Say hello to our 2024 locations based board nominees! There’s a wealth of experience among the individuals who have thrown their hats in the ring this year, each with their own blend of skills and strengths.
Click to reveal more information about each of them and the contribution they hope to bring to the organisation. Members: don’t forget to cast your vote in person at our Annual General Meeting, which will be held 24 October at the Geelong Sports Museum at Kardinia Park.
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Helen Meikle
Bellarine Nominee -
Peter Wallace
Location Based Board Member: Bellarine -
Cam O’Keefe
Geelong Nominee -
Tennille Moisel
Location Based Board Member: Geelong -
Kerri Erler
Bellarine Nominee -
Kym McIntyre
Geelong Nominee -
Marie-Claire Trotter
Location Based Board Member: Bellarine -
Mark Day
Geelong Nominee -
Kruno Velican
Geelong Nominee
Helen Meikle
Bellarine Nominee
Helen Meikle is the Founder and Director of the Artisans of Australia gallery and restaurant, situated in Curlewis on the Bellarine Peninsula. Since 2019, she has been a resident and entrepreneur in the Bellarine, fuelled by a desire to enhance tourism through collaboration and connection with both residents and visitors. Prior to her move to Australia in 2011, Helen worked at the House of Commons in the UK, where she assisted Members of Parliament with planning-focused research. She was subsequently recruited by Deakin University as part of the Vision 2 Geelong redevelopment initiative.
Helen holds a BSc Psychology (Hons) and a MSc Community Development. Her extensive experience traverses hospitality, healthcare, education, and most recently, the arts sector. Helen established the Bellarine Peninsula Arts Association Inc. in 2022, formed a committee, and coordinates the highly successful annual North Bellarine Arts Trail.
Eager to promote tourism in the region, Helen is particularly interested in collaborative opportunities, cross sector networking, and promoting The Bellarine region to a wider Australian audience; and seeks to create opportunities for direct connections between artists, the hospitality industry, and local producers.
She believes that simple problems require straightforward solutions, achievable through effective communication, honesty and collaboration.
Peter Wallace
Location Based Board Member: Bellarine
With over a decade of experience in the tourism industry, primarily in marketing and sales at Searoad Ferries and its associated businesses, I bring a deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities our region faces. I have served on various school councils, sporting club committees, and community-based working groups, which has provided me with a solid foundation in governance and collaboration.
In my role at Searoad Ferries, I’ve honed a creative and innovative mindset, which has allowed me to ideate, plan, and execute a wide range of marketing campaigns aimed at driving patronage and enhancing the visibility of our tourism offerings. My skills in graphic design, web development, social media, and videography enable me to take a holistic approach to problem-solving and strategy execution. These skills have been instrumental in delivering campaigns efficiently and effectively, all in-house. I’m passionate about thinking outside the box to achieve results.
Above all, I am deeply committed to reinvesting in the industry that has given me so much. I believe that my dedication to collective success will be instrumental in helping the board achieve long-term growth and sustainability for the region.
Cam O’Keefe
Geelong Nominee
While undertaking a Bachelor of Commerce here in Geelong at Deakin University, I fell in love with the hospitality industry and started working in our local restaurant and wine scene. After completing the degree, I gained experience across many facets of our industry from working in service and management roles based in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and London. Since returning to Geelong a decade ago, I’ve launched and operated (then sold) successful hospitality venues, first with CENTRA in 2015, and then Westend in 2019.
After opening CENTRA in old run-down pub, the venue received numerous accolades including ‘Pub of Year’ in 2017 (state winner) and I was named ‘Young Restaurateur of Year’ (national winner) in 2018, amongst other favourable reviews in The Age Good Food Guide, The Australian, and Herald Sun. I established many community connections during my tenure here, as I started to building strong relationships with hospitality organisations like Wine Geelong, Tourism Geelong and Bellarine, Business Events Victoria, The Gordon, and The Geelong Wine and Food Society (as well as local industry events like Tastes of Central Geelong and The Geelong Wine Show)
Launching a new venue (Westend) just prior to the pandemic proved challenging, but thankfully was able to survive this period and see the business grow. During this time, I was twice named as finalist in the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ category of the Geelong Business Awards, and was chair of the ‘Little Malop Street Trader’s Association ‘ which help look after the combined interested of business owners in that precinct. Seeing this business develop and survive through the pandemic remains my proudest achievement to date.
Currently, I work with Deakin University’s hospitality arm, whilst also enjoying being part of the small team at Brae Restaurant in Birregurra (3 Hats and our country’s ‘Regional restaurant of the Year’). I’m passionate about seeing our local hospitality and tourism industry thrive, and do my best to promote Geelong venues and events through my weekly column, ‘The Geelong Palate’, that I write for the Times News Group. I am also invested in the care and development our boarder community, sitting on the board of Hope Bereavement Care, as well as helping fundraise for some smaller organisations.
Tennille Moisel
Location Based Board Member: Geelong
As one of the owners of Splatters Cheese Bar and also the Co-CEO at Platform Arts, I have a broad perspective of the unique experiences that Geelong and the Bellarine offers tourists visiting the region.
My board and governance experience includes leadership roles in several NFPs reporting directly to boards and committees along with five years serving directly as a board member.
As we continue to recover and build post COVID, I believe that tourism and adjacent businesses operating throughout Geelong and the Bellarine are focussed on moving beyond resilience to build a thriving and sustainable economy that continues to celebrate our exceptional offerings.
I relish the idea of joining the Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine board to contribute to the great work already being done on behalf of our industry, and also to provide a voice from the arts and hospitality sectors in this critical time in our region’s growth.
Kerri Erler
Bellarine Nominee
I have over 20 years of public service experience including the delivery of projects relating to community and tourism outcomes. I possess strong existing multi-sector networks and the ability to leverage relationships to support the work of the Board and to successfully achieve its organisational outcomes. I bring a reputation for successful collaboration, brokering and partnership development including with Traditional Owners.
Excelling in facilitating prosperous communities through driving community connectedness.
Throughout my career, my accomplishments have occurred in highly complex and challenging environments and exemplify my values-based leadership and my strong people management skills, along with my ability to influence and show initiative.
QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
Certificate of Governance and Risk Management-Governance Institute of Australia
Graduate Certificate in Business-AIB
Ethical Cities- RMIT
Prosperity Beyond GDP-University College, London
Performance Measurement in Government-ANZOG
Strategy and Collaboration in the Public Sector -ANZSOG
IAP2 Community Engagement Training
IAP2 Standing in the Fire – Transforming Conflict Through Collaboration
DeBono Six Hats and Thinking Systems Facilitators Training
Strategic Leadership Program
Effective Strategic Planning
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Current member, Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Served as a Local Government Councilor and Mayor ( 1990 – 1999)
Queenscliff Music Festival inaugural Board member
Osbourne Park Association – Member (past)
Kym McIntyre
Geelong Nominee
Having worked in the accommodation sector for over 25 years, and with a passion for tourism, I believe I can bring valuable insights, ideas and industry knowledge to the TGGB board.
My role as GM with Rydges Geelong over the last 4 years has given me the opportunity to understand the social, environmental and financial impacts of tourism and recognize the demand drivers unique to our region.
I have a strong background in inbound sales having worked as National Manager-Inbound, across AU & NZ. This involved working with key stakeholders, ITO’s and state tourism bodies to deliver mutually beneficial partnerships. I have experience in corporate travel, MICE and revenue management. I have coordinated multiple famils and trade shows, including ATE & TreNZ.
I hold a Bachelor of Commerce and was involved in the education industry as a tutor for Griffith University’s Bachelor of Tourism – developing the next generation of tourism professionals is a role that I feel very grateful to have been involved with.
With my knowledge of the tourism industry, and strategic sales background, I believe I am a strong candidate for this position, and I would be delighted to work alongside TGGB advocating for our region.
Marie-Claire Trotter
Location Based Board Member: Bellarine
As someone who has made a career out of showcasing the very best Geelong and the Bellarine has to offer, I would be thrilled to represent The Bellarine on the board of TGGB.
I started The Q Train in 2017 with my husband and my parents, and as CEO, I’ve overseen our growth from a dining-room table concept to an integral part of The Bellarine’s tourism landscape. This experience has honed my financial management, marketing and strategic planning skills. I’m a strong advocate for measured, sustainable growth, as demonstrated by The Q Train’s success despite the challenges of recent years.
A crucial part of my role is maintaining relationships with local businesses, groups such as VTIC, Visit Victoria, Tourism Australia, and national and international tour companies.
I have a dual MBA from the University of Ballarat and INSEEC Paris. As an enthusiastic community member, I’ve served on various boards and committees, including COGG’s Women in Community Life Advisory Committee, Ocean Grove Toy Library and OZACT Theatre Company.
I’d love to see Geelong become a leader in inclusive and sustainable tourism. I’ve seen its profile grow in recent years, and I am eager to contribute to our region’s continued success.
Mark Day
Geelong Nominee
I have extensive experience spanning 16 years in business development, communications and brand management, stakeholder relations, partnership and membership growth, domestic and international marketing, industry development, business and leisure events marketing. Including ten years experience in a strategic senior leadership position within Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine. During this time, I held the position of Business Events & International Manager.
Throughout my career I have worked successfully in a number of large hotels, including high-profile international hotel chains across Australia. I am currently the Director of Sales & Marketing for Bayside Geelong Hotel and Apartments.
I hold a Master of Marketing obtained from Deakin University completed in 2020 and have extensive experience on boards and committees, including;
1. Four consecutive years, I held the position of Chairman of Business Events Victoria, a $1.7m state government-funded Regional Victoria Events Program.
2. Past member of the Visitor Economy Recovery Taskforce, a group of key industry leaders from across Victoria convened by the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) in 2020 to articulate the needs of the sector.
3. Past member of the newly formed VTIC Events Sector Roundtable committee.
4. Victorian Branch Committee member for Meetings Events Australia.
Kruno Velican
Geelong Nominee
With over 20 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, I have become an accomplished, curious, empathetic, and results-driven leader. I have led teams, operations, and strategies to deliver outstanding results to all business stakeholders.
I am skilled in establishing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of the business and initiatives. Throughout my life journey, I have advocated for sustainable tourism practices that protect natural resources, minimize ecological impact and promote programs that educate tourists and locals about responsible tourism practices and conservation efforts.
I am passionate about establishing connections with local businesses, government agencies, and non-profits to foster a unified approach to tourism development, ensuring that diverse community voices are represented in tourism planning and decision-making. Being a tourism board member allows me to contribute to a thriving, sustainable tourism industry that prioritizes community well-being and delivers measurable success. My leadership experience, strategic vision, community focus, and commitment to excellence make me an ideal candidate for this important role.
