Episode Description

In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold speaks with Linda Tillman - Managing Director of Tilma Group and co-founder of the Australian Centre for Regional Events - about the realities of building tourism and events capability in regional Australia.

Linda shares how a university assignment on rural tourism resulted in a 20-year career working alongside regional communities, and how she built a business focused on helping destinations grow through tourism and events.

The conversation explores the critical role events play in regional economies, why so many events are under pressure, and the persistent challenges that haven’t changed in decades.

Linda also introduces a bold idea for the future — regional support hubs designed to take pressure off event organisers and allow them to focus on what actually matters: creating great experiences.

What You'll Take Away From This Episode

 • Why events are critical to regional tourism and community development
 • The three core challenges facing regional events: people, money, and compliance
 • How outdated operating models are contributing to burnout and “same-same” events
 • Why volunteering models need to evolve to attract younger people
 • The opportunity to rethink how events are supported through shared services and regional hubs

About Linda

Linda Tillman is the Managing Director of Tilma Group, a consultancy she founded in 2008 to support regional and rural communities through tourism and events.

She has spent nearly 20 years working across Australia on destination development, event strategy, and industry capability building, partnering with government, regional tourism organisations, and local communities.

Linda is also the co-founder of the Australian Centre for Regional Events, which focuses on strengthening the long-term sustainability of events through training, mentoring, and capability development.

Her work sits at both the strategic and grassroots level — helping shape big-picture tourism strategies while working directly with operators and communities on the ground.

Connect with Linda on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations Referenced

Tilma Group: https://tilmagroup.com.au/

Australian Centre for Regional Events: https://australianregionalevents.com.au/

Episode Chapters

 01:48 Getting to Know Linda
 06:10 Early Career Interests in Tourism
 11:33 Discovering a Passion for Regional Tourism
 15:05 First Role in Local Government
 16:26 Travelling Australia and Career Direction
 19:28 Breaking into the Industry Through Networking
 24:06 Starting Tilma Group
 33:29 The Role of Events in Regional Tourism
 36:39 Launching the Australian Centre for Regional Events
 37:38 Challenges Facing Regional Events
 41:34 Workforce and Volunteering in Regional Communities
 44:11 Skills, Capacity and Capability Gaps
 46:09 Rethinking the Event Model

In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold speaks with Professor Anne Hardy — tourism researcher, consultant, academic, and Chair of Destination Southern Tasmania — about how research can shape tourism decisions.

Anne shares the story of her career in tourism academia, from studying tourism’s impacts on communities to leading innovative projects like Tourism Tracer, which used smartphone technology to track how visitors move through destinations. She also discusses her research in Antarctica exploring whether travel experiences can influence environmental behaviour.

The conversation explores why tourism operators rarely access academic research, how behaviour change theories can improve visitor experiences, and why the industry needs stronger connections with universities.

Anne also reflects on redundancy after a 20-year academic career and her mission to help researchers communicate their work more effectively with industry.

What You'll Take Away From This Episode

 • How tourism researchers study visitor behaviour and decision-making
 • The Tourism Tracer project and how technology tracked visitor movement
 • What Antarctica tourism reveals about behaviour change and sustainability
 • Why tourism businesses should engage more with academic research
 • How behaviour change theory can improve visitor experiences and operations

About Anne

Professor Anne Hardy is a tourism researcher whose work focuses on tourism behaviour, mobility, sustainability, and research communication.

Across a 20-year academic career she has published more than 80 journal articles and four books, with her research cited over 3,000 times. Her work has been presented at international forums including the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment Program.

Anne is particularly known for pioneering projects such as Tourism Tracer, which tracked visitor movement across destinations using mobile technology, and for her research exploring how travel experiences — particularly in Antarctica — can influence environmental behaviour.

She is currently Chair of Destination Southern Tasmania and now works to bridge the gap between tourism research and industry practice.

Connect with Anne on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations Referenced

Destination Southern Tasmania: https://southerntasmania.com.au/

Omineca Consulting: https://www.ominecaconsulting.com/

Antarctic Treaty System: https://www.ats.aq/

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/

University of Tasmania: https://www.utas.edu.au/

Episode Chapters

 02:58 Travel Preferences and Experiences
 05:58 Early Life and Education in Tasmania
 08:55 Career Path: From Law to Tourism
 11:58 Academic Journey and Research Focus
 14:58 Impact of Family on Career Choices
 17:59 Understanding Academia and the PhD Process
 21:00 Communicating Research and Industry Engagement
 23:42 The Evolution of Academic Communication
 26:46 Anne’s Career Journey and Experiences
 31:44 Innovative Research and Technology in Tourism
 38:04 Transformative Travel Experiences
 49:31 Navigating Career Changes and Future Aspirations
 53:39 Embracing the Radical Sabbatical
 56:38 Navigating Academic Careers
 01:00:07 Understanding Human Behaviour in Tourism
 01:04:50 The Importance of Communication in Research

In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Matt Scott about his journey through international tourism, tour guiding and product development.

Matt shares how early travel experiences and cultural exposure led him into the tourism industry, including years guiding tours across Europe and developing high-end travel experiences. The conversation explores the importance of training, customer service and adaptability in tourism, along with insights into product development, river cruising and sustainable tourism practices.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • How international travel and cultural exposure shaped Matt’s tourism career
 • What it takes to succeed as a professional tour guide
 • Why training and customer service excellence are critical in tourism
 • Insights into tourism product development and creating memorable travel experiences
 • The operational complexity behind the river cruise industry
 • How sustainability and First Nations tourism are shaping the future of travel

About Matt

Matt Scott has built an international career across tour guiding, tourism product development and regional tourism. His experience includes guiding tours across Europe, developing travel products and working within the cruise and tourism sectors.

Matt has also worked across tourism development roles in Australia, contributing to projects focused on sustainable tourism, regional development and cultural tourism initiatives.

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations and industry references mentioned

Fat Tire Tours: https://fattiretours.com
Backroads Tours: https://www.backroads.com
City Wonders: https://citywonders.com
Many Rivers: https://manyrivers.org.au/

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and early travel experiences
 03:00 Early life, gap years and cultural exposure
 09:00 Volunteering and discovering tourism
 12:00 University and first steps into the industry
 18:00 Camp counselling and international experiences
 21:00 Living in Paris and working as a tour guide
 26:00 Training and professional development in tourism
 30:00 Seasonality and life as a tour guide
 32:00 Creating memorable experiences for travellers
 39:00 Moving into tourism product development
 46:00 Insights into the river cruise industry
 53:00 Returning to Australia and new career opportunities
 56:00 Exploring Australia through tourism work
 59:00 Navigating the tourism industry during COVID
 01:02:00 Moving into regional economic development
 01:04:00 First Nations tourism and cultural engagement
 01:09:00 Sustainable tourism and future industry challenges

In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Emma Rhoades about her career journey and her current work supporting tourism businesses through workforce development at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC).

Emma reflects on returning to university later in life, re-entering the workforce after raising children, and finding her place in the tourism industry. The conversation explores workforce challenges across tourism, the importance of networking and building relationships, and practical advice for people looking to start or grow their careers in the industry.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • Why networking is one of the most powerful tools for building a tourism career
 • How career paths in tourism often evolve through unexpected opportunities
 • The workforce challenges facing tourism operators today
 • Why passion and persistence matter when building a career in tourism
 • Practical advice for job seekers looking to enter the tourism industry
 • How industry organisations are supporting tourism operators and employees

About Emma

Emma Rhoades works as a workforce advisor with QTIC, supporting tourism businesses across Queensland with workforce development, industry challenges and career pathways.

Her career journey includes returning to university later in life and re-entering the workforce after raising children. Emma is passionate about helping people navigate careers in tourism and connecting industry operators with the support they need.

The Industry Workforce Advisor Program is supported and funded by the Queensland Government.

Connect with Emma on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations and industry references mentioned

Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) https://www.qtic.com.au

Accor Heartist Ethos: https://group.accor.com/en/group/people-at-our-heart/our-heartist-ethos

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and early career aspirations
 03:00 Education and early career interests
 06:00 Working at Telstra and stepping away for motherhood
 08:00 Returning to university and rediscovering career direction
 11:00 Navigating career transitions and self-reflection
 13:00 Connecting with the tourism industry
 19:00 Emma’s role at QTIC and workforce support
 22:00 Workforce challenges across the tourism industry
 26:00 Promoting tourism careers and industry opportunities
 29:00 Advice for job seekers entering tourism
 34:00 Networking strategies and building relationships
 39:00 Final reflections and support for tourism professionals

In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Sarah-Jane Tilbury about building a career in tourism that spans international travel, operational leadership and general management.

Sarah-Jane shares her journey from growing up in the UK and entering the tourism industry through travel and car rental, to moving to Australia and stepping into senior leadership roles. The conversation explores leadership, team dynamics, commercial thinking and the challenges of managing tourism businesses through major disruptions such as COVID-19.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • Why leadership in tourism is about empowering teams to succeed
 • How careers in tourism often evolve through unexpected opportunities
 • The importance of commercial thinking in tourism operations
 • Lessons from managing tourism businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic
 • Why networking and strong industry relationships matter in tourism careers
 • Advice for professionals looking to move into general management roles

It’s funny. It’s honest. And underneath the laughter is a really sharp conversation about what modern tourism leadership actually looks like.

About Sarah-Jane

Sarah-Jane Tilbury is a tourism leader with experience across travel operations, hospitality and visitor attractions. Her career has taken her from the UK to Australia, working across multiple tourism sectors and ultimately stepping into general management roles.

Known for her people-first leadership style, Sarah-Jane focuses on empowering teams, building strong organisational cultures and delivering high-quality visitor experiences while maintaining strong commercial performance.

Connect with Sarah-Jane on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations and industry references mentioned

Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa: https://hepburnbathhouse.com/

Belgravia Leisure: https://belgravialeisure.com.au/

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium: https://www.visitsealife.com/melbourne/

SeaLink: https://www.sealink.com.au/

Tourism Holdings Limited: https://www.thlonline.com

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to SJ Tilbury and her tourism career
 03:00 Early life in the UK and first exposure to travel
 06:00 Starting a career in tourism and travel industries
 09:00 Moving into the car rental sector
 12:00 Career growth in tourism operations
 15:00 Leadership lessons and managing teams
 18:00 Moving to Australia and new tourism opportunities
 21:00 Working with Tourism Holdings Limited
 25:00 Transition into senior tourism leadership roles
 29:00 Managing visitor attractions and working with animals
 33:00 Empowering teams and leadership philosophy
 39:00 Education, conservation and visitor engagement
 45:00 Balancing commercial success with team wellbeing
 49:00 Navigating tourism operations during COVID-19
 57:00 Team culture, leadership and difficult conversations
 01:00:00 Career transitions and networking in tourism
 01:08:00 Executive roles and industry leadership
 01:12:00 The rise of wellness tourism
 01:20:00 Advice for aspiring tourism professionals

In the first episode of Tourism Matters for 2026, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Kate Gibson about her journey from horse riding and personal training to founding Hike Collective, a tourism business focused on meaningful outdoor experiences.

Kate shares how Hike Collective began as a mental health initiative built around hiking and connection with nature, and how it evolved into a successful adventure tourism business. The conversation explores the power of human connection in tourism, the role of tour guides in creating memorable experiences, and how the business adapted and grew during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • How Kate transitioned from personal training into founding a tourism business
 • Why connection with nature, community and self sits at the heart of Hike Collective
 • How COVID-19 created new opportunities for local tourism experiences
 • The growing importance of tour guides in shaping meaningful travel experiences
 • What Kate looks for when hiring and mentoring tourism guides
 • Why giving back and supporting the next generation of tourism professionals matters

About Kate

Kate Gibson is the founder of Hike Collective, an adventure tourism company based in Western Australia that creates guided hiking experiences focused on connection with nature, self and community.

Originally launched as a mental health initiative encouraging people to get outdoors together, Hike Collective has grown into a recognised tourism brand. Kate is also passionate about mentoring emerging tourism professionals and contributing to the broader tourism industry.

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations and industry references mentioned

Hike Collective: https://www.hikecollective.com.au/

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and early influences
 02:30 Growing up with horses and early career ambitions
 05:00 Transition into events and fitness careers
 08:00 Moving into personal training and coaching
 10:00 The idea behind Hike Collective
 13:00 Building a purpose-driven tourism business
 19:00 Entering the tourism industry and learning the sector
 24:00 Networking and building tourism relationships
 29:00 Growth and recognition in tourism
 31:00 Navigating COVID-19 and opportunities in local tourism
 34:00 The three connections: self, community and place
 38:00 Building a strong community of tour guides
 42:00 Distribution and understanding tourism channels
 46:00 The evolving role of tour guides
 55:00 Hiring guides and building the right team
 01:00:00 Giving back and supporting the tourism industry

In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Penny Brand about building a career in tourism that spans adventure tourism, international tour guiding and destination marketing.

Penny shares how her early roles—from performing as a SeaWorld mascot to managing skydiving operations and guiding tours across Europe—helped build the skills that later led her into destination marketing and tourism development at Gate 7. The conversation explores the importance of networking, industry relationships and genuine enthusiasm when building a career in the tourism industry.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • How diverse experiences can shape a successful career in tourism
 • Why networking and industry relationships are critical in tourism careers
 • The role destination marketing plays in attracting visitors and increasing spend
 • What it’s like working as a Tourism Development Director
 • Practical advice for young professionals entering the tourism industry
 • Why passion and enthusiasm remain essential in tourism careers

About Penny

Penny Brand has built a diverse career across tourism guiding, adventure tourism, event management and destination marketing. Her experience includes roles as a European tour guide with Contiki, managing adventure tourism operations and working in destination marketing with Gate 7.

Today she works in tourism development and destination marketing, helping destinations grow visitor numbers and awareness through strategic partnerships and global tourism promotion.

Connect with Penny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penny-brand-44349231/

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-bold/

Organisations and industry references mentioned

Gate 7: https://gate7.com.au
Contiki: https://www.contiki.com
SeaWorld: https://seaworld.com
Travel South USA: https://travelsouth.visittheusa.com/en-au/
IPW Trade Show: https://www.ipw.com
Nomads / Australian Backpacking Network: https://www.nomadsworld.com

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Penny Brand and her tourism career
 01:00 Early roles including SeaWorld mascot and expressive performance work
 02:30 Moving into adventure tourism and managing skydiving operations
 03:30 Tour guiding in Europe and working with Contiki
 05:00 Managing international tour groups and cultural experiences
 06:00 Returning to Australia and involvement in the Olympics
 07:00 Moving into destination marketing with Gate 7
 08:30 How destination marketing promotes regions and increases visitor spend
 10:00 Building strong tourism industry networks
 11:30 The role of a Tourism Development Director
 13:00 The importance of trade shows, industry events and famils
 14:30 Recruitment tips and how to stand out in tourism interviews
 16:00 Passion, resilience and the post-COVID tourism industry
 17:30 Encouragement for young professionals entering tourism

In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Nic Cooper about his journey from working in tourism from a young age to founding Wild Adventures Melbourne, an eco-tourism company focused on sustainable travel experiences.

Nic reflects on the many stages of his tourism career, from tour guiding and destination marketing to launching his own tourism business during the challenges of COVID-19. The conversation explores sustainability, climate responsibility in tourism, and how small tourism businesses can play a powerful role in shaping a more responsible visitor economy.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • How Nic’s tourism career evolved from tour guiding into business development and entrepreneurship
 • Why sustainability and responsible tourism are becoming essential in the visitor economy
 • The challenges of launching a tourism business during the COVID-19 pandemic
 • How small tourism operators can play a major role in addressing climate change
 • Why tourism has the power to inspire positive change in travellers
 • Advice for the next generation of tourism professionals entering the industry

About Nic

Nic Cooper is the founder of Wild Adventures Melbourne, an eco-tourism company focused on creating meaningful outdoor experiences while promoting responsible tourism practices.

Alongside running Wild Adventures Melbourne, Nic also works as a consultant helping tourism businesses improve their sustainability practices and environmental impact. His work is driven by a strong belief that tourism can be part of the solution to climate change when operators embrace transparency, collaboration and responsible travel principles.

Connect with Nic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niccooper/

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-bold/

Organisations and industry references mentioned

7 Generations Tourism: https://www.7gt.com.au/
Wild Adventures Melbourne: https://wildadventuresmelbourne.com/

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Nic Cooper and his tourism career
 03:00 Early influences and starting in tourism at a young age
 07:00 Backpacking, ski seasons and discovering tourism opportunities
 10:00 Moving into tour guiding and building industry experience
 12:00 Career growth through business development roles
 21:00 Moving to Australia and exploring new tourism opportunities
 26:00 Destination marketing and tourism industry insights
 28:00 Pursuing entrepreneurship and starting a tourism business
 30:00 Launching Wild Adventures Melbourne
 32:00 Navigating COVID-19 as a new tourism business
 36:00 Responsible tourism and ethical travel practices
 39:00 Sustainability consulting and industry collaboration
 42:00 The role of small tourism businesses in climate action
 48:00 Creating meaningful tourism experiences through eco practices
 57:00 Inspiring the next generation of tourism professionals

In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Ged Brown about his journey through the global travel industry and the idea that led him to found Low Season Traveler.

Ged shares insights from a career that spans tour operators, aviation, route development and industry events. The conversation explores how the concept of low season travel could help address overtourism, support destinations year-round and reshape how the tourism industry thinks about seasonality.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • How Ged’s career evolved from tour operators into aviation and tourism strategy
 • Why seasonality is one of the biggest challenges facing the tourism industry
 • How low season travel can help reduce overtourism and support sustainable tourism
 • The role of storytelling, media and industry platforms in influencing tourism change
 • Why trusting your instincts and embracing every step of your career journey matters

About Ged

Ged Brown is the founder of Low Season Traveler, a global initiative encouraging travellers to explore destinations outside peak tourism periods. His work focuses on helping destinations manage seasonality, reduce overtourism and create more balanced tourism economies.

Ged’s career spans tour operators, aviation route development and international tourism events, giving him a unique perspective on how the global travel ecosystem operates.

Connect with Ged on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gedbrown/
Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-bold/

Since recording this episode, Ged has launched The Travel and Tourism Seasonality Blueprint containing everything he has learned since founding the low season travel movement, you can access it here:  https://seasonalitysummit.com/the-tourism-seasonality-blueprint/

Organisations and industry references mentioned

Low Season Traveler: https://lowseasontraveller.com
Tourism Seasonality Summit: https://seasonalitysummit.com/
Routes Online: https://www.routesonline.com

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Ged Brown and his tourism career
 03:00 Early career and discovering the travel industry
 08:00 Working with major tour operators and managing global accounts
 15:00 Industry changes and navigating redundancy in tourism
 22:00 Moving into aviation and route development
 33:00 Understanding airline, airport and destination relationships
 42:00 Creating platforms and influencing tourism conversations
 51:00 Managing rejection and building trust in global industry networks
 60:00 Personal reflection and the spark behind Low Season Traveler
 62:00 The concept of low season travel and tackling overtourism
 67:00 COVID-19 and accelerating the mission
 75:00 Building the Low Season Traveler brand and media platform
 77:00 Launching the Tourism Seasonality Summit
 80:00 Trusting instincts and embracing the steps along the way
 82:00 Final reflections on the future of tourism

In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Giselle Whitaker about building a career across multiple countries, industries and unexpected opportunities in the tourism sector.

Giselle shares stories from a career that has taken her from tourism and marketing roles in Tasmania to working internationally in Japan and Dubai, including leadership roles in hospitality and tourism. The conversation explores adaptability, career pivots, and why saying yes to opportunities can open doors across the global tourism industry.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • Why saying yes to unexpected opportunities can shape tourism careers
 • How international experience builds resilience and cultural understanding
 • The value of developing skills across tourism, marketing, PR and communications
 • How to navigate career uncertainty during major disruptions like the global financial crisis and COVID-19
 • Practical advice for early career professionals entering tourism and hospitality
 • Why adaptability and curiosity are essential for long-term career growth

About Giselle

Giselle Whitaker has built an international career spanning tourism, hospitality, marketing, journalism and public relations. Her professional journey has taken her across six countries, including roles in tourism marketing, international hospitality and cultural exchange.

Through a diverse range of experiences—from teaching English in Japan to leadership roles in global tourism and hospitality organisations—Giselle has developed a career defined by adaptability, curiosity and a willingness to embrace new opportunities.

Connect with Giselle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisellewhiteaker/

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-bold/

Organisations and industry references mentioned

Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET): https://jetprogramme.org
Ski Dubai: https://www.skidxb.com
Couchsurfing: https://www.couchsurfing.com

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Giselle Whitaker and her global career
 03:00 Early career interests and studying languages
 07:00 Moving to Japan and teaching English through cultural exchange
 12:00 Discovering opportunities in tourism and marketing
 18:00 Tourism marketing and PR roles in Tasmania
 24:00 Working at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo and consular roles
 30:00 Crisis management and challenging international roles
 36:00 Building a career in Dubai and working with Ski Dubai
 42:00 International leadership and managing diverse teams
 48:00 The power of saying yes to opportunities
 54:00 Navigating the global financial crisis and career uncertainty
 60:00 Volunteering, travel blogging and entrepreneurship
 70:00 Lessons from global travel and international work
 86:00 COVID-19 and reshaping career direction
 99:00 Returning to Australia and new opportunities in hospitality
 105:00 Leadership style, mentoring and encouraging innovation
 111:00 Advice for young professionals entering tourism
 117:00 Final reflections on careers, travel and embracing opportunity