New Tourism New South Wales Board members appointed
With the New South Wales State Plan Priority including increasing tourism visitation to NSW and creating stronger regional and rural economies, NSW Minister for Tourism, Matt Brown has announced several new appointments to the Tourism New South Wales Board, giving them a mandate to make progress in priority areas to ensure the continued success in the industry in New South Wales.
The Board will be chaired by Leslie Cassar AM – the former Deputy Chairman of Tourism NSW who is also the Chairman of the Tourism and Transport Forum, with the appointment following the resignation of Maurice Newman AC earlier this year.
Denis Pierce, Managing Director, ATS Pacific has been appointed as Deputy Chairman.
Other new appointments include:
** Russell Balding AO, Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Airport Corporation
** Helen Wong, Director, Helen Wong’s Tours;
** Phil Helé, Director, Bluetongue Brewery and owner/operator of The Hunter Valley Resort and Killcare Bells Retreat.
** John Thorpe AM, President, Australian Hotels Association (NSW) and;
** Nicholas Papallo OAM of N.J. Papallo & Co have been reappointed to the Board.
Minister Brown, the successor to former Minister for Tourism Sandra Nori said, “Under the State Plan our target is to achieve an increase of 10 million visitor nights each year by 2015,” adding, “With the wealth of knowledge and experience of this board we are on track to meet this commitment.”
He also said that for the first time, each board member will also be a member of a sub committee, whose job will be to provide leadership and advice in certain fields in accordance with the State Plan priorities.
The subcommittees will look at: Tourism Investment, Regional Tourism, Emerging Markets, Aviation and Partnerships.
Minister Brown said, “I congratulate all the new appointees and look forward to working with this talented and energetic board.”
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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