Board

Joseph Griffiths (Chairman)

Joseph is the Managing Partner of Great Southern Hospitality Management, a small consulting firm specialising in consultation to Tourism, Hotel and the greater hospitality Industry. In addition to the responsibilities of administering the functions of TIC and the Aussie Host program Joseph is the owners representative for 2 of Canberra’s premier corporate hotels, is an Adjunct Lecturer in Hotel Management at the Australian International Hotel School and provides consultancy services to several not for profit organisations within Canberra.

In 2006 Joseph was awarded the prestigious award of Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to the Hotel Industry at the ACT and Region Australian Hotel Association Awards for Excellence.

Previously, Joseph was the Group General Manager of the Doma Hotels Group, a subsidiary of the Doma Group. Doma Hotels being the largest privately owned accommodation provider in the National Capital. Doma Hotels operates over 420 rooms in the inner southern region of the city. Employed in the hotel and resort industry in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland for the last 20 years, Joseph brings extensive knowledge of the accommodation sector to the TIC Board table. Joseph has lead the opening teams of several high profile hotels and resorts in NSW, Victoria and the ACT and has owned and operated his own restaurants and boutique event management business.

Christopher Peters AM OI JP SFCDA FAICD (Deputy Chairman)

Christopher Peters has been a Director of the Tourism Industry Council (ACT & Region) Limited since it was incorporated. He is the Chief Executive of the ACT & Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a position he has held since June 1997. He was previously the Chief Executive of the Printing Industries Association of Australia, Chief Executive of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Chief Executive of the Company Directors’ Association and foundation Executive Director of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a Chartered Director. Chris represents business on over 20 ACT government boards or committees, including 3 statutory authorities. he is a commissioner on the Skills Commission, Deputy Chairman of the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies, a member of ACT Vocational Education and Training Advisory Group. He is a member of General Council of the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI). He is Chairman of the Multicultural Business Chamber of Australia Incorporated, Chairman of the Indigenous Business Chamber of Australia Incorporated and Chairman of the Corporate Directors Association of Australia Limited.

Honours:-
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) awarded by the Governor-General of Australia (2004)
Order of Isabel la Católica (Official Cross) awarded by His Majesty the King of Spain (2008)

Alex Ananian-Cooper

Alex Ananian-Cooper is Manager Aviation and Environment for Capital Airport Group, operators of Canberra International Airport.

Alex has worked for Capital Airport Group for the past two years on aviation development, aircraft noise and environment and legal issues and has extensive knowledge of airport and airline operations in Canberra and around Australia.

Alex has completed Law and Arts (honours) degrees from the ANU.

Trent Russell

Trent is the General Manager of the National Zoo and Aquarium. The National Zoo and Aquarium has become one of the world’s best practice zoos and one of the very few private zoos in Australia entrusted with some of the world’s most critically endangered species in their breeding programmes.

Stuart Walsh

Stuart is the Dean of the Tourism & Hotel Management Faculty at the Canberra Institute of Technology and also the Chair of Tourism & Hospitality Skills (ACT & Region). Stuart is a qualified chef and has over 22 years experience in the hospitality industry. Stuart’s experiences range from having run his own catering and culinary design businesses in Melbourne to working in a variety of kitchens, including the position of Executive Chef at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club. He has also represented Australia at various national and international culinary events.

After many years working in the tourism and hotel management industry, Stuart is an advocate for mentorship and industry involvement in vocational education and training. Stuart hopes to consolidate his position at CIT both nationally and internationally. He also aims to work closely with regional produces and food services businesses in the ACT region through a Regional Produce Initiative which is designed to showcase the enormous potential of the region.

Allan Williams

Allan Williams is the Regional General Manager ACT, Qantas Airways (Canberra) and is responsible for all Qantas commercial activities in the ACT. Allan has been employed in the airline industry since 1974, and has held Regional General Manager positions with Qantas since 1994, most recently in New Zealand responsible for all Qantas commercial activities in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Trish Kirkland

Trish has over 22 years experience in the marketing field gained with national media organisations, advertising agencies and cultural institutions in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra. The past 5 years she has been the Marketing Manager at the National Museum of Australia, more recently also taking over responsibilities of sponsorship management at the Museum. Trish has a keen interest in design and creative industries, and is a strong advocate of the role cultural tourism plays in Australia’s tourism landscape.

Matthew Young

General Manager of Crowne Plaza Canberra and National Convention Centre. Matthew has over 19 years of hotel industry experience, working in various locations throughout Australia, New Zealand and Vanuatu including Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia and Auckland. Matthew has been General Manager of IHG properties across Australia since 2001, where he has had led his team to numerous awards including “Best Conference Facility” for two years running as awarded by Meeting and Events Australia (MEA). Matthew’s relentless drive to deliver excellent customer service led to his hotel winning the best “Feedback from Guest Satisfaction Survey” in 2005 within the entire Asia Pacific Region.

Councillors:

Doug Edwards

Doug Edwards is the Chief Operating Officer for Prime Television based at Prime’s newly renovated digital broadcasting facility in Canberra. Doug has been in the television industry for in excess of 15 years, 11 of those with Prime. Doug’s current position involves the overseeing of Prime’s network digital broadcast facility in Canberra as well as the administration, sales, marketing and commercial production acquisition for Prime’s New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australian operations.

David Marshall

David Marshall is Vice Chairman of the Canberra Business Council, chair of the Council’s Tourism, Arts and Sports Task Force, and a Partner in Talk Force Consultants and Trainers, providing tailored workshops in ‘advanced communications skills development’, specialising in senior executive media and presentation skills.

David also sits on various Boards and Working Groups in the ACT including Calvary Hospital, Snowy Mountains Southcare Helicopter Fundraising committee, Salivation Army Advisory Board, Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal, Rotary Club of Canberra. He recently chaired the Tuggeranong Homestead Authority and the Gold Creek Homestead Site Redevelopment Committee for the ACT Government.

David was CEO of Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation from 1994-2000 and Chief Executive of FM104.7 and 2CA from 1988-1994.

Robyn Hendry

Robyn Hendry has worked in the Australian and international meetings and tourism industry as a senior executive for more than 15 years. She has held senior management positions in multinational hotels in food and beverage, human resources, general management and strategic development.

She is Chief Executive of the Canberra Convention Bureau (CCB) and was previously general manager of the National Convention Centre. She was also a CCB board member from 2001 to 2002.

Robyn’s knowledge of the Australian meetings and tourism industry gives her a unique perspective on the activities of the TIC. Her key objective is to increase Canberra’s profile as a business events destination and to ensure the city’s national and international reputation continues to be enhanced.

She is currently National President of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) and has held positions on numerous industry boards and taskforces including the Australian Hotels Associations Accommodation Division, Canberra Business Events Scoping Study and national Indigenous tourism projects.

Steven Fanner

Steven has been the General Manager of the Australian Hotels Association – ACT Branch since 2004 having previously worked in public affairs and policy roles with two national industry associations. The AHA’s members represent over 95% of Canberra’s 3, 4 and 5-star hotel rooms and the broader hospitality industry including restaurants, bars, nightclubs and conference venues.