Board of Directors

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Tourism Tasmania operates under the Tourism Tasmania Act 1996 and is governed by a board appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Minister.

James Cretan

As chair of the Tourism Tasmania Board, James oversees Tourism Tasmania's strategic direction and plays a significant role in communication with government and industry. James is an executive director and chair of Kriticos Nominees, a family company that owns and operates Cradle Mountain Wilderness  Village, Swansea Beach Chalets, Shoreline Hotel and Tasmanian Collection Service. He is a director and chair of the Plastic Fabrications Group, a manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of plastic and related products to the aquaculture and marine industry, and is also an owner and director of Intuit  Technologies, Tasmania's largest private ICT company. He was a director of TAFE Tasmania from 2004 and chair from January 2006 to May 2008 before becoming chair of The Skills Institute.

Brett Torossi

Brett is the chair of Tourism Tasmania's Audit Finance and Risk Committee. She is founder, owner and managing director of New Ground Network. As a respected property developer and businesswoman, she focuses on creating and developing properties that are innovative, sustainable and commercially successful.  Brett's other board appointments include; director, Wallis Watson Capital Ltd; director, Avalon Coastal Retreat Pty Ltd; director, Tasmanian Development Board; non-singing director, The Festival of Voices; chair, Tasmanian Heritage Council; trustee, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery; chair, Tasmanian  Museum and Art Gallery Audit Committee; chair, Tasmanian Cultural Policy Steering Group and director of the National Board of Creative Partnerships Australia.

John Fitzgerald

John Fitzgerald is CEO of Tourism Tasmania. He has had an extensive career in senior executive management positions in the tourism industry in Australia, having held positions at national, State/ Territory and regional levels. Previous to his current position, John held the position of CEO at Tourism  NT. He has also held the position of Chief Operating Officer at the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC), where he managed the successful completion of the seven- year STCRC program. Before then, John was CEO at Tourism Sunshine Coast, one of Queensland's major regional tourism organisations.  John has held numerous board, committee memberships and directorships and is currently a director of the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse and Business Events Tasmania. Former directorships include the NT Major Events Company, the Darwin Waterfront Corporation, the national Indigenous Tourism Working  Group and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council. John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and is married with two children. Tourism Tasmania operates under the Tourism Tasmania

Kate Vale

Kate has enjoyed a hugely distinguished career spanning almost twenty years in some of the most prestigious digital environments in the world. As managing director of Spotify for Australia and New Zealand, Kate heads up all aspects of the business for the region, managing a team in Sydney. With a strong  head for business and unique flair for digital and search, Kate has enjoyed a distinguished career in some of the most prestigious digital environments in the world. Prior to joining Spotify, Kate was Google's first regional hire as Head of Sales for Australia and New Zealand before moving to YouTube  in 2009. Kate relocated her family to Los Angeles in 2016 where she is still busy in her Australian role and exploring her new home.

Simon Currant

Simon is the visionary and developer behind some of Tasmania's and Australia's most celebrated tourism experiences including Cradle Mountain Lodge, Franklin Manor, Strahan Village, Gordon River Cruises, Peppermint Bay, Hobart Cruises and his latest venture, Pumphouse Point, a wilderness retreat within  the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. In 2010, Simon was appointed the inaugural chairman of the Tourism Quality Council of Australia (TQCA). Simon was chairman of the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania for 16 years and continues as a director, and is a former long-term director of TT-Line. A  Churchill Fellow, he was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 and was named Tasmanian of the Year in 2004. In 2006, Simon was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the community and the Tasmanian tourism industry. Simon consults both nationally and internationally, providing expert  advice in operations, new destination evaluation, market evaluation and product concept development.

Michelle Cox

Michelle is the global chief operating officer of marketing communications agency group Bastion. Entering 20 years of leadership, Michelle has a demonstrated track record in growing returns across Australia, Asia Pacific and global markets. With multi-national experience in marketing, communications,  travel and tourism, Michelle applies entrepreneurial thinking to find creative solutions for her clients. Previous appointments include managing director Asia Pacific for STA Travel and GM Marketing for the APT Group. Michelle has held executive and board appointments including executive director –  Bastion EBA, chair of the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) – Northern Territory; deputy chair, Central Australian Tourism Industry Association (CATIA) and as director of Asia Pacific London with STA Global Leadership Board.

Rebecca King

Rebecca is a multi-award winning tourism online marketing specialist who has worked in small business, state government, the airline industry, and media. She is currently director of her own national tourism digital marketing company Kingthing Marketing. Rebecca held the position of Marketing Manager  at Tamar River Cruises, winning the company nine awards including Tasmanian Tourism Awards and the Telstra Business Award for Innovation. In 2006 she was awarded Telstra Tasmanian Corporate Business Woman of the Year. Her business, Kingthing Marketing, won the 2014 Tasmanian Tourism Award for Education  and Training and in 2015, Rebecca won gold in the prestigious 2014 Australian Tourism Awards in the Education and Training category. Rebecca is a founding member of the Girls Gone Riding cycling group who raise funds for underprivileged communities. She lives in Launceston with her husband and two teenage  boys.

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