Chief Executive Officer - Rebecca Brown
Rebecca commenced as Director General of the
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) in September 2018.
In this role, she is also Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Western
Australia. Rebecca has overseen
significant changes across JTSI to position the agency as critical to advancing
the State Government's key policy agendas, including growing local jobs,
diversifying the state's industry base and export potential and continuing to
leverage the broader research, science and innovation community to advance
outcomes for Western Australia. She was appointed Acting Director General of
the Department of the Premier and Cabinet from March 2020 to May 2021 to
support the State Government's early response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rebecca
returned to her role as Director General of JTSI in June 2021. She has worked
across both Federal and State Government agencies in a range of senior roles
across revenue and economic policy, social policy, resourcing and performance.
Rebecca has held senior positions at both WA Treasury and the WA Department of
the Premier and Cabinet, where she oversaw key reforms between the public and
non-profit community sectors.
Managing Director - Carolyn Turnbull
Carolyn Turnbull is the Managing Director at Tourism
WA and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the agency including the
promotion of WA as an incredible tourism destination, working with industry and
government to improve access, accommodation and tourism experiences and
delivering a world-class events calendar. Carolyn has more than 20 years of
international leadership experience in the tourism, hospitality and aviation industries,
and spearheaded the development of the western gateway as Chief Aviation
Development Officer at Perth Airport. Carolyn is a graduate of the Cornell
School of Hotel Administration Advanced Management Program and holds an
Executive MBA in Hospitality Management through Nanyang Business School,
Singapore. She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company
Directors.
Chief Financial Officer - Renato Sansalone
Renato is responsible for our financial and accounting services and ensuring the agency's compliance with financial matters. Renato has more than 25 years' experience working in finance-related positions within the WA Public Sector. Previous agencies include the Department of Culture and the Arts, where he held Chief Financial Officer roles at the Art Gallery of WA and the WA Museum, the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, and the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor. Renato joined Tourism WA in 2012 and is also currently the Chief Finance Officer for the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation and the Anzac Day Trust.
Executive Director - Corporate Services - David Lowe
David leads the Corporate Services team which supports
the agency by providing financial services, risk management, human resources
management, information management, ICT and procurement/contract services.
David has worked in the WA Public Sector for more than 30 years. His career
spans roles at Water Corporation, Family and Children's Services, MetroBus and
the Public Service Commission. In 2019,
David accepted an expanded role providing corporate services to the Department
of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. David joined Tourism WA in 2001.
Executive Director - Marketing - Melissa Forbes
Melissa and her team focus on implementing our
marketing strategy in Australia and our key international markets, leading the
WA tourism brand strategy and the development and implementation of destination
marketing campaigns. The division
oversees trade partnerships, media buying, brand and creative, digital
platforms, data strategy, social content, public relations, and
familiarisations, and management of Tourism WA’s 11 global marketing
offices. Melissa has nearly 20 years of
brand and marketing experience, leading teams across the government,
hospitality and travel sectors, including destination marketing projects at the
City of Perth, and overseeing public relations at Voyages Hotels and Resorts,
based at Ayers Rock.
Executive Director - Events - Anna Last
Anna leads the Tourism WA Events division, which develops, sponsors, markets and promotes a diverse calendar of sporting, cultural, arts and culinary events that showcase Western Australia and give visitors a time-specific reason to visit the state. This includes support for major and regional events through the Tourism WA Major Events Fund, Regional Events Program and Regional Events Scheme. Anna joined Tourism WA in 2021, with over a decade of experience in partnerships, media and communications, having worked internationally in London and in Melbourne and Perth. Most recently, Anna managed the Corporate Partnerships team at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.
Executive Director - Destination Development - Renata Lowe
Renata leads the Destination Development division,
which focuses on the supply-side of tourism, working with the public and
private sectors to encourage the development of incredible tourism experiences
and destinations that create memorable holidays. The division is responsible
for Aboriginal tourism, workforce development, cruise tourism attraction,
policy and planning and destination development, and includes a case management
team to help significant private sector developments navigate planning
approvals. Renata has around 30 years' experience in the tourism industry
working in visitor servicing, marketing and destination development. She is a past CEO of Australia’s Golden
Outback regional tourism organisation, interim CEO of the WA Indigenous Tourism
Operators Council, and was Tourism Policy Advisor for former State Tourism
Ministers. She joined Tourism WA in 2009.
A/Executive Director - Strategy and Engagement - Steph Underwood
Steph heads up the Strategy and Engagement division,
which oversees the agency’s Insights and Planning, Industry and Partnerships, and
Corporate Communications divisions. Steph has 10 years’ experience in the
public sector in roles focusing on cross-government coordination and delivery and continual improvement, and comes most recently from JTSI in a Program
Director position and, before that, working within Fire and Emergency Services.
Steph is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has
held volunteer board positions, including at the South Coastal Women's Health
Services.
A/Director - Office of the Managing Director - Ian Johnson
Ian leads the Office of the Managing Director (OMD) within the broader Strategy and Engagement division. The OMD provides support to the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Management Team, is responsible for Ministerial liaison, and leads the development of the agency's corporate and operational plans. Ian has worked in the WA Public Sector for more than 40 years, mostly at Tourism WA in a variety of roles ranging from Public Relations to Marketing, Product and Regional Development, and Executive Services. Ian also managed the agency's east coast sales team and coordinated the annual Sir David Brand Awards for several years. From 2010 until late in 2021, Ian was on secondment as Policy Advisor to successive Tourism Ministers.
Director - Corporate Communications - Kate Hodges
Kate leads the Corporate Communications team within the
broader Strategy and Engagement division. The Corporate Communications team is
responsible for promoting the work of the agency to the WA tourism industry,
domestic news media and the wider community. The team focuses on strategic
communications, media relations, speech writing, digital communications and
print publications, as well as internal communications and events for the
agency. Kate has more than a decade of media and communications experience
across a range of diverse industries including journalism, business, industry
advocacy and local government, with more than five years’ experience in the
Australian tourism sector, having joined Tourism WA in 2022 after working for
Tourism Australia.