Tourism Australia board appointments announced

Today I announce the appointment of Bob East and Andrea Staines to the Tourism Australia Board of Directors. The new appointments are for three years, from 1 July 2016.

I also announce that existing member of the board, Andrew Fairley will take up the position of Deputy Chair, from 1 July 2016 for 12 months.

Tourism Australia supports the Australian economy and the growth of the tourism industry by promoting Australia as leisure and business events destination.

It continues to build on its marketing success under the There's Nothing Like Australia umbrella with the recent launch of the Aquatic and Coastal campaign.

I am confident Bob East and Andrea Staines, with their substantial knowledge and experience in the tourism sector, will contribute to the success of Tourism Australia and ensure it continues to meet the challenges posed by an increasingly competitive environment.

I look forward to working with them and I also thank retiring members Mark Stone and Brett Godfrey for their significant contribution.

Biographies below.

Bob East
Mr East has more than 20 years' experience in the tourism industry, currently serving as the CEO of the Mantra Group. Mr East's experience includes serving on the boards of the Gold Coast Tourism Corporation Limited, Tourism and Transport Forum, Tourism Accommodation Australia and Gold Coast Football Club. Mr East is also Chairman of Tourism Events Queensland and Chair of the Tourism and Transport Forum's Accommodation Sector Panel. He has helped shape the Mantra Group into the second-largest, Australian-based hotel company, making it a leading accommodation provider within Australasia. He has extensive experience in the accommodation sector, previously holding senior management roles with the Mirvac portfolio and the Daiyko Group. Mr East will bring essential skills and knowledge of a crucial tourism industry sector to the Tourism Australia Board.

Andrea Staines
Ms Staines is an accomplished Non-Executive Director with experience on a range of listed, government, private and not-for-profit companies in the infrastructure, transport, logistics and retail service arenas. Ms Staines is a former CEO of Australian Airlines, a Qantas subsidiary flying between Asia and Australia, which she co-launched in 2002. This role saw Ms Staines become Australia's first female CEO of a scheduled passenger airline. During this time, she was also a member of the Qantas Executive Committee. Prior to this Ms Staines was the first female General Manager of Global Pricing & Inventory at Qantas, where she led innovative interventions to optimise Qantas revenue. She has also held various financial roles with American Airlines at its Dallas headquarters. Ms Staines is currently on the boards of SeaLink Travel, QIC, Goodstart Early Learning and Uniting Care Queensland. Ms Staines has an MBA from the University of Michigan and a B.Econs from the University of Queensland. Ms Staines' extensive experience in the commercial aviation industry will bring invaluable industry knowledge and experience to the Tourism Australia Board.

Andrew Fairley AM
Mr Fairley has had a distinguished association with ecotourism, conservation, parks and resort management over many years. He was a director of the world class, five star resort Turtle Island in the Yasawas, Fiji for over 20 years. Mr Fairley is currently Chair of Parks Victoria. He has previously chaired Zoos Victoria and the Alpine Resorts Coordinating Council in Victoria, and was also Chair of publicly listed Sundowner Motor Inns Ltd. Mr Fairley's experience as a lawyer in corporate governance, environmental management, and international and domestic tourism see him well placed to become Deputy Chair of the Board.