Ian Mason Email and Phone Number

Contracted to review training course units as an industry expert for Crown College (Crown Melbourne Ltd)Judge - Australian Tourism Awards 2023 - current Judge - Queensland Tourism Awards 2017-2018, 2022 - currentJudge - NSW Tourism Awards 2014 - current (including a Lead Judge in 2023-2024)Judge - Hunter & Central Coast Awards for Excellence in Tourism 2014Contract work includes writing award submissions for:Swenson Estate- 2021 HMA Awards (finalist)Silkari Suites at Chatswood- 2018 HMA Awards (multiple finalists) - 2019 HMA Awards (finalist)- 2022 HMA Awards (multiple finalists)Crowne Plaza Terrigal- 2015 TAA NSW Awards For Excellence (1 Gold, 1 Highly Commended, 4 Finalists)- 2015 MEA Awards (2 Finalists)- 2014 TAA NSW Awards for Excellence (1 Gold, 5 Finalists)- 2014 Hunter & Central Coast Awards for Excellence in Tourism (1 Gold, 1 Bronze)- 2014 Central Coast Business Awards (1 Gold, 2 Finalists)Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach- 2015 MEA Awards (1 Finalist)- 2015 TAA NSW Awards For Excellence (1 Finalist)Holiday Inn Potts Point- 2015 TAA NSW Awards For Excellence (2 Finalists)Crowne Plaza Canberra- 2015 AHA ACT Hospitality Awards (2 Finalists)Wrote the winning submission for 'Most Outstanding Contribution By An Individual' at the 2007 Victorian Tourism Awards, awarded to John Ellis from Hanging Rock Winery.

Returned to my nominal role following a secondment as a project manager for the Sarina Sugar Shed

Secondment role to prepare a detailed business case to council for a full redevelopment of the Sarina Sugar Shed (attraction and distillery), Liaised extensively with internal stakeholders and external consultants.

Responsible for the overall management of the Sarina Sugar Shed, a multi-award winning food tourism experience - the only facility in Australia to showcase the growing, harvesting and processing of sugar cane.Financial achievements :- Record visitation - 53,962 in 2023-2024, a 23.6% increase over 2022-2023 (up from 10,000 in 2016-17)- Record overall revenue - >$1 million in 2023-2024- Record booking income - 8.2% increase over 2022-2023- Café revenue - 51% increase over 2022-2023- Ticketed event revenue - 229% increase over 2022-2023- Retail sales - 6.9% increase over 2022-2023Operational achievements:- Completed a full rebrand of the facility- Initiated an online store- Created the Sarina Rum Club- Developed and launched a new website- Transitioned to a channel manager for bookings- Undertook a staged refresh of the facility - Improved the inclusivity and accessibility of the facility - Refurbished and resourced the café and commercial kitchens- Reviewed staffing structure- Created new positions including Operations Supervisor, Café Cook and Production Assistant- Introduced new experiences including tasting sessions and a distiller's experience- Created new events such as Dinner with the Distiller- Managed a hazardous area review of the distillery- Silver and 2 x Bronze Awards at the Queensland Tourism Awards- Gold (Best Tour) and Silver (Best Foodie Experience) at the national Grey Nomad Awards

After returning to Australia due to the outbreak of COVID-19, I joined Torrens University as a casual lecturer in Leadership within the Masters program at Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, delivering firstly face-to-face and then transitioning to online preparation and delivery during COVID.

In this contract role with William Angliss International (Asia), I was responsible for developing engaging and compelling resources for delivery to ESOL learners, conducting interactive and entertaining classroom delivery, assessing learner submissions, compliance under both the Australian and Chinese education requirements, and undertaking relevant administration to record and report student results.

In this role, I was responsible for preparing, delivering and assessing training and development content for Australian units of competency in event management and hospitality management to Chinese students at Shanghai Second Polytechnic University under a partnership agreement with TAFE Queensland. I also continued to develop and expand my experience in compliance, audit preparation and participation, gap training, skill gap analysis, learning content preparation and delivery, use of a learning management system, development of individual and group L&D strategies for ESOL learners, assessment development, assessment integrity and industry engagement with hotels to build employer-student relationships.

In this role, I was responsible for the effective, efficient and inspirational management of Martin College's Tourism & Events faculty at the Brisbane and Gold Coast campuses.My day-to-day responsibilities included student engagement and progression, student management, developing L&D strategies for the faculty, teacher supervision and management, academic compliance, academic problem solving decision-making, developing new tourism and event training packages within packaging rules, curriculum and resource development, academic and student administration, industry relationship development, and career assistance, guidance and mentorship for students.

- Sessional lecturer at William Blue College of Hospitality Management- Sessional lecturer at APM College of Business and Communication. - Writing of learning & teaching resources and assessments against the national training package.- Connecting with industry businesses to facilitate work experience opportunities for students

I was a Senior Account Manager in the Abu Dhabi office, with responsibilities as the account lead for Accenture Middle East, a global management consultancy company, and the 2014 World Future Energy Summit, 2014 International Water Summit and EcoWASTE exhibition for Reed Exhibitions. In this role, I was responsible for creating original marketing content for my clients, developing goodwill opportunities, planning crisis management, and generating engaging publicity activities. I was also the account lead for Reed Exhibitions Middle East, managing the PR activities for the 2013 World Future Energy Summit and the 2013 International Water Summit in Abu Dhabi (with over 30,000 attendees, 600 exhibitors and 700 international media representatives), as well as the 2013 International Jewellery & Watch Show. The PR campaign for WFES2013 which I led won a silver medal at the 2013 International Business Awards (the Stevies).For 5 months, I was seconded to the in-house account with Etisalat (the Middle East's leading telecommunications operator), and have worked on PR projects for PepsiCo (programme launch), Qatar Tourism Authority (media relations) and Abu Dhabi Media (internal communications).In this role, I demonstrated excellent time management skills, customer service management skills, sales strategy skills when pitching for new business, and achievement of key metrics. Additionally, I developed and delivered bid proposals to new and existing clients, liaised with sponsors and created engaging content.

As a freelance writer for Arabian Travel News, I contributed influential content through customer service columns and regular destination feature articles including Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India and Winter Breaks.

I had multiple senior responsibilities at this boutique marketing, sales and PR agency in Abu Dhabi:Public Relations - strategic development and implementation of corporate communications campaigns, and management of in-house and client public relations projects.Supervising Editor, Tempo magazine - a monthly magazine (distribution 30,000) which was community-oriented with a youth focus.CSR - management and promotion of BrandMoxie's CSR initiatives including Tamakkan (business knowledge sharing) and The Planetarians (environmental sustainability)Training/team building - development of corporate training and team building programs for clients such as BP Middle East and ADMA-OPCOIn this role, I developed sales strategies and activities to achieve sales growth, utilised my extensive customer service management skills, and demonstrated strong time management skills.

My expertise in my chosen field of tourism and travel enabled me to contribute to the development of the next generation of professionals as a business and services trainer and teacher at vocational level.

L&D industry trainer to frontline hospitality and tourism staff in Abu Dhabi and tour guides in Dubai, contracted through Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute.Delivered almost 70 training and development sessions in human services (customer service, information sourcing and cultural products and services) in the hospitality and tourism sectors to groups of up to 55 attendees.

Casual teacher in tourism, events, hospitality and business units of competency at Diploma and Advanced Diploma level

Casual teacher in tourism and events units of competency at Diploma and Advanced Diploma level

Key Contracts:• Marketing & Communications Manager - Retirement Village Association• Freelance travel writer - Cairns Post (News Limited)• In-house Journalist - Wide Bay TAFE • Lecturer, Tourism Management - University of Southern Queensland• Media/Publicity Consultant - World Heritage Cruises • Publicity Consultant - Lady Elliot Island Eco-resort • Marketing/Media Consultant - Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism• Marketing/Media Consultant – MI Helicopters• Account Executive – Big Ideas Marketing & Promotions• Sales agent for Connections Adventures (APT), Billy Tea Bush Safaris, North Cove Apartments, Queenslander Hotels, Après Ski BarKey Achievements:• Leading freelance writer for Passport To Cairns publication• Wrote Tourism Marketing Plan for Cairns Civic Theatre• Wrote winning submissions in Queensland state and regional tourism awards• Helped launch World Heritage Cruises (Tasmania) into Fraser Coast region

In this limited contract role, I started as Tourism Development Team Leader to cover for the Tourism Manager who was seconded to acquit a $450,000 federal government tourism development grant.As such, I was responsible for tourism development, tourism promotional activities, visitor servicing and industry relationships within the Macedon Ranges region. However, during my term, the project manager left the role and I was moved over to finalise the implementation of the grant project activities, which included new regional entry signage, the development of industry-sector collateral including a winery map and brochure, the creation of 3 visitor information bays, and refreshed entry and interpretative signage at Hanging Rock.

I was responsible for project managing an AusIndustry grant initiative - in conjunction with academic partner, Victoria University - to develop an international e-commerce booking facility for YWCA and YMCA hotels and hostels worldwide. I also undertook a range of marketing activities such as brochure and collateral development, partner engagement, and industry collaboration.

I was a senior advertising copywriter, writing, editing and producing successful advertising, promotional and community service copy for a range of local and national clients.

I was Creative Director for 3TT in Melbourne before it changed to TT-FM 101.1 on the FM band (now KIIS). Responsible for the on-air commercial content, including writing, editing and producing successful clients ads, writing promotional briefs and promotional copy, and overseeing community service content.

I was a freelance and short-term contract copywriter for clients such as Fox FM 101.9, 3TT (now KIIS Melbourne) and Bay-FM Geelong

I was responsible for writing, editing and producing advertising copy for a range of local and national clients at Sydney's No. 1 radio station