Staff

Dianne Smith
Chief Executive

Dianne is the Chief Executive of Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC), which is the peak industry Council representing the needs of tourism and events in Victoria.

She started in this role in January 2012, which allows her to draw from knowledge gained from over 20 years in the industry, working in regional and Melbourne positions, and covering marketing, visitor services, policy and strategy.

Her previous role was Manager Tourism Partnerships, Parks Victoria, which she undertook for 9 years.

Prior to parks, Dianne was Executive Director, Ballarat Tourism and Marketing and Visitor Services Manager at Melbourne Zoo.

Dianne has also worked in the hotel and computer industries and has a Bachelor of Economics and Politics from Monash University.

Dianne was proud to recently become an Adjunct Professor, Victoria University – a role in which she can mentor young people into the industry.

Melinda Anderson
Business Development and Operations Manager

Melinda Anderson is VTIC's Business Development and Operations Manager. Joining the team in August 2012, Melinda’s role includes managing the operational activities of VTIC including stakeholder relations, industry development, excellence and networking programs and exploring new membership and growth opportunities so VTIC can continue to speak with one voice on behalf of the Victorian tourism and events industry.

Melinda has over 16 years’ experience in the tourism industry with roles in the private, public and tertiary sector. Recently these include Tourism Manager at Launceston City Council, General Manager at Tscharke Pty Ltd and Director of Marketing at Sovereign Hill.

Letitia Hatton
Policy Manager

Having travelled extensively in her early 20s, Letitia decided a career in tourism was for her. Having completed a Master of Tourism at Monash University, Letitia moved to Canberra, where she worked for the Australian Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.

Letitia worked for three years in the International Tourism Section of the Department and was primarily involved in multilateral engagement with organisations such as the UNWTO. Letitia also worked on the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy, particularly through the consultation stage.

Craving a move back to the bright lights (and hot chocolate) of Melbourne, Letitia accepted the Tourism Policy role with VTIC while Kristina Burke goes on maternity leave.

Letitia brings a sound knowledge of policy process and a keen interest in the tourism industry to this role and looks forward to achieving some positive policy outcomes for members.

Kristina Burke
Policy and Operations Manager (on maternity leave)

Kristina started out in hospitality at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, before moving to Germany to study. She worked at the Australian Pavilion at the 2000 Hannover Expo before returning to Melbourne, where she took a break from hospitality and spent a number of years as an executive assistant in the financial services sector.

Kristina's tourism career commenced in earnest when she joined the Marketing and Events team at Federation Square, where her responsibilities included web content and communications management, event coordination and managing the guided tour program. She then took on the role of Advocacy, Policy and Project Co-ordinator for Tourism Alliance Victoria, tackling a wide range of issues and delivering a number of local government projects.

Now as VTIC’s Policy and Operations Manager Kristina looks after the day-to-day operations of the association and continues to play a leading role in VTIC’s policy development and advocacy work. Policy work requires undertaking stakeholder consultation to inform written submissions to Government and most recently she has worked on VTIC’s submissions to:

• the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) Inquiry into Tourism;
• the Regulatory Impact Statement for Licensed Tour Operator Regulations 2011; and
• the Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry

Kristina sits on the tourism industry advisory boards for La Trobe University and Service Skills Victoria. She holds a Master of Tourism from Monash and in 2010 attained a Diploma of Management through Swinburne.

Eloise Cawthan
Membership and Advertising Sales Executive

Eloise has recently moved to Melbourne from her hometown of the Gold Coast where she held the exciting role of Cluster Business Development Manager for Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) including all properties in QLD and Vanuatu for the MICE market. Having a passion for snow skiing, Eloise worked in Canada during the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games 2010 as the Ticketing Supervisor based in the world renowned ski town of Whistler. Pre and Post Olympic Games she spent 4 months backpacking around South America, Mexico & North America.

Prior to her time in Canada Eloise held the position of Sales & Events Manager for Mantra Legends Hotel and Q1 Resort & Spa for 3.5 years, managing all market segments for both hotels. During her time with Mantra, Eloise was awarded Leader of the Month on more than one occasion.

After completing a Bachelor of Hotel Management at Griffith University in 2003, Eloise moved to London to start her career in the hospitality and tourism industry and explore the sights of Europe. For the 2 years she worked with Marriott International starting off in the revenue department before being offered the position of sales coordinator.

Eloise brings 10 years of sales experience with her to the role of Membership and Advertising Sales Executive and is hoping to increase the membership levels for VTIC moving forward.

Nigel Preston
Events Coordinator

As an excited teenager, Nigel first volunteered to help out with the RACV Energy Breakthrough in 2002. Over the following 10 years, his involvement grew from MC & stage presenter to Co-convenor of the whole event.

Nigel’s career (so far) has included managing youth participation events for the Victorian State Government, the RACV Energy Breakthrough and World Vision. He has also both participated in, and helped organise, a number of human powered vehicle races across Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. He has also run a number of student forums for University students and professional development days for teachers.

Nigel is a Bendigo-boy who has completed a Bachelor of Public Relations at RMIT. He is also an experienced website developer and avid online content editor.

Monica Lougoon
Office and Membership Services Coordinator

Monica is the Office and Membership Services Coordinator for VTIC. As well as coordinating the day to day running of the organisation and being front line contact for general information on membership, activities and projects, Monica works on a number of activities including stats collection for Visitor Information Centres and member attractions, listing your community event on visitvictoria.com and assisting with delivery of the Regional Victoria Business Events Program.

After completing Certificate 5 in Business Administration at the Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE Monica began working as a trainee administration assistant with Tourism Training Victoria. In May 2001 Monica started with Country Victoria Tourism Council and during the evolution to VTIC has also worked for a number of tourism organisations including Tourism Alliance Victoria and the Victorian Tourism Operators Association.

Monica is the longest serving staff member making her the office go-to girl for all things tourism and is notorious for remembering important milestones such as team birthdays!
 

Chris Porter
Executive Officer Business Events Victoria/ Executive Officer Cultural Tourism Victoria/ Industry Development Coordinator

Contact for Cultural Tourism Victoria, Business Events Victoria and Young Tourism Network.

In 2002 Chris graduated with a Bachelor of Viticultural Science, thus his formal training and background lies within the wine industry. Since graduating, Chris further developed his skills working as a cellar hand for 18 months, advancing his knowledge of the wine making process.

Employment with the Australian Wine Tour Company (AWTC) for nearly 4 years presented Chris with an opportunity to enter the tourism industry whilst applying his current wine knowledge by leading winery tours to the Yarra Valley and also becoming strongly involved in the Sales/Marketing division for the company. Through his experiences at AWTC an interest in Victorian Tourism was sparked and Chris is now an active member of the Young Tourism Network.

Late in 2006 Chris was awarded the Lynette Bergin Tourism Fellowship with a focus on understanding and strengthening Victorian tourism within the Japanese market.

Since 2008 Chris has been employed with Tourism Alliance Victoria and Victoria Tourism Industry Council in a number of roles.

He has lead key projects including our Local Government engagement, Adventure & Nature-Based Forum and coordinated the Victorian Tourism Conference in 2010. Currently Chris is the Executive Officer for both Cultural Tourism Victoria and Business Events Victoria.
 

Wayne Lee
Business Development Manager – Business Events Victoria

Wayne comes to this role with much experience in the sales, marketing and business events sectors. Wayne started his career more than 15 years ago within the Melbourne hotel industry before moving on to specialising in conferences and events.

A move to New Zealand in 2003 saw Wayne take up a business development role with Auckland Convention Centre at THE EDGE, where over a number of years he took responsibility for developing new conference business with a focus on multi-day conventions from Australia and international forums. 

After a stint with Tourism Australia – New Zealand, where he took responsibility for Tourism Australia’s relationships with its trade partners and managing Business Events Australia’s trade relations in New Zealand, Wayne returned to Australia.

Wayne is now focusing on growing the economic benefit of business events in regional Victoria and is responsible for building relationships with key clients and facilitating conference leads and bids for regional Victorian venues.