Our Board

As the former Chairman and CEO of Accor Asia Pacific, he led the group to more than 1250 hotels over his 26-year tenure, building a $4 billion business over 23 countries that was number one in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. With multi-national experience in the US, Australia, and Asia, he is an expert in mergers and acquisitions, having led several integrations for the Group. He is known for building strong teams and inspiring them towards a shared vision and is a lifelong champion of diversity and inclusion. He has a deep understanding of Asian cultures and the Asian consumer.

Under his leadership, Accor Asia Pacific went from the smallest contributor to the Group’s performance to the fastest-growing region, representing over 50 per cent of the global development pipeline.

Michael is a Lifetime Member of the Tourism and Transport Forum in Australia and the Cornell Hotel Society. He is a former member of the global Accor Executive Committee, and previous Chairman and Director of Reef Casino Trust and Director of the A-HTrust, with a strong understanding of public company governance. An innovator at heart, he played a pivotal role in establishing Accor Vacation Club, the region’s first points-based timeshare business.

Michael has been recognised for his vast contribution to tourism many times including an esteemed Ordre National de la Legion d’honneur and Ordre National du Mérite from the French Government. He was named Hotelier of the Year 2012, 2015 and 2020 at the Hotel Management Awards and International Hotelier of the Year 2014 at the China Hotel Investment Conference. In 2020, he was presented with the prestigious Golden Horse Award as the Annual Influential Figure of Global Cultural Tourism Industry in China.

Michael’s previous roles include Chief Executive Officer at Mirvac Hotels, Director at Horwath and Horwath and Director of Development at Merlin Properties. Michael holds a degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

Michael was appointed as Tourism Australia’s Chair in October 2021.

Jeff is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has been awarded a Life Membership by TTF Australia. In 2013, he won the SA Tourism Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual and was the 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Central Region. Jeff has also held appointments on the Adelaide Convention Centre Board, TTF Australia, SA Tourism Commission Board and the SA Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium Board. Jeff joined Tourism Australia’s Board in November 2018 and was appointed Deputy Chair of the Board and Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee in July 2020.

Prior to joining Tourism Australia, Phillipa spent six years working for Hamilton Island Enterprises and before that held a variety of globally-focused senior sales, marketing and product roles across ecommerce, retail and wholesale tourism platforms, based in both London and Sydney.

Phillipa holds a Bachelor of Arts (Mass Communication and Psychology) from Macquarie University and an MBA from AGSM at the University of NSW.

Annabel is Executive Director of her own firm, Dolphin Ventures Pty Ltd, where she sits on several independent advisory boards within the mining, civil construction, manufacturing, and professional services sector. Annabel has also served as a chair of TAFE. Annabel joined Tourism Australia’s Board in November 2021.

His advocacy in the tourism, business events, accommodation and hospitality industry, is reflected in positions held on the boards of the South Australian Tourism Commission, including chair of audit and risk, is the Vice Chair of the Business Events Adelaide (formerly Adelaide Convention Bureau) and his appointed in 2023 to the board of the Adelaide Venue Management Corporation (AVMC) & to the SA Skills Commission.

Ian’s roles and responsibilities cover four decades and reflect the commitment, drive and dedication that go well beyond the job that has seen Ian considered a major influencer, campaigner and advocate on all policy issues that have impacted the tourism and hospitality industry.  Ian most recently was part of the team that facilitated the establishing of Accommodation Australia as the single strong voice for tourism accommodation in Australia. As the long-term CEO the Australian Hotels Association (SA) he has been a source of advocacy and leadership at industry and sector level through pandemics, a global financial crisis, globalisation and technology revolutions. A record few can match.

He has been at the forefront of change and transformation of the hotel and hospitality sector and consequently tourism. Ian joined the board in August 2023.

John is Chair of Australian Grape & Wine and the National Tourism Industry Training Committee and a board member of the Australian Business Register, the Angus Knight Group, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, and Rangelands NRM.

John joined Tourism Australia’s Board in November 2018.

A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Penny holds a Bachelor of Business degree with a major in Marketing from Monash (Chisholm) University and is a CEW member.

Penny joined Tourism Australia’s Board in July 2019.

Georgina is currently the Principal and Lead of First Nations Advisory, an Aboriginal owned management consulting practice between Georgina and Brisbane based consultancy Environment Land Heritage Pty Ltd. She is a former national board member for Bravehearts and an advisor to Tourism and Events Queensland First Nations Advisory Group; the Qld State Lead for PwC’s Indigenous Consulting, a world first, profit for purpose consultancy group servicing corporate, government and not-for-profit clients, and the CEO of the Western Cape Communities Trust.

She has worked in leadership roles within the public, private and not-for-profit sector and has more than 25 years experience working in Indigenous affairs at national, state, local and community levels.  Georgina has a strong record of involvement in strategically planning and developing business improvements and implementing the strategic direction and thinking of organisations.

Georgina is passionate about delivering innovative community-based and led solutions that protect, restore and build the social and economic well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

She headed up the Perth division of Southern Cross Australia, Australia’s largest broadcaster for 15 years and led Perth’s leading radio stations through a changing and competitive landscape, including the commercialisation of the business’ digital assets. Linda has held senior executive service roles in government with the Western Australian government as general manager of EventsCorp, the State’s major event agency; and in the Victorian government in roles in marketing, communications and public affairs. She has extensive experience in government policy and corporate affairs in portfolios such as tourism, small business, planning and infrastructure.

As principal of her marketing and communications business, Linda has developed strategies for destinations as varied as the City of Fremantle and Cocos Keeling Islands.

Linda is a former WA Telstra Businesswoman of the Year and Advertising Person of the Year. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company directors and has a Masters of Communication.