I bring a wealth of experience in destination marketing, business development, and stakeholder relations, honed through years of leadership in the tourism industry. My passion lies in driving strategic priorities that elevate a destination's appeal and enhance its long-term growth. I’m excited about the opportunity to lead Destination Port Stephens and contribute to positioning this stunning region as one of Australia’s premier visitor destinations.In my previous roles as General Manager of the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association and Executive Manager of Marketing at Reflections Holiday Parks, I’ve successfully led large-scale marketing campaigns, strengthened relationships with key stakeholders, and delivered tangible results. I’m driven by a commitment to growth, collaboration, and delivering exceptional visitor experiences, and my vision aligns with the exciting future ahead for Destination Port Stephens.

Buds & Beads was founded by me and my great friend, entrepreneur and hotelier Karina Barry. With more than 35 years of food, wine and hospitality in our veins, we both share a hunger for finding new paths to fulfill our calling for connecting people in ways that are wholesome, nurturing, uplifting and rewarding. The range of 17 extraordinary, ethically grown leaf teas we’ve selected for Buds & Beads is just a drop in the ocean of some 3,000 tea varieties to be found around the world. We think they’re the finest drops! Our true passion is our Sparkling Tea range, a healthy sparkling wine alternative that tastes great and has all the benefits of premium leaf tea.We love that the cultivation and naming of each tea for the province it is grown in, is similar to the way in which wines are characterised. The selection process taught us that, just like wine, we can only fully appreciate a tea once the factors contributing to its unique characteristics are known, such as its place of origin, the altitude, climate and soil composition where it is grown, when it is picked and how it is processed.Curious about our brand name? The buds are the delicate, first flush of Spring growth, hand-picked for our premium teas while they’re bursting with flavour and life-giving nutrients. The beads are the stream of fine bubbles that effervesce from our luscious and nourishing sparkling teas.The bones of it, comes down to a close-knit couple of food-wine-and-fun loving women, whose lifestyles and bodies were crying out for some #notboringthanks nurturing, that we could happily embrace in our everyday.

Bringing over 25 years experience in management and marketing roles in the private and public sectors, including an Executive position in marketing at Reflections Holiday Parks, General Manager of the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association and past owner and Managing Director of Thomas Wines.

Executive Manager – Marketing, of NSW Crown Holiday Parks Land Manager t/a Reflections Holidays Parks, who operate 37 holiday parks across NSW. Reporting to the CEO, this role included the formation and execution of a strategic marketing plan with an annual marketing budget of $3m, and most recently for the delivery of a COVID Recovery Marketing Strategy, which included the development of a $720k multi-media marketing campaign. My key achievements whilst at Reflections Holiday Parks included: • delivering on-brand, dynamic and relevant content to target audiences, growing social media engagement by 17% • the development of media worthy content to communicate good news stories, including social good and business achievements – one campaign alone called “Find The Feels” that ran from September to December 2020 generated over $17m in bookings, reached over 30m consumers through earned media, 68 pieces of media coverage and 4 national television broadcasts on the Weekend Today Show, Studio 10 and Sydney Weekender • the development and execution of a Brand Book• the development of a consumer brochure for all parks• 100% increase of online bookings through web development and marketing initiatives driving traffic to the site • growth of the Reflections Rewards Club loyalty program by 75% by implementing strategies to acquire new members and keep existing members engaged• the development of 6 new partnerships including Westpac Helicopter, Camplify, Surfing NSW, Newcastle Knights, The Wellness Traveller, Elite Energy Events and Weber.This role also involved leading a small and dynamic team of 3 to deliver on all Reflections Holiday Parks’ marketing and communication activities and the loyalty program.

Our mission is to preserve, protect, enhance and promote the Hunter Valley brand on behalf of the Hunter Valley Wine & Wine Tourism Industries.We are responsible for destination and wine marketing, advocacy, business improvement and representing all facets from viticulture through to winemaking, marketing, tourism, cellar door and sales activities.In striving to be the focus of excellence within Australia Wine & Wine Tourism, the HVWTA is committed to developing our member's businesses by assisting them to deliver positive and unique experiences to our visitors, consumers, as well as media and trade and cultivate a sustainable visitor economy.

Deliver a passionate message about The World Class Golden Door Health Retreats and the importance of holistic wellness, believing that balancing one's mind, body, and spirit will achieve lifelong wellness.

Tourism Hunter is a corporate organisation that is leading the way for the tourism industry through research, marketing and development. Tourism Hunter works in partnership with local government, local tourism operators and stakeholders to steer the way forward and drive sustainable financial benefit from local, domestic and international tourism.The Hunter region is a prosperous and dynamic destination with unique assets. Tourism is worth approximately $1.3billion to the Hunter economy and employs around 12,000 people directly in the region. Through managing and providing an umbrella structure for local tourism, Tourism Hunter provides practical advice and tactical insight that enables the industry to prosper long term by adapting themselves to an evolving, competitive market.Backed by the strength and support of Destination NSW and funded by industry contribution through local tourism associations, local councils and the private sector, Tourism Hunter is governed by a skilled, dynamic and business-astute board setting the strategic direction for the organisation. Operating in a fiscally responsible manner, Tourism Hunter acts as a professional conduit between state and local tourism to maximise mutual benefits

The Hunter Valley Wine Industry produces over 39 million litres of premium wine annually. This product is packaged and sold under Hunter Valley brands to over 50 countries worldwide and throughout the domestic market. The sales value of this wine is estimated at over $270 million per year with flow on affects of over $230 million. There are 125 wineries and over 6,000 hectares of vineyard situated in the Hunter which has been producing wine since 1830, and is Australia’s oldest wine region.Over 2.8 million tourists visit the wine growing area per annum. These tourists are estimated to generate over $560 million worth of business in the region. The tourist market is catered for by over 120 cellar doors, a variety of restaurants, major golf courses, guest houses, resorts & Bed & Breakfast accommodation, and masses of infrastructure that allows for a complete tourism experience for the visitor.

Over the past 100 years, Hunter TAFE has become a highly respected provider of quality vocational education and training, and has developed an innovative and responsive outlook essential in today’s technologically driven workplace.State of the art and industry quality facilities, combined with a team of highly qualified, industry experienced staff, ensure students receive the highest level of vocational education and training.Hunter TAFE comprehensively meets the needs of dynamic business and industry providing specially designed courses for individual workplace.Situated in the heart of the wine country and set in 200 hectares of park and native bushland (with resident kangaroos), the campus boasts state-of-the-art horticultural and wine making facilities, and has recently established the Hunter Valley Hotel Academy School with a large conference centre and residential accommodation available on campus for students and conference centre visitors. The Hunter Valley Hotel Academy School specialises in training in Hotel and Event Management and Wine Tourism.

The first vintage of Thomas Wines was produced in 1997 and has since grown to become one of the Hunter Valley's top producers of Semillon and Shiraz. Today the portfolio consists of two ranges, Individual Vineyard and Two of a Kind with a total production of only 4000 cases annually. Led by Winemaker Andrew Thomas the team focuses on making wines of exceptional quality. They have a ‘hands on’ approach to winemaking, implementing a modern spin on age-old techniques. The wines are lavished with attention, ensuring the high standards and attention to detail is maintained.