Dixon ready to shake-up Tourism Australia
SYDNEY – Tourism Australia, in a widely-flagged move, has appointed former Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon to its board.
In a shake-up of board members, three are leaving, including Andrew Burnes, whose roles have included acting chairman and deputy chairman.
The new faces joining Dixon are Kate Lamont and Sandra McPhee.
Lamont is chair of Tourism Western Australia and McPhee currently serves on the board of Australia Post, AGL Energy, St Vincent’s and Mater Health and as vice president of The Art Gallery of NSW.
The board shake-up comes at a crucial time for the industry, struggling with falling visitor numbers – down two percent to 5.5 million arrivals for the year ending March.
Australian newspapers, quoting unnamed sources, reported that “Geoff Dixon has a fair idea how Tourism Australia has been run, He has a bee in his bonnet about how things should be done and knows exactly how to get what he wants.”
Dixon became the highest-paid airline executive in the world in cash terms before his retirement at the end of November. In 2007-08 he received A$11.9 million, which included a $4.5 million payment to remain with Qantas.
Tourism Victoria CEO Greg Hywood is expected to be appointed managing director, replacing Geoff Buckley, who leaves in June after three years.
Ian Jarrett
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