Patricia O'Callaghan

position: chief executive officer

Patricia is an experienced chief executive officer who has held significant senior executive positions over the past 15 years and has a passion for growing companies, communities and bettering the lives of people. More recently, Patricia was the chief executive officer for townsville enterprise, a position she held for six years. With extensive experience in strategy development, advocacy, corporate communications, government, stakeholder and media relations and marketing, Patricia has a proven record of working with communities to convert strategy into tangible outcomes.

Paul Donovan

position: chairman

Paul Donovan has more than 40 years’ experience in aviation and tourism. Paul’s current position is General Manager Business Relationships for Queensland Airports Ltd - a role in which he leverages his significant experience, extensive knowledge of, and contacts within, the tourism and aviation industries.

Clark Kirby

position: vice chairman

Clark joined village as director of strategy in 2009 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2012. He also holds title of Chairman of Village Cinemas Australia, Chairman of Village Roadshow Theme Parks Asia and Board ember of Golden Village Entertainment. In april 2017, Clark was appointed as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Village Roadshow Theme Parks Group.

John Punch

position: honorary secretary

John is an original member and founding director of Gold Coast Tourism. He has been a continuously serving member of its board since its formation and has previously served as deputy chair. He is currently the honorary secretary and a life member. Previously he was a president of the Surfers Paradise Chamber of Commerce. He also served as an appointed director of the Gold Coast Arts Centre for nine years. John moved to the Gold Coast in 1961 with his family and has resided here since, completing his schooling and University of Queensland study of law and being admitted as a solicitor in Queensland in 1969. He practises law as a solicitor with a major Gold Coast law firm, Short Punch and Greatorix, of which he is a founding partner. His special areas of practice are real estat e development, management rights and tourism-based industries. In 1997, John was awarded an OAM for services to tourism, the real estate industry and assistance to Salvation Army charities. He also serves as a director of Sustainable Development Gold Coast Inc. and assists Australian Resident Accommodation Managers Association, of which he a life member, and the Real Estate Institute of Queensland as an advisor.

Mark Hodge

position: board director

Mark joined Mantra Group in September 2006 as Group General Manager, Mantra Resorts, Hotels & Apartments. Up until most recently (Jan 2021) his role was Senior Vice President Operations, encompassed full operational responsibility across all four brands under the Accor Hotels Apartments & Leases banner across 140 properties and was a member on the groups’ Pacific Executive Committee. This includes the art series, Peppers, Mantra & Breakfree Resort & hotel portfolios.

John Morris

position: board director

John Morris is General Manager, RACV Queensland Resorts. This combined role oversees all projects within the resorts, is responsible for achieving commercial goals and is also involved in the day to day operational activity at both resorts. Combined, the resorts employ over 300 staff and are major employers in their respective Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast communities. With over 25 years hospitality experience, John has a background in senior Sales, Marketing and General Management roles domestically, in the Pacific and in South East Asia. Having managed large corporate hotels, island resorts, conference and event hotels, boutique resorts and more, he is well versed in a diverse range of market segments and geographic markets. Most recently John has overseen the redesign of Royal Pines championship golf course, the construction of an iconic stand-alone Spa, the total rebuild of the resorts Conference and Events facilities, the construction of a world class gymnasium and the rebuild of the resorts signature restaurant "Videre" and its Executive Lounge. As the long term host of the Australian Ladies Masters golf tournament and more recently the PGA Championship John has led the team to position the resort as the Home of Championship Golf on the Gold Coast and, when combined with the resorts multiple leisure facilities, it is very much a leader in Health and Wellbeing in Queensland.

Lindsay Wallace

position: board director

Lindsay Wallace has been at the forefront of managing the successful creation and execution of destination marketing and management on a city-wide, precinct-specific and property-based having been employed in tourism management and marketing roles with AMP Capital, Gold Coast Tourism, Mulpha Sanctuary Cove (Developments) Pty Limited, Palazzo Versace and the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort. As the current observer of Gold Coast Tourism board since january 2015 and as Board Member of Events Queensland Gold Coast since 2010, she has a great interest in fostering opportunities for business and cultural experiences for the people of the Gold Coast and Queensland. Creating and implementing various tourism marketing strategies for iconic Gold Coast Tourism projects including Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Palazzo Versace and Sanctuary Cove as well as 16 years in the hospitality and service industries ensures commercial viability and success is at the heart of tourism marketing and management strategies.

Sarah Colgate

position: board director

Sarah Colgate is the General Manager and Managing Director of Aquaduck Safaris, Tours and Attractions Group and Feels Amazing Retreats. With more than 25 years’ experience in the travel and tourism industry, Sarah specialises in business growth and product development of experiences and operations. Sarah is a passionate industry representative having held senior roles at Accor and Rendezvous Hotels, followed by the successful development of iVenture Card in Queensland before bringing the iToursntix brand to the Gold Coast across six locations.

Nick Scott

position: board director

Nick Scott has spent thirty seven (37) years working in senior roles within the media; much of this time being based on the Gold Coast. He has held the positions of Director, Group General Manager, General Manager and National Sales Director. Nick has recently retired from his full time position with Southern Cross Austereo; operators on the Gold Coast of television brands Southern Cross Ten, 11 and One as well as broadcasting stations 90.9 Sea FM and 92.5 Gold FM. His commitment to the industry has been evidenced by main board positions with commercial radio Australia and membership of national industry bodies overseeing regional Australia, research and sales/marketing/codes/branding.

Adam Twemlow

position: board director

Adam is a Partner at KPMG and has 15 years assurance and advisory experience. His experience also includes property & construction, financial services and mining industries. Adam has extensive professional experience locally on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane and internationally in the UK and USA.

Adrienne Readings

position: board director

Adrienne Readings is the General Manager of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC). Focused on the emerging convention and incentive markets out of Europe and China, Adrienne is establishing networks within these countries to better facilitate business events requirements and identify opportunities.

Hermann Vorster

position: board member

Councillor Hermann Vorster serves the people of Division 11. Cr Vorster was elected to the City of Gold Coast in 2016. He is the appointed Chair of the Lifestyle and Community Committee and also serves on the Economy, Planning and Environment, and Transport and Infrastructure Committees. Cr Vorster is a former Bond University Vice Chancellor’s Scholar with degree qualifications in Accounting, Corporate Strategy and Business Information Systems. He is presently service his second consecutive term on the council of the City of Gold Coast having increased his popular support from 59 per cent in 2016 to 73.5 per cent in 2020. He is the appointed chair of the Lifestyle and Community Committee and also serves on the Economy, Planning & Environment and Transport & Infrastructure Committees. He is dedicated to protecting the lifestyle locals expect – and deserve. Priorities are tackling traffic congestion, boosting community safety and looking after the environment. Cr Vorster lives locally and has had a number of leadership roles in community groups including: Gold Coast District Neighbourhood Watch Incorporated and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) Regional Policy Board.