Board nominations 2023

I’m Gareth–a highly experienced Marketing Advisor and Creative Director with a deep passion for the tourism and hospitality industries.

As the co-founder and creative director of Propeld, a marketing and web development agency, I have dedicated 25 years to the fields of design and marketing, helping businesses thrive and flourish in competitive markets.

My specialisation lies in tourism and hospitality, where I have spent years advising businesses on strategies to increase bookings and customer engagement. My expertise has enabled numerous enterprises to reach new heights in their industries.

I am proud to say that I have enjoyed a 14-year professional relationship with Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine. This partnership has deepened my commitment to the organisation’s objectives and to promoting the Greater Geelong Bellarine region as a top-notch tourist destination.

I am eager to bring my extensive experience, creativity, and unwavering dedication to the tourism and hospitality sector to the board, and I am confident in my ability to contribute to the continued success of the Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine board as a Marketing Advisor.

With over a a decade of experience leading marketing strategies and implementation for some of Geelong’s largest organisations, I believe my folio of work and education experience has provided me with the skills to support the objectives of the Tourism Greater Geelong and Bellarine Board.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University in 2014, my career has been a journey through various marketing roles across retail and real estate management (Colliers), tourism (Hyper Social), and entertainment (Supatramp/Supaworld). These experiences have given me a deep understanding of the local tourism economy and its unique challenges and opportunities.

I currently lead a team of marketing specialists at Arthur St Digital, whilst providing strategic guidance to a range of Australian brands. In this capacity, I’ve honed my skills in digital marketing strategy and regularly provide hands-on training sessions to empower local businesses in enhancing their digital marketing capabilities.

My positive passionate energy and cultural understanding for our region is unwavering. I am committed to actively advocating for everything our region has to offer.

I am a committee member of the Young Tourism Network.

I am mentoring students at William Angliss and The Gordon TAFE.

My career spans 3 decades in travel, tourism, & hospitality industry. My expertise covers various sectors. I have facilitated and coordinated diplomatic groups, to deploying 300+ ADF personel to crisis locations.

A 8-year detour in the sporting industry, from working with grassroots to the top tier of the NBL. My responsibilities included delivering exceptional game day experiences, including Grand Finals, managing ticketing sales, marketing, sponsorship, and partnerships, and implementing disability community engagement programs.

Now a small local tourism owner/operator, I have forged strong personal connections and business relationships with local domestic and international industry stakeholders. Most valued are my connections with local wineries, micro-brewers, local distilleries, and close collaborations with our artisan producers & accommodation businesses.

I believe in the vision of positioning our region as a world-class destination. With my skills set, aligning with the Boards objective collectively together including Avalon International Airport as part of our events packages we can do it.

Over the past 20 years, I have held positions within the industry including roles at Tourism Victoria, Victoria University Events & hotels. In my current role as Director of Sales & Marketing at Novotel Geelong, I have worked alongside Business Events Geelong in attracting events to the region. I have developed strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, industry partners and suppliers at local, domestic, and international levels.

I have had the privilege to advocate and represent tourism operators at numerous trade shows, exhibitions, conferences, and events including the Australian Incentive Meetings Expo, Corporate PA Summitt and more. I have an extensive knowledge of the key components of tourism/business events within the region, including the importance of targeted marketing, offering a wide variety of accommodation, conferencing, major events, exhibitions, weddings, food and beverage. The Business Events sector provides a significant contribution to the region’s economies. It’s important we continue to work together to grow this sector to new levels as we embark on an exciting period that has already delivered the opening of new hotels and the future development of the Convention Centre. I know I can continue to contribute and advocate, representing both members and the region with positivity and passion.

From a young age I always had a desire for the Tourism and Events Industry, always being the one planning our family events and holidays which led me to study an Advanced Diploma of Tourism and Event Management.

With over 15 years’ experience within the Tourism and Hospitality industry I pride myself as being a passionate contributor with meaningful and respected relationships among our industry’s leaders.

Managing the Higher Mark sales team at the Geelong Cats, I’m responsible for driving event revenue and growth across GMHBA Stadium’s 32 function spaces whilst ensuring our clients experience remains front of mind. During my 6 years my experience & dedication to the club has ensured the Higher Mark arm of the business continues to grow year on year which ensures our region is front of mind when choosing an event destination.

Being selected as the Business Events skills based Board Member would further drive my passion and experience as well as allowing me to step outside of my comfort zone.

Geelong born and bred I have a love of our region and would be honoured to share my passion and knowledge with our members to drive continued success of our city.

With over 23 years’ experience in Tourism & Events I am passionate in driving the industry and growing the economy in Regional Victoria along with leading staff to implement innovative trendsetting products.

After completing an Advanced Diploma of Event & Hospitality at The Gordon and with 9 years’ experience in the industry at that time I returned to The Gordon to teach Tourism, Events & Hospitality prior to taking up Sales & Event Management roles in corporate hotels for Accor and Marriot.

Currently as Group Head of Conferencing & Events for The Sharp Group, I manage the event teams at Jack Rabbit Vineyard, Curlewis Golf Club & Accommodation, The Range, Flying Brick Cider House & Leura Park Estate all located on the progressive Bellarine.

I have developed strong relationships with tourism bodies such as TGGB, GO Beyond, BEG, Visit Victoria, & GSTR, presenting at many industry forums such as AIME, ATE and Interstate Sales Missions promoting Geelong and The Bellarine to international and domestic markets. I have designed and implemented conferencing and events action plans at venues such as Sheraton Melbourne, Novotel Melbourne, Mantra Lorne, Novotel Barossa Valley and Novotel Geelong with a specific focus on MICE.

As a dedicated supporter of giving back to the community, I have volunteered on several committees since 2001: Secretary of the Apollo Bay Kindergarten, Apollo Bay Music Festival President & Festival Director for 3 years and President of The Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce.  After moving to Geelong, I was the President of Belmont High School Parents Association, a fundraising committee member with Give Where You Live Golf Day & GSODA.

I would be thrilled to share my knowledge and experience with Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine to assist in achieving the shared vision of becoming a world-class, inclusive destination where memories are made.  Thank you for your consideration.

In addition to holding a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounts & Finance) from Deakin University and spending 10 years working in senior Accounting and Management Positions, I’m also the owner and Managing Director of Murphys, Queen of the West and Eureka Hotel.

Varia is a passionate marketer with over 28 years in the tourism & hospitality industry. Living in Geelong, she is the Director of Sales & Marketing for Vue Apartments and R Hotel, and is dedicated to connecting guests with experiences and creating memories. The best part of her job is working with the Geelong & Bellarine members to expand the region’s brand awareness.

Varia started working in tourism destination marketing as an inbound tour operator in 1996 in South Australia, developing leisure and wine tourism programs for the international market. From there, she has worked in Sydney expanding her sales and marketing experience to Corporate and Meetings & Events before moving to Queensland in 2001. The next 19 years were spent based in Queensland, selling and marketing destinations, hotels, tours, and experiences from the Daintree, Cairns, Whitsundays, Gold Coast, Brisbane Regional NSW, and Melbourne before relocating to Geelong in 2020.

Other experience include NSW ATEC committee, QTIC Tourism Awards Judge, Secretary & Treasurer of SKAL International Australia and active member of National, State and local tourism bodies.

I look forward to working with the members and community of Geelong & The Bellerine to take our destination to the next level.