Ciaran Cryan (Vice Chair)

Bed & Breakfast and Farmstay Accommodation Aust (SA)

Vicki Beard

Adventure Tours Australia

Vicki has 16 years experience with Adventure Tours Australia, an award winning national tour operator based in Norwood. Throughout this time she has experienced and managed all facets of this dynamic business. Previously Financial Controller for 10 years prior to being appointed General Manager (6 years) Vicki is now responsible for the Operations, Reservations and HR functions of ATA and its 280 staff.

Vicki has a Bachelor of Economics, Adelaide University (2004) and is currently studying a Masters of Human Resources at Uni SA and has a great desire to see SA tourism operators thrive and succeed as a result of their quality operations.

Vicki is a great advocate for the SA Tourism Accreditation Program and wishes to contribute towards the goals highlight in the State Tourism Plan where she can.

David Crinion

South Australian Tourism Commission (non voting)

David is General Manager Destination Development with the South Australian Tourism Commission, responsible for mentoring, business improvement and strategic projects.

David’s career in tourism has spanned 30 years of Australia’s tourism industry growth. During this time he worked principally in the strategic areas of research, policy and planning. In broad terms, this involves high-level strategic planning for the industry (joint Government / Industry Tourism Plans) and SATC corporate and business plans. It also included advocacy to ensure an innovative and sound policy environment for sustainable tourism.

More specifically, David has been involved in tourism forecasting and economic analysis; competitive analysis; consumer and community attitudes research; product research; marketing evaluation; industry performance measurement; tracking of global, national and local trends; risk management; regional strategic planning; policy formulation and advice; sector planning; sustainable development design guidelines; development advice and case management; and destination management.

David initiated the Minister’s Tourism Round Table and has been a strong advocate for establishing a productive industry capacity and capability and as such was closely involved in the establishment of SATIC. David's role on the SATIC Board is to provide a strong communication link between SATIC and SATC and to encourage a positive and productive partnership.

Prior to his time in tourism David worked in private consultancies and local government. He was awarded the Royal Australian Planning Institute (RAPI) President’s Prize in 1999 for his ‘Contribution to Tourism Planning’.

Bas de Graaff

The Hilton Adelaide

Bas de Graaff joined Hilton Adelaide as Director of Business Development in May 2008. He came to South Australia from Melbourne, where he was Director of Operations for Hilton on the Park.

During his international hospitality career so far, Bas has worked across various countries on three continents. His experience includes luxury hotel operations as well as Sales, Revenue Management, Food & Beverage concept development and Learning & Development at international corporate level.

Throughout, Bas has always been actively engaged in industry organisations and associations. Most recently, he served on the Board of the South Australian Tourism Alliance, where he has been a strong advocate and supporter of the process that has resulted in the establishment of the South Australian Tourism Industry Council as the new peak industry body for tourism in South Australia.

As a member of the SATIC Board, Bas aims to draw on his international perspective, energetic approach and extensive hospitality experience to help develop SATIC into a strong and cohesive industry body and a natural partner for the industry as well as government.

Trevor Evans

Australian Hotels Association SA

Trevor is the Manager of Industrial Relations and Human Resources for the Australian Hotels Association of South Australia. Trevor has also been appointed as an assessor to sit with the Industrial Relations Commission on dispute proceedings between apprentices, trainees and employers.

Joel Hirsch

Narnu Farm

After acquiring Narnu Farm five years ago as a business in desperate need of upgraded management, facilities and technology, Joel used a wide range of skills from practical management , website development, marketing, strategic planning, environmental management and raw enthusiasm to turn the business into a national award winner.

Through developing and implementing a difficult business upgrade in a challenging environment Joel understands the problems that face small tourism business and believes that he can offer his experience to the SATIC board and assist other small tourism operators to achieve their goals.

Joel has a degree in ‘Ecotourism’ from Flinders University and a life time interest in the environment and sustainability, particularly for the tourism industry moving forward.

Joel is the managing director and board member of Narnu Farm, managing 15 staff. He guest lectures to tourism students at Flinders University, has written tourism award submissions for Narnu Farm and won consecutive SA Tourism Awards and was inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2008. Narnu Farm recently won a 2008 Qantas Australian Tourism Award.

Joel has an active participation in the tourism industry attending functions, meetings, networking events, guest speaking and keeping in touch with developing trends in small business. He has a passionate interest in the natural environment and also in how technology can assist in achieving environmental sustainability.  

Richard Mussell

YHA South Australia

Richard commenced his career in the travel and tourism industry after completing a Travel Agents Diploma in the UK in 1986. After 4 years as a travel consultant Richard undertook several industry sales roles with Cathay Pacific Airways in London then Air New Zealand and Consolidated Travel after arriving in Adelaide in 1995.

Richard is currently the CEO or Youth Hostels Australia (South Australia) overseeing the SA hostel network, YHA Travel and membership services. He has a Marketing Diploma, Bachelor of Business and completed the AICD Company Directors Course in 2007.

Richard is a member of AICD, Skal International Adelaide and sits on the Committee for the SA Backpacker Industry Association.

Anne Sellar

Department for Environment & Heritage

Anne Sellar is the Director of Visitor Management for the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage, where she provides strategic leadership, direction and policy for visitor management across the Department.

Previously, Anne held several positions with the South Australian Tourism Commission including Industry Development Adviser for Nature-Ecotourism and Acting General Manager for Tourism Development. Her key professional focuses are management, strategic planning, developing and implementing sustainable nature-based tourism programs along with business, product and marketing initiatives.

Anne has a diverse background including 30 years experience across small business, finance, tourism development, event management and management both in the private and public sectors. Current Tourism Industry involvement includes: Member, Minister for Tourism Round Table; Member, National Tourism in Protected Area Managers Forum; Co-Chair, South Australian Tourism Commission/ Department for Environment and Heritage, Directors Liaison Group; Ecotourism Course Review Committee, Flinders University; Cultural Tourism Course Review Committee, Flinders University; Director, Ecotourism Australia 2003- 2008

Emma Slape

Real Estate Institute of SA

Emma Slape is an independent appointed Member of SATIC and comes to the Board with a wealth of experience in membership organisations.

She currently heads up Communications and Training at the Real Estate Institute of South Australia and has been at this organisation since 2003.

Significant projects which Emma has been involved in at REISA includes the implementation of new real estate laws in 2008, developing and launching a highly successful State-wide Awards program for real estate, building the Institute’s media profile and establishing various new Committees focused on encouraging new people in the industry.

Previous to joining REISA, Emma spent seven years as an adviser to Federal Senator, the late Jeannie Ferris. This experience was invaluable in appreciating the inner workings of Government and progressing policy in cooperation with membership bodies, particularly from the rural and agricultural sectors.