2022 JUDGING PANEL
In alphabetical order by surname, we thank our esteemed 2022 judges.
Bianca Acimovic - CONFIRMED for 2023
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Bianca Acimovic is an experienced arts administrator with a demonstrated history of working across public and private sectors, supporting capital infrastructure development for arts, culture, and public spaces. Highly skilled in Business Case development, business planning, process improvement, business strategy, curatorial development, museum services and fundraising, Bianca collaborates to drive change and access to the arts. As a business development professional, Bianca has a record of positively contributing to the development and management of visual arts institution, expanding engagement, and breaking down stigmas to sit cultural intuitions at communities' hearts.
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Peter Doggett - CONFIRMED for 2023
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Peter had a 33 year association with Gold Coast tourism industry during which time he held senior management positions with Warner Village Theme Parks & Sea World Resort before opening his own tourism consultancy. For the 7 years before his retirement in 2019 Peter was the CEO of Connecting Southern Gold Coast (CSGC), whose role it was to foster economic development, tourism promotion & marketing, and manage events that stimulate tourism and community participation in the southern Gold Coast. He is a past judge of the Qld Tourism Awards & the” Women in Business Awards” for SEQ and served on the Joint Marketing Group (JMG) for the 2018 Commonwealth Games for 4.5 years. Peter is also the current Secretary of Skal International - Southern Gold Coast Branch, which he founded in March 2014. (Skal is a global networking organisation for senior members of the travel & tourism industry).
Tolita Dukes - CONFIRMED for 2023
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Tolita Dukes is an experienced marketing professional with over 20 years of experience within the tourism industry. Tolita has worked for a number of tourism operators, including industry leader Hamilton Island, and is the Director of a boutique marketing agency, 8 Seconds, based in the stunning Whitsundays.
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Sveva is an experienced Tourism and Hospitality leader, having held leadership positions in Europe, Middle East, South-East Asia and Australia. From luxury accommodation to glamping and campgrounds, SCUBA diving to cruises, Aboriginal tourism to a variety of nature- based experiences, she has been working at multiple levels of tourism planning, destination development, management and project delivery. Her most recent role included CEO of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge and Cicada Lodge - NT. Now Sveva is the GM of Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures - WA, with Journey Beyond
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Donna Foster - CONFIRMED for 2023
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Donna is an experienced tourism and economic development professional and former Deputy Chair of Australian Regional Tourism (ART) Ltd. Committed to regional development Donna acts to ensure the value of the visitor economy is front of mind for decision makers at all levels of government. Senior economic development focused positions with Scenic Rim and Fraser Coast Regional Councils and City of Mount Gambier have followed a distinguished career of internationally focused economic development and investment roles.
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Jennifer is a senior executive and visitor economy advisor with a background spanning strategic branding, tourism business development, partnership creation, media management, and government advocacy. With global experience in cultural events, diverging government-run collectives and media management Jennifer is a trend spotter who recognises and seizes opportunities within desirable tourism markets. She has merged capabilities from arts, culture and entertainment with journalism to build a unique offering in brand management and creative strategy.
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Dr David Gration PhD (UQ) MBA (QUT) - CONFIRMED for 2023
David is the Director of Events Tourism Associates, a company established to provide industry relevant research, workshops and events tourism related design and planning services. He brings together a combination of academic qualifications and research skills with 30+ years of hands-on management and marketing experience in venues, festivals, special events, business events and tourism. His PhD focused on events tourism and David has worked in both metropolitan and regional centres, from Hobart to Townsville, helping communities to achieve success through sustainable event design. In 2011 he became only the second person to be made a Life Member of the Australian Performing Arts Centres Association, now known as Performing Arts Connections (PAC).
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Susan Maynard​ - CONFIRMED for 2023
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Susan Maynard is passionate about tourism and she has extensive experience of all things digital. With over 25 years experience in the tourism industry Susan's roles have included tourism lecturer at Tafe, digital coach for TEQ, Destination Development for VSC and tourism consultancy both within Australia and the Pacific. Susan is also a judge for the Queensland Tourism Awards and former President of Skal International - Sunshine Coast (Skal is a global networking organisation for senior members of the travel & tourism industry).
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Linda Stevens - CONFIRMED for 2023
An art lover, Linda’s tourism career kick-started in Asia, where she lived, worked and consulted for many years. During that time she contributed to the tourism transformation of numerous destinations, including Bali, Hong Kong, Hanoi and south east China. Upon returning to Australia Linda purchased a holiday resort and devoted the next two decades to achieving excellence for that venture as its CFO. Under her guidance, the resort won multiple business awards, Queensland Tourism Awards and an Australian Tourism Award. Linda now travels both within Australia and internationally to embrace new opportunities, and spent part of 2019 in Chile, Cuba and Costa Rica touring street art precincts.
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Fiona Sweetman - CONFIRMED for 2023
Fiona is a enthusiastic supporter of creative ideas and activations of Melbourne and Victoria. As past Board Member of Cultural Tourism Victoria she has been exposed to so many versions of art in our streets and landscapes. Fiona is also a Board Member with Victorian Tourism Industry Council. Fiona’s business, Hidden Secrets Tours has spent the last 17 years seeing the evolution of how we Australians observe street art, invest in it and in the end craze over it, as she and her team deliver walking tours in Melbourne’s laneways. Her interaction with clients both domestic and international offers her a unique position to understand the various appreciation within the community of this art in the journey of our visitors. Fiona is a Melbourne Award winner in recognition of her efforts in contributing to the profile of the city, and in such efforts, she ensures her celebration of the city is in context with visitor experiences elsewhere. Fiona understands how street art is an important cog in the value of tourism.
