DIALOGUE Tourism + Business Luncheon: with Graham 'Skroo' Turner

Join Tasmanian tourism operators, business community representatives, and government leaders, at MyState Bank Arena, for Tourism Industry Council Tasmania's 12th Annual 'Dialogue' Tourism + Business Luncheon, brought to you by Hobart Airport. 

It wouldn't be a DIALOGUE Luncheon without conversation - and this year you'll hear from Graham "Skroo" Turner, CEO of Flight Centre Travel Group, as well as an industry panel Q&A with Tasmanian CEOs, all of whom are navigating major change and development in industries which will play an important role in Tasmania's visitor economy into the future.

TICT CEO, Amy Hills, will ask Skroo the hard-hitting questions covering everything from his personal experience and opinions of the industry and where it's headed, consumer behaviours and travel trends, future of aviation, and most importantly what Tasmanian tourism operators and businesses can do now to prepare and adapt to meet future demands. 

You'll then hear from three incredible Tasmanian CEOs in a Q&A discussion facilitated by Keryn Nylander, inaugural Chair of the Tasmania JackJumpers, - and we'll open up the floor for some audience questions as well.  

NOTE: Parking will be available at the back entrance to the arena where you enter the Derwent Room (the same space as the JackJumpers Emerald Lounge). 

EVENT DETAILS: Tuesday 7 May 2024 @ MyState Bank Arena, Derwent Room, 1 - 3pm

TICKET PRICE INCLUDES:

• Two-course lunch and Tasmanian beverages.
• Q&A conversation with CEO of Flight Centre Travel Group, Graham 'Skroo' Turner.
• Industry panel Q&A with three leading Tasmanian business CEOs.
• Plenty of networking opportunities with like-minded tourism and hospitality operators, business owners and stakeholders, and government officials.

A BIT ABOUT GRAHAM...

We're almost certain you've heard about him or seen his name in the media, and that's because Graham 'Skroo' Turner is an internationally recognised tourism professional. 

Skroo was raised on an apple orchard near the Queensland town of Stanthorpe and later trained as a veterinarian at the University of Queensland. After graduating, he worked as a vet in western Victoria before moving to London in the early 1970s. In London, Skroo and friend Geoff "Spy" Lomas, took their first steps into the travel industry in 1973 when they invested the equivalent of $1300AU in an ageing bus and started operating budget double-decker bus trips around Europe, North Africa and Asia. 

After an eventful start, that company, Top Deck Travel, grew quickly and its success cemented Skroo's future in the travel industry. Top Deck Travel had grown into a thriving business with some 80 buses by the early 1980s, when Skroo returned to Australia and launched the Flight Centre leisure travel business.

As the long serving chief executive officer and managing director of the public company that grew from the small band of Flight Centre shops, Skroo has since presided over a golden era of growth and prosperity for the Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT). Today, FLT is an ASX 100 company and has a market capitalisation in the order of $4.5billion. The company has more than 15,000 employees in 25 countries.

Skroo and his wife, Judie, also have a strong commitment to conservation and the environment, both personally and through the Turner Family Foundation, which oversees the flagship research facility The Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre. 

A BIT ABOUT OUR PANEL...

Norris Carter - CEO, Hobart Airport

Norris was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Hobart Airport in March 2021.

He has over 20 years’ experience in aviation. He was previously CEO of Cairns and Mackay Airports, and before that led route development at Auckland Airport. He spent 14 years at Qantas in roles including network planning, revenue management and loyalty, and earlier in his career worked at The Boston Consulting Group and IBM.

Kath McCann - Executive Director, Tasmania Football Club

Kath has worked across Executive roles in the public, private and for-purpose sectors, including extensive experience in the aviation, entertainment, tourism and hospitality industries. Kath is currently the Executive Director of Tasmania Football Club. Most importantly, Kath is wife to Adam and mum to Oscar and Harriet. She strongly believes in a positive mindset and an active lifestyle, you will find her regularly working with junior hockey teams and participating in fun runs.

Marnie Craig - CEO, Business Events Tasmania

Marnie was appointed CEO of Business Events Tasmania (BET) in 2018, and prior to this, she spent more than 13 years in various leadership roles at the Housing Industry Association (HIA). 

In her role at BET, Marnie oversees operations and works closely with stakeholders and industry organisations focusing on the ongoing strategic development of the business events sector in Tasmania and raising the profile of the organisation locally, nationally and internationally. 

For the past five years, Marnie has also sat on the Board of the TICT as well as the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux.

Dialogue is a major TICT event each year where we bring to Tasmania a significant national identity in the tourism, leisure and travel sector to address a local audience of tourism, business and government representatives. 

This event is proudly sponsored by Hobart Airport - making tomorrow's Tasmania possible.