Destination Southern Tasmania (DST) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, 25th September 2024, at Iron Creek Bay.
The event highlighted DST’s ongoing commitment to supporting the region’s tourism industry, with key discussions surrounding board elections and governance.
As part of the AGM proceedings, three elected Directors—Jennifer Bett (Secretary, Port Arthur Historic Site), Dan Aitken (Deputy Chair, MONA), and Alice van der Woude (On Board)—retired by rotation. Nominations for the three vacancies closed prior to the AGM, and seven candidates, including all retiring Directors, put themselves forward for re-election.
With the number of nominations exceeding the available positions, an online voting process took place prior to the AGM, allowing financial DST members to cast their votes. The election drew strong interest, particularly from small business operators, underscoring the high level of engagement within the tourism community.
After a closely contested election, the three Directors re-elected by the membership are:
- Alice van der Woude
- Dan Aitken
- Jennifer Bett
The board reappointed Dr Anne Hardy as DST Chair, Dan Aitkin as Deputy Chair, and Cally Lyons (Rathmore) as regional representative.
DST extends its thanks to all nominees for their commitment to supporting Tasmania’s tourism industry. The willingness of individuals to step forward and contribute is a testament to the collaborative spirit that helps Tasmania shine on the national stage.
In addition to the election results, DST also welcomed Edwina Morris, who joins the board as the new Director nominated by Tourism Tasmania. Her appointment follows a decision to create a permanent State Government representation on the board, which was subject to a constitutional vote later in the meeting.
A special thank you to retiring director Melita Hickling for her outstanding work with DST over many years.
The DST team looks forward to working closely with both its newly elected and returning board members as they continue to champion the growth and success of Tasmania’s tourism sector.
