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About Us

Meet our CEO

Annaliese Battista

Position: Chief Executive Officer

Annaliese Battista commenced in her role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Destination Gold Coast in August 2018. Annaliese has nearly two decades’ experience in strategic destination marketing, communications, economic development and executive leadership across a range of government and corporate organisations. Annaliese is proud and passionate about her new home on the Gold Coast. Her guiding principle in her role as Chief Executive Officer of Destination Gold Coast (DGC) is to build the local community by growing the tourist economy. DGC improves the quality of life and sustainability of the Gold Coast for both its tourism industry stakeholders and the broader community. Annaliese holds tertiary qualifications in communications, marketing, and international relations, and champions many community building initiatives through active involvement in boards and volunteer work.

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Meet our Board

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.

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Adrienne Readings

Position: Vice Chairman

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. Adrienne oversees a team of more than 250 staff with commitment, drive and vision. With more than 20 years’ experience in the hospitality and convention industry Adrienne has a thorough understanding of how the international and national tourism markets work and what it takes to create a successful business event. Previous to this position Adrienne has held senior management positions within Conrad Jupiters and Hilton International Hotel Chains, including Hotel Manager of Conrad Jupiters.

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John Punch OAM

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 estate 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.

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Craig Davidson

Position: Board Director

As former CEO of Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and SkyPoint, Craig oversaw all growth, development and operational aspects in liaison with the Ardent Leisure board of directors during his tenure from August 2013 to July 2018 . Craig’s career has been spent at large within the Australian tourism industry, bringing with him substantial industry based experience with a proven ability to work with Industry and Government on industry matters. His last post was with Tourism Australia as General Manager, Destination Development, focused on Investment Attraction and Aviation Capacity in Australia’s Tourism Industry. Prior to joining Tourism Australia, Craig was the Chief Executive Officer of nature based, experiential tourism company ‘Anthology.’ Before that he spent over 10 years as an executive involved in the transformation of Hamilton Island and as Executive General Manager Operations for Voyagers Hotels and Resorts. Along with his industry experience, Craig has also been involved in a number of tourism related bodies, including Tourism Whitsundays, Eco-Tourism Australia and the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators in varying capacities.

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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.

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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.

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Peta Fielding

Position: Board Director

Peta Fielding is the CEO and Director of Burleigh Brewing Company, which she co-founded with her master brewer husband, Brennan Fielding, in 2006. After being awarded the inaugural Bond University Law School Scholarship, Peta practised law at Arthur Robinson and Hedderwicks in Melbourne from 1993-1996. She then worked for two years in Japan with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games Organising Committee in a variety of areas including team liaison, technology, broadcast, volunteer recruitment and training. Following the Games until 2001 Peta was the Assistant to the Consul-General at the Australian Consulate General in Hawaii. For the past nine years, Peta has successfully steered Burleigh Brewing Company's fortunes through testing economic cycles. She directed the business establishment, finances and operations and continues to manage the company's unique product and brand development. Peta is passionate about the Gold Coast and actively pursues opportunities for Burleigh Brewing to engage with the local community - residents and visitors alike. In 2013 Burleigh Brewing Company was named the Queensland Telstra Business of the Year and in 2014 the company earned the title of Gold Coast Business of the Year. Peta is a Board Member of GOLDOC for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and is the Chair of the Australian Craft Beer Industry Association. Peta served a seven-year term as a director of the Bond University Council and was previously Chair of the Bond University Alumni Advisory Board.

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Nick Scott

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.

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Adam Twemlow

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.

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Bob La Castra

Board Director

Bob La Castra was elected to the Council for the City of Gold Coast, in 1997. Just one year later, he took on the role of ‘Chairman Community Services’, which has largely been responsible for Arts & Culture, as well as Community, Health, Sport & Recreation. Bob has also chaired the Events Advisory Committee, since 1998, and in December 2017, was asked by Mayor Tom Tate, to take on the new and exciting portfolio of Events Tourism and Governance.

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Clark J. Kirby

Position: Board Director

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 member of Golden Village Entertainment. In April 2017, Clark was appointed as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Village Roadshow Theme Parks Group.

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