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After a lengthy process which included consultation with industry stakeholders, the Sapphire Coast Tourism (SCT) Board was inducted on 20 June 2008 at Bega Valley Shire Council Chambers. The Board comprises a broad range of skills, from hands on tourism industry experience and knowledge of government systems and processes, to promotional and marketing expertise.
We are particularly fortunate to have Mr Bruce Leaver as our Chairman. Bruce has an incredible depth of knowledge and experience in the tourism industry and his leadership will play a vital role in ensuring that Sapphire Coast and the tourism industry takes full advantage of every opportunity.
It should be remembered that all Board members are unpaid volunteers who give up an inordinate amount of their own time to contribute to the future development of the local tourism industry, which is the backbone of our economy.
Many of you will be familiar with the new SCT Board members, but for those who are not, here is a brief biography for each of them:
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Bruce Leaver - Chairman
Bruce Leaver lives near Cobargo and works with the Commonwealth Government's Parks Australia section. He is currently working on major tourism planning projects for Kakadu and Uluru National Parks.
Mr Leaver has vast experience in natural resource management, nature based tourism and liaison with both government and private sectors. He is also co-convener (with Tourism Australia) of the National Landscapes Reference Committee. The National Landscapes project recently gained national media exposure as iconic landscapes around the nation, including the Wilderness Coast that runs from Bermagui to Lakes Entrance, and are identified to be promoted internationally by Tourism Australia.
Mr Leaver is a member of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Tourism Advisory Committee and has worked in protected area management in NSW, South Australia and Tasmania.
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Gordon Beattie - Deputy Chairman
Gordon Beattie is the director of Arrow Solutions, a consultancy with the theme ‘Making Things Happen by Design', working in the areas of events, conferences and festivals, cultural planning and policy, research, community consultation and cultural mapping, facilitation and change management.
Before settling at Brogo in 2001, he was senior lecturer in Theatre, Head of Performance and Chair of the Courses Management Committee in Design and Contemporary Arts at the University of Western Sydney.
Mr Beattie has more than 35 years' experience as a teacher, researcher, consultant and practicing artist working and leading major arts projects in Sydney and other areas of Australia.
He is chair of the Bega Valley Regional Gallery Advisory Committee, sits on the board of Fling Physical Theatre and is working with the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre on strategic planning and the design for its first exhibition space.
He is also a member of the Bega Valley Shire Arts Network, an informal group of professional artists, gallery owners and managers, events organisers and cultural workers, representing a significant number of small businesses working in the Shire's creative and cultural industries.
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Graeme Wykes - BVSC Representative
After moving to Eden with his parents in the late 60's Graeme Wykes developed a passion for the area that he still has today.
In the mid-70's he travelled the world, met his wife Ann, settled in Melbourne but decided to return to the Sapphire Coast in 1982 to raise a family.
Together they have run a successful business franchise, with outlets in Eden, Merimbula and Bega.
Now living in Merimbula, and having watched the development of tourism over the past thirty years and it's importance to the area economically and socially, Graeme is active with many tourism based community groups.
As a businessman he has always believed the mantra that - "Tourism is our Business - and that everyone that is in Business is in the Tourism Industry".
After several years on the Merimbula Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and the Bega Valley Shire Business Forum, that saw him instigate numerous quality tourism initiatives, particularly the outstanding success of the regional New Year's Eve Concerts in Merimbula, and other major promotions, Graeme decided to stand for Council in 2008.
As a Councillor Graeme has being very active with tourism related initiatives - currently being the Council delegate to SCT, a member of the Australian Coastal Wilderness Steering Committee and on the Committee of the Eden Whale Festival, plus supporting many other community groups.
Graeme believes that the tourism potential of the Sapphire Coast in the South East of NSW is largely unrealised and as the Australia's Coastal Wilderness concept continues to grow that this area will develop as a place of national and international importance driving the next stage of our economic development.
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Tim Shepherd
Tim Shepherd has been the regional manager for National Parks for the Far South Coast, based in Merimbula, since 2000. His region extends from the border to Batemans Bay and inland to Braidwood and Bombala and includes 30 National Parks and other reserves that cover an area of about 450,000ha.
Before taking on that role he worked in a range of jobs with National Parks based in Sydney and Queanbeyan. He also spent a number of years working in National Parks ski resort management, based near Jindabyne. That involved the environmental management of major tourism developments and planning for the future of the ski fields.
Mr Shepherd sees National Parks as being really important now and in the future for tourism on the Sapphire Coast and looks forward to working with the tourism industry.
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Grant Webster
Grant Webster is manager of the Merimbula News Weekly and has lived in the Bega Valley Shire since March 2006.
He came from a small business background and gravitated to a career in advertising and journalism with Riverina Media Group in western NSW before establishing a communications consultancy in 2002 based mainly around the irrigation industry.
Mr Webster's experience extends to all aspects of communications and public relations, from copy writing and graphic design to event co-ordination, communications and media strategy development. He played a pivotal role in the 2004 United Nations International Year of Rice, including the co-ordination of displays and media liaison for the IYR launch at Parliament House, Canberra. Mr Webster has been successful in initiating and facilitating national media exposure for a number of his communications clients and has developed relationships with numerous media representatives throughout Australia.
He has also maintained a long-standing relationship with Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre, publishing the centre's newsletter for some time before moving to the area.
He brings to the board his insight into the media and communications fields and a desire to contribute fresh ideas to assist the Bega Valley take full advantage of its immense natural resources and tourism potential.
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Robert White
Robert White is presently the On-Site Manager and owner of the Tathra Beach Apartment business at Tathra and have been since 1990, which has 26 4½ stars units.
He has around 30 years experience in establishing and operating hospitality business, both in Tathra and in the NSW Snowfields, including accommodation, restaurants and retails businesses.
He has experience as a developer of accommodation properties both in Tathra and Snowfields.
He has an involvement in the Tathra Chamber in a number of executive positions.
Robert is also a member of the 2007 Steering Committee established to advise on the "privatization" of SCT.
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Ed Chenery
Ed retired as a Professional Engineer in 2005 but still retains Life Membership of the Institution of Engineers, Australia.
A 42 year career working in the power industry took Ed to the Snowy Hydro as a Senior Electrical Engineer at Cooma (power generation), various management roles with three NSW Electricity Supply Authorities (power transmission and distribution) as well as a 7 year appointment as Senior Design Engineer with ABB - ASEA Brown Boveri.
Ed has university graduate qualifications in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Management.
Ed has worked as a Part Time Teacher in Electrical Engineering at TAFE, served as a Chairman of Bathurst Community Consultative Committee and 11 years as a Director of the Central West Group Apprenticeship Scheme as Deputy Chairman. He is a Past District Governor of Rotary International - District 9700.
Ed spent 10 years (the last 3 as Chairman)working in a voluntary capacity for the Rotary International program ‘Reaching Overseas with Medical Aid for Children', bringing hundreds of children under 16 years of age into Australia for urgent life saving surgery unavailable in their own country, from PNG, Pacific Islands, East Timor and other neighbouring countries.
Ed is married to Jan and both share and enjoy 5 married children and 9 grand-children.
As part of his commitment to the local community Ed accepted the position of Manager of the Eden Visitor Information Centre at a tumultuous time for tourism in the Bega Valley.
He was appointed a Board Member of Sapphire Coast Tourism to fill a casual vacancy in July 2011.
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Neil Bourke
Neil and his wife of 30 years, Suezanne, have a wealth of experience at starting new projects from scratch and developing those projects into profitable and sustainable enterprises.
Self employed since 24. Starting out with one hairdressing salon and then a few, and then moving onto 20 years in the Blue Mountains NSW as a licensed real estate agent.
Neil arrived in Merimbula in 2001 to operate and completely refurbish and renovate Merimbula Beach Cabins at Short Point in partnership with his brother in law.
Since 2007 operating the management rights of Tuscany Apartments and owner of the Southern Comfort holiday units.
Elected to the board of M&SCP at 2010 AGM.
Currently a member of the Merimbula VIC Steering Committee.
Elected to the board of SCT at 2011 AGM.
Suezanne has enjoyed two postings as Principal at Quaama and Candelo Public Schools.
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