Stuart Lennox (Chair)

Stuart Lennox is the Chair of Destination Southern Tasmania after being nominated to the Board in 2016, and elected in 2017. His tourism consultancy provides advice to industry and Government agencies.  Stuart spent ten years as Director of Visitor Services with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS), during this time he project managed the development of the Three Capes Track.  The project highlights the role signature tourism experiences can play in increasing visitation to regional communities in a sustainable manner.  Prior to working for PWS, Stuart developed a strong understanding of the needs of the industry whilst working in various roles in Tourism Tasmania, including Marketing Manager, special interest and niche tourism, Manager of Training and Development and nature based tourism.  He has been a regional (Southern Stars) State (TICT) and National awards and site judge.  A strong believer in Tasmania, in tourism in Tasmania and of the critical role regional tourism can play in building stronger communities, Stuart brings with him a passion and wealth of experience to guide and support Destination Southern Tasmania. When he is lucky he gets to ride his long board at his home break, Mays Point.  When the seas are quiet he rides, walks, dives and climbs to some of the most beautiful places on the Earth, all here in Tasmania!

Daniel Aitken (Deputy Chair)

Museum of Old and New Art (Mona)

Daniel Aitken is the Senior Marketing Manager for the Museum of Old and New Art.

As a Tasmanian-born marketer, with over a decade of industry experience, Daniel is passionate about the continued growth and management of tourism in Tasmania. Through his time with Mona, dating back to before its opening, he has seen the shape of the tourism industry change dramatically from within one of the state’s largest attractions and is passionate about helping build the industry by working closely together with other tourism industry and business operators.

Since 2010, Daniel’s role within Mona has grown to focus on the development and management of the overall marketing and strategic planning for Mona’s tourism and cultural activities. Daniel’s passions centre on arts and events tourism, brand development and research/data-driven marketing.

Dr Samantha Fox

Glenorchy City Council

Dr Samantha Fox is the Director Strategy and Development at Glenorchy City Council. In this role, she leads the development of Council strategies and plans, and facilitates Glenorchy’s $1.9 billion development pipeline. Samantha also oversees the implementation of Glenorchy’s Economic Development Strategy and Economic Recovery Program, both of which place a strong emphasis on growing Glenorchy’s visitor economy. Samantha is passionate about leading communities to help them achieve environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspirations. For two decades, she has worked in State, Commonwealth and local governments, providing strategic advice on social, environmental and economic policy, managing diverse teams, multi-million-dollar projects and delivering outcomes for communities. Samantha has qualifications in science, psychology, governance and business.

Dean Griggs

Derwent Valley Council

Dean Griggs is the General Manager of Derwent Valley Council, a role he commenced in May 2020.  Dean moved to Tasmania following 20 years in local government where he held roles at two local government authorities in Victoria.  From 2001–2010, Dean worked at the City of Darebin in Melbourne’s north, managing community services and programs at the executive level. Dean then spent nine years at City of Melbourne managing social investment through to economic development and tourism.

Jennifer Bett

Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority

Jennifer Fitzpatrick is a passionate member and advocate for the tourism industry in Tasmania. Having first arrived as an international student over 20 years ago, she has had a wide range of experience of Tasmania’s tourism industry from hospitality to adventure tours, interpretive guiding, wildlife park operations, sales and marketing, experience development and special events.

In her nine years with Tourism Tasmania, Jennifer worked directly with trade and media partners to raise awareness of Tasmania; providing strategic marketing advice to the international consortiums, state-wide organisations and government partners.  She re-joined Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority in 2016 as the Marketing and Communications Manager for Port Arthur, Cascades Female Factory and Coal Mines World Heritage Sites.

Jennifer is active on a number of industry committees including the Tasman Business and Tourism Association, Skål International Hobart and she is the Vice Chair of the ATEC Tasmania Branch.

Anne Hardy

University of Tasmania

Dr. Anne Hardy is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Tasmania and the Director of the Tourism Research and Education Network (TRENd). She is a specialist in tribal marketing,  the drive tourism and recreational vehicle market and issues related to sustainability. Her research has been conducted both in Australia and overseas, including in Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Anne is particularly interested in collaborative research that forms two way linkages between the university and the broader tourism industry.

Andrew Hennessy

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys

Andrew is a passionate Tasmanian who has been involved in southern Tasmania’s tourism industry for 13 years. As General Manager for Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, he is involved in the overall strategic management of the company’s six award-winning products which operate from Bruny Island, the Tasman Peninsula and Hobart. During his time in the industry, he has developed strong connections with tourism operators, industry partners, government and stakeholders.  He also previously operated a web design consultancy working with a variety of tourism clients across southern Tasmania.

Andrew believes it’s important that we work collaboratively to create a strong, sustainable tourism industry and welcomes the opportunity to contribute with his experience and skills in tourism operations, marketing, distribution and stakeholder management as part of the Destination Southern Tasmania Board.

Damian Mather

Frogmore Creek

Damian is passionate about building partnerships to strengthen and enhance the unique visitor experiences Tasmania has to offer. He entered the industry 21 years ago, refining his skills with studies at Drysdale TAFE and University of Tasmania. In 2005, he embarked on a working holiday to the UK; staying 6 years and working at 5-star Firmdale Hotels and managing various restaurants across London.

In 2011, he commenced employment at MONA; working in The Source Restaurant and progressing to Food & Beverage Coordinator for MONA Festivals and Events. After MONA, he worked at RACV RACT Hobart Apartment Hotel, during which he was approached for a Business Development Manager role with The Glass House and Brooke St Larder. Damian soon developed a keen interest in Business Events and began to realise the huge potential of Tasmania in this lucrative segment. A chance meeting in 2017 saw Damian gain employment with Frogmore Creek and move into his current BDM role.

Damian is the current Chair of the Coal River Valley Tasmania Tourism Association, and he is excited about the future of tourism in Tasmania and the new opportunities continued growth will offer all Tasmanians.

Tim Parsons

Curringa Farm

Tim Parsons is a sixth generation Tasmanian farmer and owner of Curringa Farm – a beautiful 750 acre sheep and cropping farm at Hamilton in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley.

In recent years Tim and his wife Jane have become significant players in the Tasmanian tourism industry, offering hosted accommodation and farm tours which are extremely popular with visitors from South East Asia, partly as a result of Tim’s extensive travels to Asia over the past eight years. In 2016, Curringa has added five new luxury cottages and a new visitors reception centre is underway to cope with the growing demand.

Tim is passionate about tourism in Tasmania and his 20 years of experience in the industry enables him to contribute to issues at state and regional  levels to provide outcomes for local communities.

Mayor Kelly Spaulding

Tasman Council

Kelly has spent a total of 10 years in Local Government, a reflection of his passion for his home and regional communities in general.  Attendance at the nationally recognised Young Farmers Forum and 2002 Young Rural Leaders Program along with active involvement in Rotary and a number of other community organisations have honed Kelly’s leadership skills.

Kelly has had a diverse range of career experiences, including forestry plantation management, live seafood export, and flower farming and floristry.  In recent years, a focus on tourism and hospitality as a small business owner with interests in accommodation and food and beverage, has led to a deeper understanding that for small business to thrive in regional areas, there must be an integration between the tourism sector and other business sectors.

Drawing on a multitude of life experiences, Kelly knows that regional tourism can lead the State.

Rachael Trueman

Driftwood Cottages, Essentially Tas

With over 14 years’ experience in the industry, Rachael is a passionate advocate for tourism in Tasmania’s South. Until recently, she was owner/manager of Driftwood Cottages and is the founder of Essentially Tas, a short stay management organisation focusing on the provision of self-contained tourist accommodation throughout the Huon Valley and Far South. As a small business operator Rachael’s skill set includes accountancy, marketing and administration.

She is a regional industry leader, with strong involvement and commitment to both Huon Valley local tourism associations: Far South Tasmania (Treasurer) and the Huon Valley Tourism Network (Chair). She has been a member of the Huon Valley and Kingborough Steering Committee and the Southern Trove Reference Group, and more recently, the Southern Edge Drive Journey Working Group. She is also a founding member and inaugural president of Far South Future, a community advocacy group with a focus on sustainable development.

As a DST board member, Rachael will continue to strive for a collaborative approach to tourism in southern Tasmania.