Statement From Chairman Of Tourism Australia Rick Allert Ao

Statement From Chairman of Tourism Australia Rick Allert AO

Sydney 14 November 2008 - The Chairman of Tourism Australia, Mr Rick Allert AO, has announced that the Managing Director Geoff Buckley has agreed to an extension of his contract until 30 June 2009.

"Geoff has agreed to stay on at Tourism Australia for the next several months to ensure continuity as the new destination campaign rolls out around the world and a number of other major projects are completed," Mr Allert said. "After that he has indicated he would like to pursue new challenges."

Mr Buckley joined Tourism Australia in 2004 and has been Managing Director since 2006.

"By June next year I will have achieved much of what I had planned when I took on the role and I feel that I will leave the organisation in very good shape to meet the big challenges and opportunities that Australian tourism faces in the future," Mr Buckley said.

"In the last few years we've structurally realigned the organisation, implemented a new internal innovation programme, re-branded Business Events Australia, established Tourism Research Australia, taken a new direction in domestic marketing and recently launched the new destination campaign with Baz Luhrmann.

"Tourism Australia is now demonstrating all the hallmarks of an innovative, research and market driven, and customer focussed global marketing organisation, and I'm very proud to have had the privilege of leading it."

Mr Allert said the process of finding a replacement for Mr Buckley would begin immediately.

"We are planning a smooth transition to a new Managing Director with no interruption to our focus on marketing our country to create a sustainable economic benefit for Australians," he said.

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SOURCE: Tourism Australia