John Mangos
Master of Ceremonies

Popular television newsman, John Mangos, has been a familiar face on Australian television screens for almost thirty years.

He is currently a senior anchorman with SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA, a post he's held since the 24-hour news channel was launched in 1996.

He is also a weekly regular on Australia's leading breakfast program, the Seven Network's Sunrise. And he's a regular afternoon host on top rating Sydney talkback radio station 2UE.

A widely respected newscaster, John spent 14 years with National Nine News where he worked in the Federal Parliamentary press gallery and as the NSW state political correspondent before he became the network's United States correspondent based in Los Angeles.

John returned from the United States at the request of the "King of Australian television", Graham Kennedy, to co-host the top rating nightly Coast to Coast news program.

John went on to make documentaries for the Nine Network as well as hosting the Our World series on Sunday nights.

At that time he was a guest host of Nine's Today show and the Midday show.

He then moved to Network Ten to present the Eyewitness news, but a year later was lured back to his old stomping ground at Nine for the irresistible chance to be an international roving reporter for the Midday show.

John's long and distinguished career was rewarded when the Seven Network offered him his own chat show, "At Home with John Mangos", which aired nationally for two years.

This wasn't enough for John who is known in television circles for his boundless energy and enthusiasm. John became a breakfast announcer on Sydney radio station 2KY, launched the new cable station, Greek Australian Television on OptusVision, and hosted a twice-weekly current affairs program, Straight Talk.

John lives in Sydney and runs his own media consultancy, Megisti Media, which was romantically named after the Greek island of his family's origin, Kastellorizo.

He is in demand as an after dinner speaker, Master of Ceremonies, seminar mediator and media trainer.

John relishes new challenges and frequently donates his time to charity fundraisers. He is a past Patron of the Make a Wish Foundation, a former steering committee member of Jeans for Genes and a current board member of Ocean Watch and the Sydney Olympic Football Club. John is also the Patron of the Trish Cairns Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation at St Vincent's Hospital.

John is an official ambassador for the Sydney Swans Football Club and has an active interest in the club.

In his spare time, John loves to cook and has been teaching cooking classes at the Sydney Seafood School at the Sydney Fish Market for the past thirteen years.

Li's journey is simply remarkable. He was born into utter poverty in Mao's communist China, at a very young age he was selected to train in Madame Mao's Beijing Dance Academy. So began Li's journey. The 7 years of harsh training regime at the Beijing Dance Academy taught him discipline, resilience, determination and perseverance. Li's astounding drive and relentless hard work made him one of the best dancers in the world.

Li then made a successful career transition from ballet to finance in 1999. He is a senior manager at one of the largest stockbroking firms in Australia.

The inspirational story of Li's life is recounted in his memoir Mao's Last Dancer, which quickly rose to No. 1 on the Australian Non-Fiction Best-Seller List and win the Book of the Year Award in Australia and receiving the Christopher Award for Literature in the USA. It went on to become an international bestseller. It's in the 38th reprint. His incredible story is being made into a featured film.

Li's experiences are real; his journey is incredible; his story is true, and he is the living example of overcome adversity and achieving excellence in life.

Having qualified from St Andrews University with a Masters in Geography and International relations I spent a year studying in the USA before embarking on a career in the UK A few false starts were followed by eleven years at British Airways where I held a number of senior roles in the commercial and marketing parts of the company. In 1999 left BA to become CEO of Travelbag a specialist longhaul tour operator with a focus on the Australian market place. Five years later led the sale of the business to eBookers and joined their board as Commercial Director. In Nov 2004 joined STA Travel as Chief Operating Officer, being promoted to CEO in July of last year.

STA Travel is owned by the Diethelm Keller Group and is the worlds largest and most successful student and youth travel business.

Craig Saddler
Vice President, Boeing International and President, Boeing Australia & South Pacific Region

Craig Saddler was named vice president of Boeing International and president of Boeing Australia in January 2007. In this role, he identifies and pursues new growth and productivity initiatives, leads the country strategy planning process and coordinates company activities in Australia. In September 2007, his title was changed to reflect an increasing involvement in the company's South Pacific business activities. Saddler is based in Sydney at the Boeing Australia corporate headquarters and reports to Laurette Koellner, president of Boeing International.

Prior to this appointment, Saddler was the Vice President of Business for the 787 Program at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. He led the team responsible for developing the business case and business model for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Program, and has overall fiduciary responsibility for the program, including finance, business operations, estimating, contracts and cost management. He held this position since February 2003.

Previously, Saddler served as the Boeing Shared Services financial officer with responsibility for the group's financial operations, including asset management and charging policy. In this position, he served on the company-wide Finance process council. As the same time, he served as president of Boeing Travel Management Program, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, and interim president of Boeing Realty Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary.

From December 1999 to January 2001, he served as vice president Financial Planning and Analysis and as vice president Investor relations, in the company's Treasury organisation. While in these positions, he was responsible for company activities relating to financial planning and business analysis. He worked with institutional investors and securities analysts to help them understand the company's programs and financial performance.

From May to November 1999, Saddler was vice president for Shared Services. From 1997, to 1999, he was director of Business Operations for Military Aircraft & Missile Systems Group. He was responsibility for cost management of people and processes, including overhead, rates, capital, budgets, cost performance, scheduling and earned-value management.

In 1995, following an assignment as controller for the C-17 aircraft program in Long Beach, Calif., Saddler was named general manager of Business Management of the Military Transport Aircraft Division of McDonnell Douglas.

In 1992, Saddler was appointed director of Corporate Contracts and Overhead for McDonnell Douglas.

Saddler joined McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis in 1981 as a subcontract price/cost analyst on the Tomahawk program. He later worked on programs in the Missiles Division, holding positions in Design-to-Cost, Estimating, Finance and Business Management.

Saddler holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from Purdue University and holds a master's degree in engineering management from the University of Missouri, Rolla. Previously he served on the executive committee of the Bellevue, Wash., Chamber of Commerce board of directors from 2001 to 2007 and was chairman of the Boeing Realty Corp. Board of Directors from 2003 to 2007. Saddler is currently a member of the Business Council of Australia, the European Australian Business Council, the Sydney Institute and the Committee for Sydney.

He is also a member of The Global Foundation and the Asia Society's Presidents Circle. He has recently joined the Foundation Council for the Australian Davos Connection (ADC) and serves on the Board of Governors for the American Chamber of Commerce. Saddler continues to serve on the Dean's Advisory Council for Purdue University's Krannert School of Management and has recently been selected as Boeing's University Relations Executive Focal for University of Queensland.

The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water

Greg Hunt was elected to represent the Federal Electorate of Flinders in 2001. He was appointed Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water in December 2007. Previously he was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in January 2007 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment and Heritage in 2004. A Fulbright Scholar, Greg has an LLB with First Class Honours from the University of Melbourne and a Master of International Relations from Yale University. He was captain of the Australian Universities' debating team and runner up at the World Debating Championships. Greg was Senior Advisor to the Foreign Minister, the Hon. Alexander Downer MP, and counts assisting in the development of an international initiative for the removal of landmines as amongst his most important contributions. He has also worked at the United Nations Centre for Human Rights, as the Associate to the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, was Australia's Chief Electoral Observer in Cambodia in 1998 and an Engagement Manager with McKinsey and Co. In 2003, Greg was selected as one of 100 Global Leaders for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum. Greg enjoys long-distance running, has completed seven marathons, and is married to Paula and father of two-year old Poppy.

Lindy has been associated with Gullivers Travel Group for 20 years and during that period, has been involved in the full range of travel businesses encompassed by the Group.

In 2005 Gullivers Travel purchased the additional businesses of GO Holidays and Talpacific Australia and UK. Lindy's involvement was to develop the strategic direction for product on a group basis.

The Gullivers Travel Group became part of Stella Travel Services in January 2007 and at this time Lindy took on the full responsibility of both Gullivers Holidays and GO holidays as well as maintain the product role for the Group.

Effective 01 January 2008 Lindy has been appointed to her current role of General Manager - Global Product Procurement for Stella Travel Services. This role requires Lindy to co-ordinate the Land Contracting for all of the Stella Global Wholesalers and Inbound businesses. Stella Travel Services has an expanding focus on the Australian market with Inbound Wholesale from New Zealand, South Africa, UK and USA, the development of a domestic wholesale program and the continued expansion of ATS Pacific.

Jack Guo
Assistant General Manager, Beijing China Travel Service Co., Ltd / ANZ Holiday

I have worked in travel industry for 23 years, escorted with different types of travel groups such as package tour groups from America, Europe and Southeast Asia, cultural exchange groups from UN, involved with royal cruise offshore excursions including immigration, custom procedures and sightseeing arrangements, conference and incentive groups tour program etc. in the inbound travel business. In the last 10 years, my work was focused mainly on the outbound travel to Australia in China market as a wholesaler, such as products and promotions, contracting, and office management.

I am invited by Beijing Youth Political College as the guest lecturer.

I have obtained the certificate of tour guide, tour leader, and travel agency GM qualification.

I participated the managing team for some programs such as The Beijing Youth Daily second anniversary(240 readers from China) in Sydney in 2000, and Chinese New Year in Paris( 460 Chinese Travelers) and Sydney Opera House Concert( 600 Chinese Travelers and 1200 local Audience) in 2005.

Rob Gurney,
Group General Manager Sales and Distribution, Qantas Arilines

Andrew Burnes
CEO, The AOT Group

Professional History
 
During his university years, Andrew worked in a variety of jobs as a student, including barman, house painter, labourer, waiter and Year 12 Legal Studies teacher at Mt St Joseph's in Altona.

Andrew travelled overseas in 1985 and in 1986 commenced his Articles with Blake Dawson Waldron. Andrew was offered a position with the firm on completion of his Articles and continued with Blakes until October, 1987 when he left to pursue a career in travel.

On 1st November, 1987 Andrew formed The Australian Outback Travel Company (now The AOT Group) of which he has been the Managing Director / CEO since the age of 26.

Over the last 20 years, Andrew has grown the business from being a small regional safari operator into Australia & New Zealand's leading travel distribution businesses.

The AOT Group

Andrew formed The Australian Outback Travel Company (AOTC) in late 1987 as an adventure tour operator in North Queensland operating safari tours to Cape York, the Gulf of Carpentaria , the NT and other parts of the northern Australian outback.

After the 1989 pilots dispute, the Company took a new direction and became an inbound tour operator. AOTC sold the safari businesses in 1999 and is now Australia & New Zealand's largest inbound tour operator, largest domestic wholesaler and a leading on-line retailer.

Andrew is CEO of The AOT Group ("AOTG"), which owns and operates AOT Holidays, AOT Inbound (incorporating Experience Tours Australia ), AOT Retail and Australian On-Line Travel. The Group has over 300 employees in Australia and New Zealand , with the head office in Melbourne and other offices in Sydney , Brisbane and Auckland . The Company distributes Australian and New Zealand travel products & services globally via all retail outlets in Australia and New Zealand and over 70 wholesalers globally.

AOT Holidays brands include Sunlover Holidays, NSW Holidays & Travelpoint.  Australian On-Line Travels brands include needitnow.com.au, travelmate.com.au, and needtoescape.com.au.

In a tourism career spanning over 30 years, Rick Matkowski has held senior management positions in Asia and North America as well as in Australia.

Rick spent over 12 years based in Asia managing and shaping the development and growth of many of our current key and developing markets - China, Korea, Singapore and India.

He has also been involved in the Japanese market for over 20 years and is well versed on the issues, challenges and opportunities.

He is culturally attuned to the individual Asian and Japanese markets and the business opportunities they offer for the Australian industry.

Prior to joining Tourism Australia, Rick was Regional Director with Tourism Queensland in Brisbane as well as CEO, Push The Limits, working with major tourism projects such as Business Tourism Australia, World Travel Australia and Great Tropical Drive.

Yoshimi Kobayashi
Experience Development Manager - Japan, Tourism Australia

Jul'07-Current Director, YK Marketing Pty Ltd contracted to Tourism Australia as Experience Development Manager - Japan
Secretariat for Yonsha-Kai and ATEC Japan Policy Panel

Oct' 94 - Jul'07 Jalpak International Oceania Pty Ltd, Sydney Australia

Director, Inbound
Corporate Planning Department
Oversee whole Inbound Business including personnel

Other roles

Inbound Gold Coast branch regional director
Director for Marketing Department
Director for Operation & Control Department
Director for Hotel Purchasing Department
Director for Planning Department

Outside activities:

Apr' 2000 - Jul'07 Taking an important role of secretariat for Yonsha-Kai
(4 major wholesalers representing Japanese Inbound business in Australia) to bridge between Australian tourism organization including ATEC, TA, STO, and suppliers for the development of Japan Market..

Apr' 91 - Sep' 94 WTO Australia Pty Ltd (T/A Wagons-Lits Oceania), Sydney Australia
Oversee Inbound Operations including personnel

Oct' 90 - Mar' 91 Wagons-Lits Oceania Japan, Tokyo Japan
Oversee Inbound Operations communicating with tour operator in Australia and wholesale agent in Japan including training of staff

Oct' 86 - Sep' 90 Thomas Cook Oceania Co Ltd, Tokyo Japan
Oversee Inbound Operations communicating with tour operator in Australia and wholesale agent in Japan including training of staff

Apr' 84 - Jun' 86 Ministry of Construction, Tokyo Japan
Project of coordinating World-wide Architectural Competition for construction of National Opera House in Tokyo

Jodie Scott
International Sales Manager - Voyages Hotels & Resorts

Jodie Scott has over twelve years experience in the hospitality and tourism industry and has been International Sales Manager with Voyages Hotels & Resorts since 2006.

She was previously Director of Business Development - Leisure with the Saville Hotel Group for over 6 years and has experience in all facets of hotels including operations, reservations, conferencing, corporate and leisure sales. Jodie has extensive travel experience in the international market and frequents these markets over 4 times per year giving her an invaluable understanding of inbound markets and market trends. Jodie will bring to this forum an understanding from a Sales Managers point of view of servicing the market on the ground.

Jodie was on the ATEC NSW Committee member for 3 years and her awards include Saville Hotel Group, Salesperson of the year 2003; HMAA Sales Executive of the year 2004; and NSW finalist for YATEC Len Taylor Award for excellence.

Bernard Salt
Partner- KPMG

Bernard Salt is a Partner of KPMG Australia based in Melbourne. Bernard holds Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts degrees and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Bernard has established an enviable reputation as an advisor to leading property investors and developers on matters relating to market demand.

Bernard is however best known to Australian business for his commentary in the media on the business implications of demographic and social change. He is a columnist with The Australian and is the author of the popular best-selling book The Big Shift: Welcome to the Third Australian Culture. His most recent book The Big Picture was released in February 2006.

Bernard has appeared on television programs such as A Current Affair, Business Sunday, The Today Show, SBS Insight, Today Tonight and 60 Minutes.

Jean Kittson

A multi-talented performer and writer, Jean Kittson is one of Australia's best known and most popular comedians, amusing audiences in theatre and print, on radio and television.

Jean made her comedy debut at Melbourne's legendary comedy venue Le Joke in a series of solo performances, and then in the stage version of LET THE BLOOD RUN FREE. This show later became a television series for Network 10 and Britain's Channel Four, and was distributed world-wide.

Jean earned national fame through ABC TV's THE BIG GIG as a comic chameleon, with characters as diverse as Veronica Glenhuntley the lovelorn newsreader; Candida the new-age aerobics instructor; Rose McCloud, the ascerbic air hostess and many others. Following this success, Jean teamed up with Maryanne Fahey to become the first female comedians to have their own show on Australian TV, KITTSON FAHEY, which won a Silver Medal at the New York Television Festival.

Also for television, Jean starred in Channel 9's series FLAT CHAT, was a regular guest on GOOD NEWS WEEK and a presenter of the ABC's MEDIA DIMENSIONS program. She is also well known for her lively comedy debates in THE GREAT DEBATE SERIES. Recently Jean has become a regular guest on ABC TV's THE EINSTEIN FACTOR and THE GLASSHOUSE.

In 1990 Jean starred in the David Williamson play SIREN. In 1991 and 1992 she starred with Glynn Nicholas and Philip Scott in THE BIG GIGGLE, a stage version of the TV show. In 1995 Jean wrote and performed her own one-woman play ESCAPE, and other theatre highlights include A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, THE NIGHT OF THE MISSING BRIDEGROOM and BEHIND THE MASK. Jean also performed LOVE LETTERS with Glynn Nicholas for the Melbourne Arts Festival and revisited the role in 2003 at the Noosa Arts and Cultural Festival with the late Campbell McComas.

On radio Jean has been a writer and performer with Sydney's 2DAY FM, a regular guest on ABC's 702 with Richard Glover and a breakfast presenter with MIX 106.5.

Jean has amused audiences in print with columns in NEW WEEKLY MAGAZINE, the SUNDAY TELEGRAPH MAGAZINE, and THE (SYDNEY) MAGAZINE, a monthly supplement with The Sydney Morning Herald. She has appeared in a number of television commercials and in 1998 published a collection of humorous observations titled TONGUE LASHING which became a Penguin best-seller.

Jean has also appeared in many feature films, among them Bill Bennett's THE NUGGET in 2002, and in 2005 HATING ALISON ASHLEY, starring opposite Delta Goodrem.

Andrew Fletcher is the Chief Executive Officer of Hunter Tourism, where he reports directly to a Board of Directors representing Industry, Hunter Councils and Tourism NSW. Tourism is worth nearly $2B per annum to The Hunter's economy and employs over 22,000 people.

The mission of Hunter Tourism is to benefit the region's economy through integrated and sustainable development of the tourism industry and effective marketing of the Hunter experience.

Andrew's role requires him to negotiate on a range of matters with the private sector, State & Federal Government agencies, Local Councils and Local Tourism Associations.

Today he will focus on the benefits of attracting major travel trade conferences to The Hunter such as North American Corroboree in 2007 and the upcoming Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) Symposium in late April 2008. Andrew will outline the bidding process, the market impact of hosting such conferences and the partnerships at all levels which are required to deliver a seamless and unforgettable experience to the delegates.

Prior to his current role, Andrew was the CEO of the University of New England Union in Armidale, managing student services and a diverse range of commercial business units including catering, retail, a cinema complex and hotel. During this time Andrew also served as National President of the Australian Campus Union Managers Association.

Before working at UNE Union, Andrew held senior management positions in the Registered Club industry in Newcastle. He has also been engaged as a consultant by a variety of organizations including the Centre for Workplace Learn