G

Ms. Leonie Gale - Chief Executive (retired), Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife
Wednesday 9 November 09:40-10:00 - Tourism: a partnership for protected areas

Partnerships - Eco-tourism and Protected Areas - A Case Study
Over the past 40 years, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife has funded projects to save endangered species from extinction, purchasing land to be protected in perpetuity, and preserved important cultural heritage sites across Australia. The Foundation also funds interpretive material and trails in national parks and reserves to enrich visitors' experiences and to minimise their impact. In recent years, this mission has been undertaken in a formal partnership with the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. The Foundation has provided funds for the establishment of the Yuraygir Coastal Walk, which traverses the longest stretch of protected coastline in New South Wales. Yuraygir not only provides visitors with low impact access to protected sites of unique natural heritage, but it also fosters local business. Yuraygir has enabled ecotourism operators to offer outstanding educative experiences for travellers that are sustainable and economically viable, as well as environmentally and socially responsible.

Biography
Leonie Gale has served as the CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife for the past 10 years during which time Leonie has fostered environmental philanthropy for national parks in Australia through donor advocacy for tax incentives for environmental giving, the streamlining of governmental regulatory processes for environmental charities, and lobbying for increased Australian Government funding for the reserve system. Leonie has instigated a new land donation program which has added over 25,000 hectares to 12 national parks and forming a collaborative funding program for owners of private conservation land.

Ms. Catherine Gallagher - Director, Precinct Activation and Visitor Services, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
Wednesday 9 November - Chair, Urban Ecotourism: greening the destination

Catherine Gallagher is the Director, Precinct Activation and Visitor Services , Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. Prior to this, she was Head of Marketing for the Authority. Catherine has extensive experience in marketing, communication and cultural policy in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining the Authority Catherine held the senior diplomatic role of Counsellor – Public Diplomacy at the Australian Embassy, Tokyo with primary responsibility for media relations and Australia’s cultural representation. She has also held senior positions at the Australia Council, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and in the retail marketing sector. The current portfolio is responsible for Events, Marketing, Educational Services and Tours, the Chinese Garden of Friendship, and Sydney Visitor Centres.

Mrs. Sandrine Gaymard - Business Development Manager/Owner, Ecoline
Wednesday 9 November 09:20-09:40 - Tourism: a partnership for protected areas

The Role of Eco Tourism in Increased Sustainable Visitation to Protected Places
This paper will showcase how innovative partnerships between public and private organisations are creating increased sustainable visitation to protected areas whilst offering financial, social and environmental sustainability for government organisations, private operators, and the community. In particular the paper will use the case example the of TreeTop Adventure Park eco tourism product which is now operating in National Parks and State Parks throughout Australia, with additional new developments planned in a further 3 locations over the coming 12 months. Our presentation will demonstrate how private eco tourism operators can work in partnership with government agencies to showcase true sustainability in action through innovative, environmentally sustainable initiatives that serve to not only increase visitation to protected areas, but also raise environmental awareness through interpretation, education, and promotion. This oral presentation will provide an excellent case example of a successful initiative, offering a point of reference for future public/private partnership opportunities in Australia and overseas.

Biography
Completing a Master in Business from the University of Nice & Sophia-Antipolis, Nice France in 1997, Sandrine Gaymard has become a forerunner in the Tourism Industry. Having been the Marketing and Public Relations Manager for the French Tourism Office in Sydney, Sandrine and husband Frederic formed Ecoline in 2003. Sandrine developed Ecoline into a company that delivers exciting projects including Treetop Adventure Parks, located in Ourimbah State Forest and Blue Gum Hills Regional Park, Minmi. A third park, in Melbourne CBD will open in 2012. Ecoline, a multi-award business received the Australian Business Award for Enterprise in 2010 and multiple tourism awards including Silver at the NSW Tourism Awards. Sandrine's vision for Ecoline is protect the environment, participate in the community's wellbeing and foster educational experiences in the natural environment. Amongst Sandrine's many achievements was winning the prestigious title of Central Coast Business Woman of the Year, 2009.

Dr. Ronda Green - Proprietor, Araucaria Ecotours
Wednesday 9 November 11:40-12:00 - Urban Ecotourism: greening the destination

Going Green Without Breaking the Budget
From the outset at Araucaria Ecotours we wanted to be environmentally sound. At our home property we had already learned much by trial-and-error and information-gathering about running the house entirely on a stand-alone solar powerplant and are now applying this to our wildlife ecology centre, spotlights, laptops and other tour equipment and interpretive aids. We reduce the carbon footprint of our food, use recycled materials for displays, keep safety lighting low to avoid disturbance to wildlife, enhance wildlife habitat, cut down fossil fuel and paper use by increased use of the internet, recycle various kinds of waste and showcase this to our guests. Some desired measures are not yet available, or are too expensive or not feasible, but we continue to watch new developments and find economical ways of doing things sustainably, building up long-range projects gradually, and using our knowledge of wildlife behaviour to view them unobtrusively.

Biography
Ronda Green is a research ecologist, environmental consultant and wildlife tour operator. She has conducted research on ecological interactions; habitat alteration, chimpanzee play behaviour, wildlife tourism, and outdoor educational opportunities for primary-aged children. She has been a lecturer in ecology, behaviour, ecotourism and biology education, proprietor of a holiday farm, seasonal ranger in charge of interpretive activities, counsellor of parents of gifted children, animal trainer and traveller in wilderness areas in all non-polar continents, and has led voluntary gifted and remedial primary classes plus many interpretive activities for all ages, and prepared a variety of nature trails in several regions. As chair of the Scenic Rim group of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland she is currently developing wildlife quizzes and puzzles and other fun-to-learn activities, as well as developing an interpretive wildlife ecology centre and nature trails on her own property.

H

Mrs. Cassandra Head - Campingologist, Rainbow Beach Hire-a-camp Service
Wednesday 9 November 15:40-16:10 - Managing and Marketing the Tourism Experience

Ben & D'Arbie in "Waves of our Lives" at Rainbow Beach
In today’s modern marketing climate, traditional methods are increasingly being avoided as more advertising is done subliminally via social media. The best part about that, for small business, is that social media is well within most advertising budgets. In this digital age, images speak louder than words and the technology is easily accessed and operated by the layman. So, can a housewife develop an effective social media campaign? One that appeals to both, adults & kids, males & females, is designed to entertain, engage, stand out, create discussion or referral, promote a service & product, quickly & simply, and develop a following? Let me introduce Ben & D’Arbie in “Waves of Our Lives”. In this one photo, have we achieved our objectives?

Wednesday 9 November 14:00-14:20 - Tourism: a strategic partnership for protected areas

Effortless Camping in National Parks
We would like to demonstrate how we have achieved the objective of partnering with the QPWS to operate our business, whilst maintaining the area’s conservation needs. We have overcome traditional barriers such as environmental effects, impact, both visual and amenity, with no financial burden on the management body of the resource. We are increasing visitation to the Park, which creates benefits for our local community. With our involvement there is an increased management/responsibility for the area, and through our marketing initiatives, an increase in the awareness of the asset, all whilst improving the accessibility to the National Park. Our model is sustainable, responsible, economical, and educational, without most of the impediments generally associated with this type of partnership. Our service opens up the Park to whole new audience who may not have previously considered it. We have not needed to alter the asset in any way to achieve our goals.

Biography
Rainbow Beach Hire-a-camp is a small boutique enterprise offering the hire of a completely set up camp in a National Park at Rainbow Beach, near Fraser Island. These camps are not fixed structures, traditional tents and camping equipment erected as required and then removed. We have a Commercial Activity Agreement with Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service to operate. This partnership has proved to be successful. Thus providing an opportunity for people to experience the joys of camping and a National Park that otherwise may not have been able. We are the epitome of Glamping, we are Campingologists, and we have a wonderful canvas with which to work. We would not like to re-argue the pro’s & con’s of private sector accommodation in National Parks or to judge others, rather we see this as an opportunity to showcase a model that demonstrates just one innovative solution that ticks all the boxes.

Ms. Wendy Hills - State Co-ordinator - NSW/VIC/TAS, Indigenous Business Australia, Policy & Partnerships Branch
Monday 7 November 10:30-17:00 - Indigenous Tourism Forum - Chair
Monday 7 November 12:00-12:20 - Indigenous Tourism Forum

The Indigenous Tourism Champions Program
The Indigenous Tourism Champions Program (ITCP) is now in its second year and is being implemented by Tourism Australia (TA) and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) with significant support and involvement from the State and Territory Tourism Organisations (STO’s).

The ITCP is a cohesive national program linking IBAs financial investment in supply side initiatives for business improvement (for Full Members and Marketing Members) in with TA’s demand side marketing initiatives.
The ITCP looks to maintain and enhance the competitive advantage Indigenous culture offers Australian tourism by building a reputation of reliability and consistent quality in service delivery. The ITCP is achieving this through selective marketing of product which has met stringent criteria, ensuring that the businesses being promoted are able to meet the needs and expectations of trade and the international market.

The mentoring program is underway with three specialist tourism consultancies delivering tailored mentoring for all full members. Marketing Members are also benefitting from mentoring support through Indigenous Business Australia’s Business Support Program.

The mentoring process facilitates the transference of a range of business improvement skills, as well as working with Champions to identify the most effective marketing channels and trade events for them to participate in. IBA is also contributing to some of costs to enable the Champions to participate in agreed events.

A marketing activity plan has been completed and is currently being implemented and fully supported by TA offering the Indigenous Tourism Champions extensive exposure through TA marketing channels both domestically and overseas.

Members of the ITCP are exclusively eligible to participate in Tourism Australia’s Indigenous tourism marketing initiatives, which includes trade events, road shows, trade training initiatives, online marketing, print marketing and other marketing initiatives.

Indigenous Tourism Operators must be nominated for inclusion in the program by their State Tourism Organisation (or other nominated State based representative); they then must apply and meet the criteria for membership. There are three membership categories, each with specific support mechanisms in place, tailored to market and grow the participating businesses in accordance with their individual needs.

Biography
Wendy has spent the last 23 years working in the tourism industry in various marketing and development roles, including destination, product and industry development with a strong focus and expertise in indigenous tourism and the importance that this sector plays in identifying Australia's cultural strengths and 'point of difference', in a very competitive global marketplace.

She has worked for private enterprises companies, two State Tourism Organisations and Tourism Australia as the head of the Australian Experiences team, responsible for the development and marketing of Australia's 7 key experiences, including Aboriginal Australia.

In November of 2008, Wendy joined Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), the federal agency responsible for assisting Indigenous Australians maximise opportunities for wealth creation through home ownership, businesses enterprise and/or equity investments. Her responsibility in growing indigenous economic development requires her to actively encourage and broker effective partnerships with key stakeholders, both government and private enterprise so that indigenous individuals, communities and corporations are able to maximise innovative and practical programs aimed at achieving long-term commercial and sustainable outcomes.

Her portfolio includes the three states of NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, as well as the tourism industry, and the newly created Indigenous Tourism Champions Program which is managed by Wendy on behalf of IBA, along with Tourism Australia and the State Tourism Organisations.

J

Mr. Wayne Johnson - Archaeologist, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
Wednesday 9 November 09:00-09:20 - Urban Ecotourism: greening the destination

The Rocks: creating a ‘sense of place’ through cultural and heritage interpretation
The Rocks precinct in Sydney is a place of national cultural and historic significance. Its management is the responsibility of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, an agency of the NSW government. This workshop examines the Authority’s journey in researching, creating and delivering a sustainable interpretation strategy for The Rocks. The experiential character of precinct visitation is discussed as well as the major themes that create The Rocks ‘sense of place’; people from the past, historic views and vistas, cultural and political events that helped shape our nation, atmosphere or ‘feel’, and the personal meaning that is infused into the visitor’s experience. Sustainable restoration and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings is a key element of creating authenticity and accentuating the unique character of The Rocks. The interpretation strategy evolved from an intense period of planning, research and consultation. The result is an integration of authentic stories into the life of the Rocks, told through a series of narratives that include installations, public events, e-media and self guided walks.

Biography
Wayne is Archaeologist with the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, responsible for the conservation and excavation of Sydney’s colonial heritage in The Rocks district, and is also Curator of The Rocks Discovery Museum. He has a PhD from Sydney University and has also worked on a number of the University’s archaeological projects in Bahrain, Jordan and Portugal. Since 2001 he has been Field Director for the University’s excavations at Angkor in Cambodia. In 2009 he co-authored the book: A History of Sydney’s Darling Harbour, tracing Darling Harbour’s industrial and social development over the past 200 years. Last year he co-authored and co-curated the book and exhibition Painting The Rocks: The Loss of Old Sydney which dealt with the transformation of Sydney after 1900, as seen through the eyes of artists, photographers and social reformers. The exhibition was held in conjunction with the Historic Houses Trust at the Museum of Sydney. Wayne is Chair of the National Trust’s Industrial Heritage Committee, and is a member of the Maritime Archaeology Advisory Panel to the NSW Heritage Council.