Women in Tourism Leadership Events

Women in Tourism Australia aims to foster a positive community of tourism professionals striving for gender balance and diversity at all levels of our industry.

Research suggests, organisations that respect and value the diversity brought by both women and men are better able to attract and retain high performers and improve operational performance. We want the best for the tourism industry and believe advocating for diversity is important.

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Want to be part of a positive and fun network of tourism professionals from across Australia? Then join Women in Tourism (Australia). If you are on Facebook, then joining the group is a no brainer, so much knowledge is shared within this private group on a daily basis.

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WiT Upcoming Events

"Women in Tourism is an incredible group of smart and collaborative individuals. I love the genuine and inclusive opportunities to network, learn and share, a rare combination and one that is a valuable resource for the tourism industry at all career stages."

Giovanna Lever, Managing Director - Sparrowly Group

WiT Blog

Women in Tourism Leadership Development Program: Tourism Pro-Team 2023

Brisbane’s Tourism Industry to Celebrate International Women’s Day 2021

Online Female Tourism Speaker Directory Launched

@womenintourism_aus

WiT member Joyce DiMascio shared this quote from @simonsinek and it reminded me of some of the discussion we had in Brisbane last week at our IWD lunch. “Confidence doesn’t come from KNOWING what will happen. It comes from knowing that no matter what happens, you can ADAPT - Simon Sinek
Thanks @joycedimascio #witaustralia #womenintourism #IWD2021

What a lovely day Sydney. So much to share, so many thank you’s, watch this space xx #witaustralia #womenintourism #iwd2021

Today we celebrate International Women’s Day. A day to recognise how far we’ve come towards gender equality, and also how far we have left to go.
Look forward to listening, learning and connecting at our lunch event today. See you soon Sydney. #witaustralia #womenintourism #IWD2021 #internationalwomensday

A special lunch celebrating International Women’s Day in Brisbane today. Thanks to our MC Jane Hedger and panellists Mary Clare Power, Leonie Vandeven and Karyn Ross.
Also thanks to photographer @davinajbambrick
A few key takeaways from me..

“Everyone in this room can adapt. It’s about your mental attitude.”
Mary-Clare Power

“We’ve too often trying to control every aspect of our lives - but if you can step back, try that.” Karyn Ross

“Your work and your leisure - need to be hard to decipher which is which. Strive for that.”
Mary-Clare Power

“Acknowledge the fear, then jump”
Leonie Vandeven

“What would do if you if weren’t afraid” - Mary-Clare Power

“Build your toolkit” - Jane Hedger

“Your identity is not your career”- Leonie Vandeven

#witaustralia #womenintourism

Join us for lunch in Brisbane on Friday 5 March as we discuss this and more. Link in bio for all the details.

The panel will be facilitated by Jane Hedger. In addition to her role as Director at StormBirds Organisational Strategies – a specialist change, crisis and communications consultancy – Jane is currently Board Director for Volunteering Queensland and Board Chair of Australia’s CEO Challenge.

“Uncertainty is our new normal.” explains Jane Hedger “Even if a business seems secure now – the rapid pivoting of everyone else will change the game. There is always opportunity in crisis, but you have to find it. Tourism and hospitality professionals must urgently reinvent themselves and their way of working to survive. Doing nothing is not an option – for anyone.”

The lunch event includes a welcome drink on arrival and a 2-course sit down lunch in the exclusive Club Millesime on Level 30 of Sofitel Brisbane Central. #womenintourism #witaustralia #careerdevelopment #tourismaustralia #tourismindustry

One of my most favourite Women in Tourism events was in 2015 and the theme was ‘Mentors and Masterminds’ The lunch event was held at View By Sydney Walsh
Bay. Our 3 special guests include Suzi Dafnis, founder of the Australian Businesswomens
Network; Penny Spencer, Owner and Managing Director of Spencer Travel and Founder and Chair of TIME Travel Industry Mentor Experience and Lyndel Gray, CEO at Caravan and Camping Industry Association NSW. Discussions were around
mentoring and it’s importance including benefits to the mentor and mentee. I look forward to many more great discussions in 2021. #womenintourism #witaustralia

Happy New Year. I keep stumbling across Rumi quotes this past week, this one I find motivating and encouraging - hope it does the same for you. Welcome to 2021. #witaustralia #womenintourism #welcome2021 #rumi

Member Spotlight – Silke Kerwick, @silke.kerwick Corporate Affairs Manager, YHA Australia
Pivoting in a pandemic? Two “P” words you never want to hear again, as long as you live!
That’s what we’ve all had to do though this year, with every segment of the tourism sector struck down.
Youth hostels were particularly afflicted, as their whole schtick is sharing right? Sharing dorm rooms, sharing communal spaces, sharing stories about your travels…
So 2020 was a major time to recalibrate, including reducing the number of guests accommodated in each room, even converting some dorms to private rooms.
It’s also been a chance to focus on boutique properties that can be hired for exclusive use, such as beautiful Pittwater YHA, just an hour from Sydney but only accessible by boat.
Despite Australia’s international borders slamming shut on 20 March 2020, half of YHA’s guests are still from overseas though!
How? There are still 60,000 Working Holiday Makers here, and 400,000 international students.
So Silke has been focussing heavily on advocacy efforts (via government & media relations) as part of the Backpacker & Youth Tourism Advisory Panel (BYTAP) – www.bytap.org
The hope is that these young travellers will be the ‘first boots on the ground’ when our borders finally re-open to the rest of the world!
#witaustralia #womenintourism

Thanks to our Sponsors

A sincere thank you to our national sponsors and event partners. We encourage the Women in Tourism community to support these organisations where possible as they add true value to the Women in Tourism network and events.