and engagement.

Passionate about hospitality, Kezia combines strategic thinking, creativity, and a client-first approach to curate exceptional events. With a strong attention to detail and a commitment to excellence, she ensures every event she manages is both impactful and seamlessly executed.

Novotel Perth Murray Street — Director of Food and Beverage

Hospitality Disability Network WA — Disability Employment Manager

Minister for Tourism, Western Australia

Hon. Reece Whitby MLA is the Western Australian Minister for Police; Road Safety; Tourism; Great Southern and Member for Baldivis.

He has overseen government departments responsible for protecting Western Australia’s environment between December 2021 and March 2025, as well as overseeing the State’s energy transition as Energy Minister between December 2024 and March 2025. In this time, Reece was also responsible as Climate Action Minister for coordinating the State’s response to climate change while establishing a whole-of-government approach to reduce emissions.

He was Western Australia’s first Minister to attend a United Nations Climate Change Conference, addressing audiences at COP27 and meeting Ministerial counterparts from across the globe.

As the Minister for Environment, was responsible for delivering Plan for Our Parks. Six-and-a-half million hectares of national and marine parks and reserves were created under the plan, increasing the State’s conservation estate by 28 per cent. Reece also Reece is tasked with implementing WA’s nation-leading Plan for Plastics and the McGowan Government’s historic decision to end native logging from 2024.

He also oversaw reforms in response to the Perth Casino Royal Commission and the review of WA’s liquor laws as Racing and Gaming Minister

Reece was first appointed to Cabinet in the McGowan Labor Government in 2021, as the Minister for Emergency Services; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; and Volunteering.

He became the first local member for the new electorate of Baldivis in March 2017.

Prior to his election, Reece had a long-standing career in journalism, working at Seven News for two decades. He started as a cadet reporter at a country newspaper before joining the ABC, followed by a stint at Channel Nine. He often reported on battlers standing up for a fair go, which sparked his interest in politics.

Reece grew up on the outskirts of Perth, working in the family business from a young age. He has a passion for creating better, fairer communities and understands the importance of quality schools, transport, hospitals, and facilities for all Western Australians.

Reece and wife Natalie have four children – Faith, Sam, Luke and Hope.

Optus Stadium Perth — Chief Executive Officer

Mike McKenna joined VenuesLive in November 2016 as Chief Executive Officer of Optus Stadium in Perth. As Chief Executive Officer, Mike leads a team of professionals who are responsible for operating the venue, on behalf of the Western Australian State Government, attracting and delivering world class sport and entertainment experiences for a local, national and international audience.

Optus Stadium has been a multi-award winner in its first years of operations including for catering, tourism and business events. Optus Stadium was awarded the Prix Versailles as the Most Beautiful Sports Venue in the World by UNESCO in a marketing coup that has increased the profile of the venue.
Over the first four years of operations the venue has received Customer Satisfaction scores averaging 94.5% in surveys conducted by the Western Australian State Government.

Prior to joining VenuesLive Mike spent more than eleven years on the Executive Leadership Team with Cricket Australia. In this role, Mike was responsible for helping turn Cricket Australia from an operationally focused business to a fan focused organisation with the growth of the game as the goal.
During this time, in various roles, Mike had responsibility for Commercial Revenue Generation, Marketing and Brand, Digital Communications, International Cricket Event Management, Venue Operations, Domestic Cricket competitions and Integrity. Mike was responsible for the development of the Big Bash League competitions for men and women and the first six years of operations.

Mike previously held roles as General Manager Commercial Operations with the Essendon Football Club, National Marketing Manager for professional services firm Arthur Andersen and a variety of Sales and Marketing roles with Black and Decker and Carter Holt Harvey.

Mike is also a Board Member of the Tourism Council of Western Australia, the peak body representing tourism businesses, industries and regions in the state.

Pan Pacific Perth — General Manager

Rens Breur is a distinguished figure in the global hospitality industry, bringing over three decades of leadership and innovation to his current role as General Manager of Pan Pacific Perth. Appointed in March 2025, his tenure coincides with a transformative $50 million refurbishment of the hotel, marking a significant new chapter for one of Perth’s most iconic properties.

Rens’s career is marked by a series of prominent leadership roles across renowned hotel brands worldwide. His experience spans continents, having held senior positions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Notably, he has served with esteemed establishments such as Relais & Châteaux, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Langham Hotels, and the Accor/Sofitel Group. In Australia, he has been a key figure in the hospitality landscape, with leadership roles at The Langham Melbourne, Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach, and as part of the launch team for Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour in 2017.

Prior to his current appointment, Rens was the Managing Director of Hotel Operations & Development at Fine Hotels in The Netherlands, overseeing a portfolio of six properties with extensive food and beverage and MICE operations.

At Pan Pacific Perth, Breur’s leadership is pivotal as the hotel unveils its comprehensive transformation, which includes reimagined guestrooms, the city’s largest hotel event space, and a commitment to sustainable luxury. His vision emphasizes delivering meaningful hospitality and service excellence, aligning with contemporary guest expectations.

Beyond his professional achievements, Breur is known for his dynamic and human-centric approach to hotel management, reflecting a deep commitment to excellence, authenticity, and the transformative power of thoughtful service.

Under his guidance, Pan Pacific Perth is poised to set new standards in luxury hospitality, blending innovative design with heartfelt service to create memorable experiences for guests.

Quay Perth Hotel — Director of Sales

With over 19 years of experience in hospitality sales and marketing, Paula Navarro is a dynamic leader known for her ability to drive growth, lead high-performing teams, and deliver outstanding guest and client experiences.

As Director of Sales at Quay Perth Hotel, Paula oversees both sales and marketing strategy—bringing a hands-on, people-focused approach to every facet of the business.

She is extremely passionate about customer service and building lasting client relationships, with a track record of success in hotel pre-openings, business development, public relations, and marketing. Paula is committed to elevating brand presence while staying focused on measurable, results-driven outcomes.

Olimpia Twiggs — Business Development Manager WA/NT

Metro Hotels — Business Development Manager WA/NT

Salter Brothers Hospitality — Chief Development Officer

Quay Perth — Events Sales Executive

Kezia Purnomo is a highly experienced Events Sales Executive at Quay Perth, specialising in corporate functions and private events. With over four years at Quay Perth, she has honed her expertise in event planning, sales, and marketing, delivering seamless and memorable experiences for clients, including the City of Perth’s City of Light launch and events for McDermott, BHP, Rio Tinto, and Chevron.

Her background includes extensive social media marketing experience from her time at Pan Pacific Perth and as a freelancer, where she managed content creation, brand promotion, and digital marketing strategies. She leverages this expertise to enhance event visibility and engagement.

Passionate about hospitality, Kezia combines strategic thinking, creativity, and a client-first approach to curate exceptional events. With a strong attention to detail and a commitment to excellence, she ensures every event she manages is both impactful and seamlessly executed.