Four new members have just been appointed to the board of Tourism Australia.
Ms Jenny Lambert OAM has more than 40 years’ experience in policy and advocacy, with a focus on tourism, hospitality and workforce.
She is Accommodation Australia’s National Policy Director and previously served as a Policy Director with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Hon Michael Lee brings extensive experience as a former Federal Minister. Mr Lee served as Minister for Tourism and Minister for Resources, during which he also held responsibility for communications and the arts.
Tim Yeend has provided strategic direction to the highest levels of government over many decades.
Most recently he served as an Associate Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and previously was the Australian Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation.
Peter Laurance AO brings valuable experience as an owner and developer of major tourism attractions, including theme parks, hotels and resorts. Mr Laurance has been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for services to tourism.
The new look Board will be led by serving members Penny Fowler who has been appointed Chair and Ian Horne who has been appointed Deputy Chair.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of our regions, supporting thousands of jobs and small businesses, it is a key driver for local economies right across Australia,” commented Senator Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism in a statement.
“I welcome the new appointees and look forward to working with them, and Tourism Australia as they continue to drive demand and attract more international travellers to our shores.”
Senator Farrell thanked departing board members Michael Issenberg, Jeffery Ellison, John Hart and Annabel Dolphin.
Meanwhile Mr Farrell also revealed that the Government has launched a new data dashboard that measures the progress of Australia’s tourism industry across a range of economic, environmental, social and institutional indicators.
The new LIVE Framework (Longitudinal Indicators for the Visitor Economy) will enable ministers to quantify the tourism contribution for the first time.
The Framework is an interactive, user-friendly tool which gives businesses, organisations and governments access to timely and accurate information, enabling them to make earlier and better-informed commercial and program decisions.
