Speakers

Josh Richards

Physicist, Commando, Explosives Engineer, Comedian, Astronaut Candidate, Exploration Cave Diver – one thing Josh Richards can never be accused of is being boring.

After a decade of picking up booby traps with the Australian Army, slogging through mud with British Commandos, being science adviser to the richest artist in the world, and performing comedy wearing a giant koala suit to confused audiences around the world, Josh decided to take on the final frontier by applying for a one-way mission to Mars. Selected from over 200,000 initial applicants to the Mars One project in 2012, Josh was shortlisted as one of 100 astronaut candidates launching to the red planet one-way in 2031. For the next decade, Josh travelled the world - training, preparing, speaking, and writing books with the single goal of helping our species evolve in order to establish a permanent Human presence on Mars.

When the Mars One mission was eventually shelved in 2020, Josh faced a clear choice: lament the loss of his Martian dream, or venture deeper into the planet he was already on. He chose the latter - turning his exploratory zeal to the depths of Earth's underwater cave systems. As the founder of the "Soggy Wombats" cave exploration team, Josh's dedication to applied science and passion for exploration has led to three of the most significant cave discoveries in South Australia's Limestone Coast region from the last 20 years - extending Engelbrecht's East by more than 400 meters in 2022, doubling the length of Iddlebiddy Cave in 2023, and most recently receiving national television coverage for uncovering the "Crazy Wombat Tunnel" in Pines Cave with its potential connection to nearby Stinging Nettle Cave.

Steve Sammartino

Steve Sammartino, globally esteemed futurist and expert in Artificial Intelligence, is best known for his dynamic and humorous keynote presentations that delight and illuminate audiences. His unique blend of energy, humor, and profound insights sets the stage for truly engaging experiences.

Beginning his technological journey at the young age of 12, Steve dove into the world of computational intelligence systems. His in-depth understanding of digital innovation and future technology has spurred him to create several world-first technological feats, demonstrating his ceaseless ambition to redefine possibilities. This same dedication led him to co-found Macro3D, an innovative AI and robotics company that is shaping the future of the industry.

Steve is also an accomplished author of three influential books. Among these, 'Think Like a Startup' stands out as a game-changer, equipping companies and individuals with essential tools to reset their mindset for the AI era. His incisive explorations into the interplay of technology, business, and society offer readers deep insights into our rapidly evolving digital world.

As the host of the national Technology TV show on Channel 9, "The Rebound," Steve brings his tech expertise to a broader audience, reinforcing his position as one of Australia's leading tech voices. His ability to provide expert commentary on the latest technological trends is highly regarded in the industry.

Hon Reece Whitby MLA - Minister for Police; Road Safety; Tourism; Great Southern

Hon Reece Whitby MLA is the Western Australian Minister for Police; Road Safety; Tourism; Great Southern. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly since the 2017 State election, where he was elected as the first local member for the new electorate of Baldivis, winning re-election in 2021 and 2025.

After growing up on the outskirts of Perth, where he worked in the family business from a young age, Reece had a long-standing career in journalism, starting as a cadet reporter at a country newspaper. This was followed by stints at the ABC and Channel Nine before joining Seven News, where he worked for two decades. He often reported on battlers standing up for a fair go, which sparked his interest in politics.

Reece has been a State Government Minister since his appointment as the Minister for Emergency Services; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Volunteering in 2021 as part of the McGowan Labor Government.

In his role as Minister for Environment; Climate Action, Reece was Western Australia’s first Minister to attend a United Nations Climate Change Conference, addressing audiences at COP27 and meeting Ministerial counterparts from across the globe.

Since the 2025 State election, Reece has managed Western Australia’s nation leading firearms reform program as Minister for Police. He is also providing advice to the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions. As Minister for Tourism, he has overseen the confirmation of WA’s full tourism recovery from COVID-19, with more than one million international visitors recorded in a year for the first time in the State’s history.

Reece and wife Natalie have four children – Faith, Sam, Luke and Hope.

Meg Coffey

Meg Coffey is a digital marketing strategist, agency founder, and the creator of some of Western Australia's most enduring marketing institutions.

Texas-born and Perth-made, Meg has spent over two decades building things that compound. In 2013, she launched SMPerth, WA's fi rst social media resource and community, giving marketers across the state a home for education, connection, and practical knowledge. Five years later, that community became the foundation for State of Social, now one of Australia's leading digital marketing conferences.

Anneke Brown

Anneke Brown is a passionate tourism industry professional, having spent the past 25 years in the hospitality and tourism industry, both in Australia and overseas. Calling Western Australia home, Anneke has a strong desire to see the State takes it’s deserved place on the global stage for tourism excellence. 

Whilst completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree, Anneke worked in hospitality at the Subiaco Hotel.  With her love of travel, Anneke joined Flight Centre as a Travel Agent in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics.  From there, Anneke moved to Bali and became the Reservation Manager of the central reservations office supporting 5 resorts across Aman resorts Indonesia. 

In 2001 Anneke took on the role of global Director of Training with Aman Resorts, and was part of the project team for 8 resort openings in Cambodia, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean.  In Australia Anneke has held management roles in Margaret River, and in central Australia as the Resort Manager of Longitude 131 at Uluru.  In 2010 Anneke moved back to Perth and became the WA General Manager of an Australian Registered Training Organisation, delivering hospitality training across the Pilbara. In 2014 Anneke joined the Old Treasury Buildings refurbishment project and took on the role of General Manager of the award-winning COMO The Treasury hotel from 2015 - 2020. 

Anneke’s passion for Western Australia and the tourism industry led her to forming Anneke Brown Consulting in 2020, specialising in hospitality and tourism projects.  Bringing international standards to hotel design and operations, along with excellence in training and education, the business provides solutions to local and international organisations with the desire to elevate their offering.   

Anneke holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a founding member and former Chair of Women in Tourism and Hospitality WA, Board Member of the Rottnest Island Authority and a former Commissioner on the Board of Tourism WA. 

Simon Brown

Simon Brown, Partner Business Advisory

Simon is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience providing taxation and business advice to tourism businesses. He manages a diverse portfolio of clients and delivers high-level strategic and commercial guidance tailored to their needs.

Working closely with clients, Simon focuses on achieving meaningful outcomes that support both business performance and personal goals. In addition to compliance services, he analyses financial performance and identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, including leveraging technology to deliver smarter, more cost-effective solutions

Jules Bush

Jules Bush is a leader in community engagement, regional development, and sustainable tourism, with more than 20 years’ experience across Western Australia.

She is Chair of the Shark Bay World Heritage Advisory Committee, and brings deep regional insight shaped by seven years lived experience in the Gascoyne. Her background spans tourism marketing, destination and economic development, social investment and WA's regional energy transition, supported by a Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management.

Jules is passionate about enabling regional communities to thrive through responsible tourism, strong partnerships, and long-term sustainability.

Louise Cashmore 

Louise Cashmore is a strategic marketing and events specialist based in Western Australia, with extensive experience delivering large-scale regional events and industry-led initiatives.

She is currently the Festival Director of the Gascoyne Food Festival and the Exmouth Prawn Festival, where she works closely with government, tourism bodies, producers and local communities to create place-led experiences that drive visitation, support regional economies and celebrate Western Australia’s unique food and cultural landscape.

Louise brings global experience, having worked across South Africa, Italy, Singapore, Brazil, China, India, Russia and Turkey. Her background in economics and marketing underpins a strong commercial focus, ensuring all activations are viable, purposeful and deliver tangible outcomes for stakeholders.

Her work is grounded in authentic storytelling - connecting people to place, provenance and community in a way that delivers both economic and social impact.

Through her agency Coffey & Tea, Meg works with brands in tourism and hospitality to close the gap between marketing effort and business outcome. Her approach is strategic first, creative second, and always accountable to results.

Meg is a regular speaker, lecturer, and panellist across the Australian marketing industry. She has judged industry awards, been named one of Australia's Top 50 Small Business Leaders, and been nominated multiple times for Campaign Brief's Ad Person of the Year. Her expertise has been sought by media outlets across Australia and internationally, from local broadcast and print to global platforms including the BBC.

What sets Meg apart is not just the credentials. It is that she has built communities, conferences, and client businesses from the ground up, and she understands the difference between marketing that looks good and marketing that actually works.

Rob Dougan

Rob Dougan serves as the Executive General Manager of Strategy and Culture at Tourism Australia. With a strong commercial mindset, Rob and his team shape the organisation's future driving better outcomes for the Australian tourism industry. Rob's department oversees: Strategy, analysing and identifying investment areas for Tourism Australia's finite time and resources.  Planning ensures alignment of activity around our organisational objectives.  Aviation route development drives connectivity for Australia.  Additionally, Rob champions People and Culture, fostering a high-performance work environment within Tourism Australia. Previously, Rob spent 15 years in marketing and advertising across Sydney and London, leading high-profile campaigns for Tourism Australia itself, along with Tourism Tasmania, EasyJet and Qantas amongst others, a background that cultivated his strategic and creative insights.

Kym Francesconi

Kym Francesconi has more than 25 years’ experience across Western Australia’s tourism, aviation and small business sectors, working closely with industry, government and regional communities. Her career includes roles as a qualified Dive Master, tour guide, business owner, board member, partnership manager and business advisor. Kym has owned and operated several tourism businesses, and previously held senior roles with Tourism Western Australia, the Small Business Development Corporation and Destination Perth, where she worked alongside tourism operators and stakeholders to support sustainable growth and strong visitor outcomes.

She is currently Group External Relations Manager with the HMC Group, which operates a portfolio of aviation and tourism businesses across Western Australia, particularly in the Kimberley. Her role includes representing Nexus Airlines, Aviair and HeliSpirit, as well as working across HMC’s broader tourism interests and essential air services that support remote communities and visitor access to the region. Kym is also a board member of Australia’s North West Tourism and is a strong advocate for the role regional air access plays in enabling tourism, strengthening local economies and connecting communities across the state.

Kara Golding

Kara Golding, Partner, Business Advisory

Kara Golding is a Partner in RSM’s Geraldton Business Advisory division, specialising in tax compliance and advisory services for small to medium businesses, with a strong focus on the tourism and hospitality sector.

Kara works closely with operators across the industry to provide practical, tailored advice that supports sustainable growth, improves financial performance, and navigates the unique challenges of seasonal demand, staffing, and regulatory requirements.

Kate Holsgrove

Kate Holsgrove is a highly accomplished executive with a distinguished career in aviation and retail property. Having recently concluded 12 months as Acting CEO of Perth Airport, Kate has transitioned into a new role as Chief Commercial & Aviation Officer. Kate has a wealth of experience in senior leadership with over 15+ years at Scentre Group (owner & manager of Westfield shopping centres) in WA, ACT and NSW prior to joining Perth Airport in 2019. Kate holds a Master’s in Business Administration, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is Chair at Tourism Council WA.

Alice Jeffcott

Alice is a senior strategic communications and marketing leader with extensive experience supporting tourism marketing and brand campaigns across Western Australia. As Director of Client Services at Market Creations Agency, Alice works closely with regional and metropolitan clients to shape compelling destination narratives that attract visitors, guide investment, support business objectives and strengthen community pride.

Alice specialises in destination branding, tourism marketing strategy and storytelling — helping regions articulate what makes them distinctive and translating that identity into cohesive brand, content and visitor experience outcomes. Her work spans story-led destination campaigns, tourism brand development, digital visitor platforms and integrated marketing strategies designed to influence perception, drive visitation and support sustainable regional growth.

With a strong background in stakeholder engagement, Alice regularly leads complex consultation processes with tourism operators, local governments, community groups to ensure brands are authentic, inclusive and future-focused. 

Alice is actively involved in delivering digital destination and website solutions for councils across Australia via the CouncilConnect program. 

Carol McCracken

Carol McCracken is the CEO of Caravan & Camping Western Australia, the peak industry body representing the caravan and camping sector across the state. This year marks Carol’s 40th year working within the travel and tourism industry, with experience spanning tourism, aviation, travel, marketing, and events across both international organisations and family-owned businesses.

Caravan & Camping WA is a not-for-profit industry association representing more than 330 member businesses across parks, trades, tourism, and associated services. Since joining the organisation, Carol has led significant transformation, strengthening membership, industry engagement, advocacy, and the profile of caravan and camping as a major contributor to Western Australia’s visitor economy.

Carol is recognised for her strategic leadership, strong industry relationships, and practical approach to collaboration and industry development. She also serves as Chair of Visit Mandurah and is passionate about supporting the continued advancement and recognition of Western Australia’s tourism industry.

Phil Youd

MD ThothX Australia PTY

Phil Youd, based in Perth, Western Australia, heads the ThothX Pacific team. With over forty years of experience in radio communications and management, Mr. Youd brings extensive expertise to his role. Besides his work at ThothX, he is a serial entrepreneur and serves as Chairman of the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. Phil is also responsible for overseeing ThothX’s Pacific Deep Space Radar deployment in Western Australia.

Senior Executive with more than 40 years of experience in radio communications

Serial entrepreneur and currently Chairman of the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum.

Provides executive leadership in Australia

Amanda Kendle

Amanda Kendle combines work in digital marketing with her love of travel and tourism and has run a consultancy helping businesses and organisations use social media and other online technologies for marketing since 2010.

Along with developing and running workshops for the Tourism Council of WA, Amanda is also a lecturer in Media and Communication at Murdoch University, has produced and hosted The Thoughtful Travel Podcast since 2016, and is Vice President of the Board of RISE Travel Institute, helping to educate travellers to see the world in impactful ways.

Ryan Mossny

Ryan Mossny is Chair of the Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco Tourism (FACET), Western Australia’s peak forum for cultural and eco-tourism advocacy, networking and professional development. Through FACET, Ryan supports the responsible use of Western Australia’s cultural and natural heritage through tourism, with a focus on sustainability, authentic interpretation, community engagement and industry best practice.

Ryan is also the co-founder of Two Feet & a Heartbeat walking tours and part of the ownership group of Matagarup Zip+Climb. His experience spans tourism product development, heritage, historical and cultural interpretation, tour guide training, product planning, place making, financial sourcing and grant application management. Since co-founding Two Feet & a Heartbeat in 2007, Ryan has worked with tourism organisations, governments and individuals to develop meaningful visitor experiences that connect people with place, story and community.

Rennee Turner

Rennee Turner – Director, Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys

Rennee Turner is a proud Yinggarda woman and Traditional Custodian of Yinggarda Country, part of the Yamatji Nation in Western Australia. She is the Director of Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys, an Aboriginal-owned tourism business delivering authentic cultural experiences, storytelling, and on-Country learning.

With a deep commitment to preserving and sharing cultural knowledge, Rennee creates meaningful connections between visitors and Country through guided tours, night sky experiences, and cultural awareness training. Her work is grounded in respect for her ancestors, community, and the environment.

Rennee also contributes to the broader tourism industry as a Director for WAITOC (Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council) and Australia’s Coral Coast, where she advocates for stronger Aboriginal representation and sustainable tourism development.

Through her work and partnerships, Rennee is passionate about creating opportunities for cultural exchange, empowering community, and ensuring that traditional knowledge is passed on to future generations.

Robert Taylor, MBA

Chief Executive Officer | Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC)

Robert Taylor, MBA, is a proud Nhanda, Yamaji man and the first Aboriginal CEO of WAITOC. With over 36 years’ experience across hospitality, tourism, mining camps and recreation, he brings strong commercial, governance and strategic leadership expertise to the Aboriginal tourism sector.

Since being appointed CEO in 2015, Robert has led WAITOC’s transformation from a marketing and advocacy organisation into a nationally recognised leader in Aboriginal tourism business development. Over more than a decade of leadership, this work has supported the development of more than 130 Aboriginal tourism businesses and created over 400 jobs across Western Australia.

Robert also played a key leadership role in the Jina Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan, which secured an initial $20 million investment from the Western Australian Government. Jina Phase 2 has now been released, with a further $20 million commitment to continue growing the sector.

Earlier in his leadership, Robert also helped advocate for and secure $40 million in national Aboriginal tourism investment, further strengthening the sector’s long-term growth and development.

A strong advocate for economic empowerment, Robert has also secured more than $6 million in philanthropic funding to support the development of Aboriginal business capability across the state. He is also Chair of the First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership, established to progress the creation of a national Aboriginal tourism body. His leadership is underpinned by a commitment to strong governance, strategic partnerships and long-term social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Edwina Shallcross

Mother of 3, red dirt running though my veins, sometimes wish it didn't! A passionate advocate for agritourism and connecting people through campfires, incredible food and conversation. Edwina Shallcross alongside her husband Tim run Bullara Station Stay located between Exmouth and Coral Bay adjacent to the Ningaloo coast.

Rachael Steadman

Wooramel Station and Wooramel River Retreat are family-run outback destinations in Western Australia’s Gascoyne region, owned and operated by Rachael Steadman and her family. Over the years, Wooramel has evolved from a traditional pastoral station into a tourism experience centred around honest outback hospitality, wide open spaces, artesian bathing, and a strong connection to the landscape.

Rachael is currently involved in developing Wooramel’s new wellness spaces, including a natural mineral pool and wellness experiences inspired by the elements of Wooramel — artesian water, open night skies, clay pans, coastal salt, and the quiet rhythm of the outback — encouraging guests to slow down, switch off, and reconnect with nature in a more meaningful way.

Carmen Braidwood

A familiar face and voice, Carmen is seen nation-wide as a presenter on the Nine Network’s Destination WA, a regular on Weekend Today, and is known for her time hosting breakfast shows on Perth radio stations 96fm and 6PR. Her appearances as a contributor include Sky News, Nine News, The Today Show, The Project and Today Tonight. Carmen is also in demand as a corporate media trainer, confidence on camera coach and speaker. Her dynamic keynotes, trainings and workshop presentations have developed a reputation for allowing delegates to go safely out of their comfort zone and are often voted a favourite by attendees.

She's also a proud poodle mum, an equally proud step-mum and considers herself an unofficial ambassador for her much-loved home state of Western Australia. Carmen loves to talk — in particular about health, functional/dysfunctional families and travel — and for a run of 7 years, lent her voice to co-hosting 96fm Perth’s breakfast show, “Carmen & Fitzi”.