Conference Program

MP22's conference sessions will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre on Wednesday 23rd November.

The program will feature engaging keynote speakers, industry thought leaders and topical breakout sessions that aim to foster thought provoking discussions and solutions.

Click here to register to attend the conferencing sessions.

Please see a breakdown of the conference program below.

Morning Session: 1

8.50am: Conference to commence

Welcome to Country
Conference Welcome
Federal Ministerial Address

9.25am: A beautiful way to be, presented by Tourism & Events Queensland

Queensland’s travel for good purpose-led brand positioning has been designed to ensure TEQ realises its consumer-led, experience-focused and destination delivered marketing approach. The Queensland brand is underpinned by the breadth and depth of hero experiences delivered across Queensland’s destinations. Michael will be unveiling how TEQ will express the brand position in the international markets.

Presented by: Michael Branagh, Group Executive Marketing, Tourism and Events Queensland

9.40am: Recovery in a changed/changing world - data driven insights

As a global rising star in the field of data management, Simon will share his insights about the future of inbound tourism, demographic shifts and how to take advantage of change.

Presented by: Simon Kuestenmacher, Director & Co-founder, the Demographics Group

10.20am: Come & say G'day to TA

Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison will lead a panel discussion with Tourism Australia’s Regional General Managers about what they are seeing in key tourism markets and share insights about what they are hearing from their key distribution partners about Australia as a global tourism destination.

Chris Allison
Regional General Manager,
North America
Tourism Australia

Brent Anderson
Regional General Manager,
South & South East Asia
Tourism Australia

Derek Baines
Country Manager,
Japan
Tourism Australia

Eva Seller
Regional General Manager,
Continental Europe
Tourism Australia

Moderator: Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director, Tourism Australia

Morning Session: 2

11.30am: Tourism on the other side

Unpacking the recovery of tourism globally and at home, Adele will consider the intersection of travel intentions, economic concerns and travel behaviour to map the return of international visitors to Australia.

Presented by: Adele Labine-Romain, Tourism Sector Leader & Partner, Deloitte Access Economics

12.00pm: Sustainability leadership, part of the DNA of Tropical North Queensland

Mark Olsen, along with local industry leaders will share how leadership in sustainable destination and product practices have positioned Nth Qld as a desirable destination (and what it means for attracting international travellers).

Belinda Danks-Woodley
Area Director, Marketing and Communications
Crystabrook Collection

Eric Fisher
GBR Biology Manager
Experience Co.

Dale Mundraby
Founder
Mandingalbay Ancient
Indigenous Tours

Mark Olsen
CEO
Tourism Tropical North Queensland

Afternoon Session: 1

Delegates will be invited to attend two of four topical breakout sessions. Each of the sessions below will be replicated twice.

1.30pm - 3.20pm: Theme based breakouts x 4 - (50min x 2)

Breakout Option One: Mainstreaming sustainability

This session will explore measures to help businesses embrace sustainability throughout their entire operations – both internally and through to the supply chain. Delegates will hear from businesses and destinations who’ve made change for the good and how it is paying it forward.

Tara Bennett
CEO
Port Douglas Daintree Tourism

Steve Edmondson
Managing Director
Sailaway Port Douglas

Elissa Keenan
CEO
Ecotourism Australia

Jason Moore
General Manager Operations Reef Magic Cruises & Marine Operations Manager
Experience Co.

Nadine Schramm
Certification Manager
Ecotourism Australia

Moderator: Anna Taylor, National Manager - Membership & Policy, ATEC

Breakout Option Two: Accessible & inclusive tourism - "The $11 billion opportunity"

This session will offer an open discussion around the size and opportunity of the accessible and inclusive tourism market. Delegates will hear from expert panellists Carolyn Childs and Martin Heng who will help demystify the process of how to adapt and position your product to attract this increasingly lucrative market.

Carolyn Childs
CEO
Futurist & Strategist MyTravelResearch.com

Martin Heng
Communications Professional
Inclusive Travel Advocate

Moderator: Jessica Keen, National Manager - Industry Development & Capability, ATEC

Breakout Option Three: Distribution check-in - investing in the long game

This session will explore the key tourism distribution changes, challenges and opportunities in a post-covid environment. A range of industry leaders will provide their insights on current factors impacting the trade distribution chain and how we, as an industry, can navigate our way forward.

Shahnaz Bakshay
Senior Director of Sales, Australia and New Zealand
TFE Hotels

Jennifer Bett
Marketing & Communications Manager
Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority

Caroline Densley
Owner
Diverse Travel Australia

Richard Doyle
GM Global Sales and Distribution
Sealink

Drew Hamilton
Director of Sales
Down Under Tours Australia

Ashleigh McEwen
Senior Manager, Business Development
Klook

Kathy Turner
General Manager
Goway Travel

Moderator: Dave Atherton, Regional Manager - FNQ, NT & SA, ATEC

Moderator: Deb Carr, Regional Manager - WA, VIC & TAS, ATEC

Breakout Option Four: Attracting and retaining our future tourism industry leaders: how can you be a star employer?

Businesses around the world agree that they are facing an extremely challenging business environment. As part of this, it is critical to equip our emerging leaders with the necessary skills to manage through this disruption. This session will feature a panel of a star employers and emerging leaders who will look at the latest statistics about what they want most from organisations for success and will focus on what they have found is best practice in the tourism industry.

Josh Basir
National Sales Manager - Leisure and Wholesale
Minor Hotels

Craig Wacca Waccholz
Managing Director
Let's Go Surfing

Shirley Zhou
Business Development Manager Visitor Experiences
Sydney Opera House

Evelyn Moolenburgh
Managing Director
Learning Ventures

Elisa Phillips Turner
ELITE Coach
Learning Ventures

Afternoon Session: 2

3.50pm: Launch of ATEC's Tourism Training Hub & 50th Anniversary

Celebrating key wins, new initiatives and 50th anniversary celebrations.

4.15pm: ATEC Excellence Awards

5.00pm: Conference close