With over four hundred delegates each year, this conference has achieved national recognition as an excellent opportunity for guests to discuss key youth, environmental and cultural issues and needs that impact Indigenous Tourism in Australia.
Over the three day conference the main focus will be on development, employment and training of Indigenous people, which has a positive social and economic return to Australian businesses, and in particular regional Australia.
The Aboriginal culture represents the world’s oldest surviving cultures with approximately 99 traditional Indigenous language groups within five language regions in the State of Western Australia alone. Burswood is proud to be the host for this year’s conference as it is hopes to inspire and generate interest and awareness for Indigenous Tourism within Australia.
Key speakers
Adrian Boys
Adrian Boys is the Manager for Regional WA for Qantas which is based in Perth and is responsible for Qantas sales in regional Western Australia. Adrian has held senior positions in the airline and travel industry for over 35 years. Born in Geraldton, Adrian’s passion is for regional Australia and strives to ensure that Qantas meet’s the needs of its regional customers. Adrian is proud to work for a company that so strongly identifies with and supports Indigenous Australia.
Ernie Dingo
Ernie Dingo is a passionate advocate for his people and is vigilant about the portrayal of Aboriginals in film and television, earning enormous respect as a performer and capable of extraordinary versatility.
His talents as an actor, television host, reporter and comedian have made him one of Australia's best known and most loved performers. In 1990 he was awarded an Order of Australia, in 1994 he was voted 'Aboriginal of the Year' and in 1997 he became a 'National Living Treasure'.
Ernie grew up in Mullewa, in the Geraldton region of Western Australia. He is Wadjarri/Yamatji – Wadjarri is his tongue/language (which Ernie still speaks) and Yamatji are his people/nation.
Justin Herald
At the age of 25 with only $50 to his name, Justin Herald set about changing the course of his life. Justin created Attitude Inc, a clothing brand that became an international licensing success that turned over in excess of $20 million per year.
Justin’s success was so well noted that he was named the “INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR” for 2005. He recently was also awarded the Future Leaders Award, which recognises him as being one of the 50 most influential leaders of the next generation in Australia.
Mark Olive
Mark Olive, aka ‘The Black Olive’, has been a chef for over 25 years and has become a well know Australian celebrity with his charismatic style and creative approach to food, starring in his own television series ‘The Outback Cafe’ and a host of cooking, lifestyle and travel shows nationally and globally.
As a Bundjalung man, Mark’s family originated from the Northern Rivers region in NSW. Born in Wollongong he became interested in cooking as a child, watching his mother and aunts prepare meals.
Mark now cooks regularly for clients such as Tourism Australia (TA), bringing his signature infusions of contemporary outback flavours to every occasion. In 2010 Mark’s business was chosen as one of the destinations on Oprah’s Victorian itinerary when she travelled to Australia with her Ultimate Audience.
Aden Ridgeway
Aden Ridgeway was born in Macksville in northern NSW in 1962. He is a proud member of the Gumbayyngirr people. Aden is the first Indigenous person to be elected as a Parliamentary Leader when he held the position of Deputy Leader, Australian Democrats, during 2001-02. He retired as a Senator for NSW, having served in the Federal Parliament for six years.
He is currently Tourism Australia’s Indigenous tourism spokesperson and Chair of Tourism Australia’s Indigenous Tourism Industry Advisory Panel.
Ron Solimon
Ron Solimon is the President & CEO of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Inc., a state-chartered not-for-profit corporation, and Indian Pueblos Marketing, Inc., a federally-chartered for-profit corporation. Both corporations are owned & operated by the 19 Pueblo Indian tribes of New Mexico and headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Ron is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna Indian Tribe of New Mexico. Ron earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from New Mexico State University in 1973 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1976.
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For further information please contact:
Burswood Entertainment Complex
Public Relations – Hotels, Conventions and Events
Elizabeth Walsh
9362 8065
or Angelique Fransen
Conference Convenor
0424 159 946
Notes to Editors:
For further information regarding the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference please visit www.aitc2011.com
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