Our Board

Tourism Australia is governed by a Board of Directors who report to the Federal Minister for Tourism. The main role of the Board is to determine Tourism Australia policy and ensure that the organisation performs in a proper and efficient manner. For more information on Tourism Australia 's board, download our Board Charter.

Bob East, Chair

Bob East

Chair

Bob East has more than 20 years’ experience in the tourism industry, most recently serving as the CEO of the Mantra Group for 12 years where he helped shape the Mantra Group into the largest Australian-based hotel company. He led the company to a successful ASX listing in June 2014 which culminated in its inclusion into the ASX 200 list in 2015 and managed Mantra Group’s $1.3B acquisition by AccorHotels, one of the world’s largest hotel operators in 2018. Mr East’s experience includes serving on the boards of the Gold Coast Tourism Corporation, Queensland Tourism Industry Council, Tourism Accommodation Australia, Tourism and Events Queensland and the Tourism and Transport Forum.

Mr East holds a Master of Business Administration and is Chair of Tourism Australia, Chair of the Australian Venue Company, Chair of Experience Co, Deputy Chair of the Gold Coast Suns Football Club and a Board member of Sydney Metro. He has extensive experience in the accommodation sector, previously holding senior management roles with the Mirvac portfolio and the Daikyo Group.

Anna Guillan AM, Deputy Chair

Anna Guillan AM

Deputy Chair

With a respected career in tourism sales and marketing, Anna Guillan is the Australian consultant to Kerzner International, a global operator of luxury resorts. A Southern Cross University Alumnus of the Year and with a Master of Business Administration in Tourism and Hotel Management, Anna previously served as Vice Chair of the Australian Tourism Export Council (and acknowledged with its Outstanding Contribution to Industry Award) and was also Board Director of Tourism and Events Queensland for six years.

Anna is also currently the Chair of Western Sydney Parklands Trust, Non-Executive Director of CareFlight and Co-Founder and Director of cancer charity, The NELUNE Foundation. Anna joined Tourism Australia’s Board in July 2014 and remains a Director.

Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director

Phillipa Harrison

Managing Director

Phillipa Harrison joined Tourism Australia in February 2017 to head up the organisation’s international operations for Asia, the Americas, Europe and New Zealand as well as Global Distribution and Partnerships. In this role Phillipa oversees Tourism Australia’s network of international offices spanning 12 countries as well as managing airline relationships and distribution channels, working in partnership with the industry to grow the inbound market for Australian tourism.

Prior to her current role, Ms Harrison spent six years working for Hamilton Island Enterprises and before that held a variety of senior sales, marketing and product roles at Viator Systems (Sydney), Base Group (Sydney), STA Travel (London), Contiki Holidays (London), and Trailfinders (London).

Hayley Baillie, Director

Hayley Baillie

Director

Hayley Baillie co-founded Baillie Lodges in 2003 with a vision to develop a premium boutique portfolio of contemporary Australian luxury lodge experiences. To date, Baillie Lodges operates three luxury lodges in standout locations of unique natural significance: Longitude 131° at Uluru–Kata Tjuta, Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island and Silky Oaks Lodge in the Daintree Rainforest. All three properties appeal to the discerning global traveller and are recognised as setting new benchmarks for experiential travel.

In 2013, Hayley joined the Tourism Australia Food and Wine advisory board, which was instrumental in driving the Restaurant Australia marketing campaign. Hayley is a member of the Australian Ballet and Barker College Foundations and was appointed to Tourism Australia’s Board in November 2015 and remains a Director.

Bradley Woods, Director

Bradley Woods

Director

For 25 years Bradley has been one of Australia’s leading advocates for the hotel, hospitality and tourism industry. Bradley has been the CEO of the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) since 1998 and was previously the CEO of the AHA Tasmania and AHA National Office Government Relations Manager. Bradley has a degree in International Business Relations, is a board member of Tourism Accommodation Australia and National Chair of the Commonwealth’s Tourism, Travel and Hospitality IRC, responsible for the industry’s vocational training packages.

Bradley is Chairman of Hospitality Group Training, Deputy Chair of the Australia Day Council WA and a Board Member of Ronald McDonald House Perth. Regarded as an industry expert in tourism, accommodation, hospitality and the MICE sector, Bradley has led industry through major crises. His experience ranges from the Tasmanian Tourism sector’s strategic response after the Port Arthur massacre, the collapse of Ansett and responding to critical international incidents impacting on the reputation of the Australian tourism industry, such as the disappearance of MH370.

David Seargeant, Director

David Seargeant

Director

David Seargeant has spent a lifetime in the Hospitality Industry recently stepping down after 17 years as CEO and Managing Director of Event Hospitality and Entertainment Ltd (prior to 2016 known as Amalgamated Holdings Ltd). Joining the company in 1988 to found Rydges Hotels and Resorts he took on the group CEO role in 2001.

He is acknowledged as the creator of the QT Hotels and Resorts brand. He is currently the Chairman of the National Association of Cinema Operators, Deputy Chairman Tourism Accommodation Australia and a member of the Board of Tourism Training Australia.

Jeff Ellison, Director

Jeffrey Ellison

Director

Mr Ellison is the Chief Executive and Managing Director of the SeaLink Travel Group Limited, a position he has held since early 1997. Mr Ellison is also a Chartered Accountant and joined SeaLink following eight years in private practice. SeaLink Travel Group is ASX listed, and Australia’s largest tourism and marine transport company, transporting over 8.5 million passengers per annum. With operations in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and Northern Territory, SeaLink employs 1,600 staff and operates a fleet of 80 vessels and 60 coaches. Mr Ellison is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has been awarded a Life Membership by the Tourism and Transport Forum Australia.

In 2013, he won the South Australian Tourism Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual and was the 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Central Region. Mr Ellison has also held appointments on the Adelaide Convention Centre Board, Tourism Australia International Industry Advisory Panel, Tourism and Transport Forum Australia and South Australian Tourism Commission Board, and is a current Board member for the South Australian Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium since 2017.

John Hart, Director

John Hart

Director

Mr Hart is currently the Executive Chair for the Australian Chamber – Tourism and the Executive Director of Restaurant and Catering Industry Association Australia, the peak national industry association representing the interests of the restaurants, cafes and caterers in Australia. Mr Hart has spent over 30 years working in the hospitality industry in operational, Human Resources and Industrial Relations roles, trained in food and beverage management at the École hôtelière de Lausanne, in Switzerland, holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Business Law and is currently undertaking a Masters of Business Law.

Mr Hart is a current Board Member for Australian Business Register, Western Sydney Unlimited Ltd, Restaurant and Catering Industry Association of Australia, Food Standards Australian and New Zealand, and the National Tourism Industry Training Committee Ltd. Mr Hart will also be instrumental in developing Australia’s next long term tourism strategy, as a member of the Beyond Tourism 2020 Steering Committee.

Penny Fowler, Director

Penny Fowler

Director

Penny is Chairman of the Herald & Weekly Times & News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador. Penny is Chairman of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, a Board member of The Australian Ballet, Deputy Chairman of The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and a Board Member of The National Portrait Gallery. She is also on the Advisory Board of Visy and the Advisory Board of the Bank of Melbourne.

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.