• Blak Douglas (Adam Hill)

    First Nations Artist

  • Nigel Collin

    MC

  • Sandy Rogers

    Gilay Estate

  • Stephen King

    Artist from Walcha Open Air Gallery

  • Annabelle Hickson

    Galah Magazine

  • Heather Parry

    Fodder, Yorkshire UK

The Program Speakers

The Visitor Economy Summit features a variety of local, national and international speakers who have mastered the power of storytelling in their business. It will be held on Wednesday 8 May 2024 in Armidale at the Aboriginal Cultural Centre & Keeping Place from 9am-3.30pm.

Speakers and panellists include:

  • Blak Douglas(Adam Hill) - First Nations artist and winner of the 2022 Archibald Arts Prize and a cultural ambassador who has relocated to regional NSW.

  • Nigel Collin - entertaining, skilled and astute MC, an entrepreneur, and expert in the power of storytelling for business.

  • Destination Marketing Store - Directors Carl Solomon and Charlotte Prouse, presenting the latest findings and insights from research commissioned for the DNCO region, the Traveller’s Pulse.

  • Tourism Australia - Dom Mehling, Industry Relations Manager, Tourism Australia.

  • Destination NSW - Bohdi Lewis, Brand Director, DNSW on behalf of the ‘Feel New’ brand campaign.

  • Fodder UK - Heather Parry, Founder and Director of this iconic international agritourism business in Yorkshire in the UK, a produce shop and multi-faceted tourism venue.

  • Armidale Cultural Centre & Keeping Place - Rose Lovelock, Director of this not-for-profit cultural organisation and venue host of the Summit.

  • Gilay Estate - Sandy Rogers, Founder, from an off-grid luxury retreat in the Liverpool Plains.

  • Art Shack at Wilbagah – First nations storyteller Tania Hartigan from a unique farm stay experience near Tamworth where you can stay, create and learn.

  • Walcha Open Air Gallery – Stephen King, winner of Sculpture by the Sea and a renowned outdoor sculpture artist who established the Walcha Open Air Gallery, a renowned cultural tourism attraction.

  • Galah - Annabelle Hickson, the ultimate storyteller and Founder of Galah magazine, a renowned independent print magazine, ‘the voice of regional Australia’

  • The Corridor Project - Phoebe Cowdery and Dylan Gower from this multidisciplinary arts organisation and transformed woolshed near Cowra.

  • Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours (NWAC) – Clark Webb, Founder, Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation; CEO, Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours; Destination NSW Board Member. Clark’s organisation aims to revitalise and reinstate cultural life throughout the Gumbaynggirr community.

    FINAL PROGRAM WITH TIMINGS CLICK HERE