I have spent the past 20 years building a career that allows me to live my mission of showcasing the value of regional and rural communities and supporting them to thrive through tourism and events. I join the dots in tourism and events by connecting community values and aspirations with business and visitor economy opportunities to create vibrant and resilient destinations. Since 2008, I’ve been the Managing Director of Tilma, a consultancy I established to help regional and rural communities thrive through tourism and events. I have worked with clients from all over the country, supporting them with destination development, experience design, capability building and strategic activation projects that achieve results. Some personal highlights have been helping Destination Phillip Island grow its off-peak season through events; developing an experience development program and mentoring farmers to expand into agritourism for Cootamundra Gundagai; developing the Brisbane Economic Development Agency Best of Brisbane Region Support Program; and co creating the Latrobe Events & Visitor Economy Strategy to help the City transition into their new economy following the closure of its power stations.In 2019, I co-founded the Australian Centre for Regional Events (ACRE) with fellow event specialist, Cathy Treasure. ACRE provides robust event management training to Councils, regional tourism bodies, event volunteers, festival directors and industry and community groups to empower and build confidence in event organisers to stage high-quality events, and to build capability to ensure events remain dynamic and viable into the future. ACRE has supported over 200 regional and rural communities to harness the power of events to transform their destinations. Tilma and ACRE have allowed me to work with some of the country’s most iconic destinations and events, spanning from its most southerly point on the Bass Coast of Victoria, up to one of the most northern points at Cape Tribulation in Queensland, and from its most easterly point at Cape Byron in NSW, right through the heart and into the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of WA…and everywhere in between! I have also served as a board member on the Australian Regional Tourism and have been a speaker at numerous industry events, including for Economic Development Australia, Australian Regional Tourism, Festivals Australia, WA Tourism Industry Council, LGA NSW and many state and regional conferences and seminars. If you’re as passionate about regional Australia as I am then let’s connect!