Leanne Harwood is IHG’s Managing Director for Australasia & Japan, responsible for the operations, growth and performance of more than 80 hotels. In this role, she oversees the success of IHG’s business at a time when it continues its fantastic growth momentum in Australia and prepares for some major upcoming sporting events in Japan.

Leanne has more than 20 years’ hospitality experience with more than a decade at IHG, and has worked in many countries including Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and French Polynesia.

Originally from NZ, Leanne is a relentless globetrotter, avid reader and wannabe wine connoisseur.

With more than 30 years experience in hospitality and asset management, David joined Quest as the Chief Operations Officer in July 2019 before being promoted to Managing Director of The Ascott Limited for Australia in February 2021.

David is responsible for overseeing Ascott’s managed operations throughout Australia, in addition to ongoing global leadership of business format franchise brand, Quest Apartment Hotels, which has over 170+ hotels throughout Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the United Kingdom.  

Previously, David worked in senior corporate and strategic management positions in various locations across Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific. 

Prior to working at Quest, he held senior leadership roles with InterContinental Hotels Group and Hyatt International, where he gained extensive experience working in both hotel and resort operations.

These roles provided David with a broad range of experiences, and today his expertise spans operational capability and excellence, asset management, wealth creation, strategic alignment, concept development and cultural change. 

David graduated from the University of Newcastle, Australia with an MBA and is certified in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management from Cornell University.

He is currently the Chairman of the National Advisory Board of Employment with the Accommodation Association.
 
Awards

• Datoship awarded by the HRH Sultan of the State of Pahang, Malaysia, 2010
• Multiple Hyatt property awards for performance, service and industrial accolades

Industry Associations and Boards

• Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) – Victoria
• Accommodation Association – Australia

Bruce Copland is a professional company director and hotelier who has worked in the hotel, hospitality, tourism and related consulting business since 1969.  He has many years’ experience in the international arena spanning the United Kingdom, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Mexico, and Australia.

Bruce first migrated to Australia in 1986 to work for Western Resorts in WA as Group Development Manager. He has since held other senior group management positions with Quality Pacific, Country Comfort, Austotel and was CEO of Toga Hospitality until June 2007.  During his tenure at Toga both Vibe Hotels and Travelodge were coupled to the already successful Medina brand and the first Adina Hotels were opened in Europe.  

Bruce continues to serve on the board of TFE Hotels.  Bruce is also a Director of McKenzie Scott & Associates, providing consulting services and back office systems to a wide variety of companies across Australia.

Bruce is the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee overseeing all remuneration, accounting and compliance issues for the Association.

Sarah is the CEO for Accor Pacific. Sarah joined Accor in April 2017 as VP Talent & Culture Australia. Sarah is degree qualified and has completed post graduate studies in Human Resource Management, Training and Coaching. Currently completing her Masters in Human Resources and Organisational Development.

Sarah has worked extensively in the hospitality and tourism industry and has significant work experience in the fields of education, marketing and recruitment. Prior to this role Sarah was Director of HR Consulting firm People Reaching Potential (PRP) and was previously Regional Director of Human Resources for an international company responsible for the businesses in Australia, New Zealand and Pacific region. Currently SVP of Talent & Culture Accor Pacific.

Sarah specialises in the areas of culture transformation, strategic business planning, leadership development, employee engagement and organisational behaviour.

Julian is CEO of The Lancemore Group, a family owned and managed business and one of the largest boutique hotel operators in Australia.

Julian has extensive experience in the accommodation industry and in his current role manages several iconic properties across Australia that regularly feature in Gold List’s and Good Food Guides.  

Julian is also a board member for the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and a past board member of Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC). 

Chris Sedgwick has been the Chief Operating Officer for TFE Hotels since April 2017, and is responsible for over 70 hotels, 10,000 rooms and 2,500 employees across Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark and Hungary. 

Prior to TFE Hotels, Chris worked with Accor Hotels for 10 years in various leadership and executive roles, including Regional General Manager Northern Territory & South Australia, General Manager Operations Accor Vacation Club, Vice President Operations Queensland & Northern Territory and more recently Senior Vice President New Zealand, Fiji & French Polynesia.     

Chris has over 22 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and has held senior leadership, management and executive positions in key Australian city and tourism destinations including; Hamilton Island, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Gold Coast as well as internationally in New Zealand & Thailand.

Damian Quayle was appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at The Star Sydney in July 2019.

Damian joined The Star in 2011 and has since served in several senior executive positions including The Star Gold Coast’s COO.

He has more than 30 years of hospitality and gaming experience, including a comprehensive understanding of VIP and mass gaming markets and integrated resorts across Asia and Australia.

Prior to joining The Star, Damian worked in executive roles in Macau at Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd and Wynn Macau Ltd.

Damian is currently responsible for the guest experience, and operations at The Star Sydney leading a team of 4500, and entertaining 13 million guests to the property every year through our extensive Gaming, Food and beverage and hotel functions.

Barry Robinson serves as President and Managing Director of International Operations for Wyndham Vacation Clubs, overseeing operations of the company’s timeshare business outside North America.

Barry served as president and managing director of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific for 14 years, driving significant property acquisitions and enhanced resort developments, including growing the business to become the world’s largest vacation ownership development operation outside North America.

Barry was also responsible for leading Wyndham Hotel Group’s growth across South East Asia and the Pacific Rim.  Under Barry’s leadership a renewed customer focus was instilled across both businesses. The service culture that Barry continues to emphasize across Wyndham Vacation Clubs is to create personalised and memorable experiences at every customer touchpoint.

Paul Hutton is Area Vice President and Head of Australasia at Hilton. Based in Sydney, he oversees a diverse portfolio of 28 hotels with 12 hotels in the pipeline across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

As part of Hilton’s Asia Pacific Executive Committee, Paul leads Hilton’s ambitious growth plans to double the region’s footprint within the next five years, with a focus on launching new brands and entering new markets.

Paul is a seasoned industry veteran and has a long and illustrious history with Hilton. His 37-year career with the company started in Switzerland before he moved to Melbourne in 1986. Just five years later, he was promoted to Assistant Food & Beverage Manager at Hilton Sydney before he relocated to the Middle East as Food & Beverage Director with Hilton Abu Dhabi. He then went on to hold leadership roles in Hilton hotels across Dubai and Egypt before he took on the General Manager position at a number of Hilton properties including Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest, Hilton Kuwait, Hilton Kuala Lumpur and Hilton Sydney in 2008. In 2011 Paul moved to China as Regional General Manager – South China, based in Shen Zhen.

Dean is a Public Policy professional with 15 years of experience providing advice to Governments around Australia and the business sectors with a focus on delivering advocacy outcomes that are mutually beneficial. Throughout his career Dean has created and maintained strong and trusted relationships across the political, private and public sectors. 

Dean was the CEO of the Accommodation Association from June 2019 until September 2021, following roles as a Senior Adviser in the NSW Government, Head of Public Policy for the Australian Federation of Travel Agents and the National Manager of Government Acquisition (merchant services) for American Express. Dean has successfully led industry responses to regulatory changes across financial services, taxation, consumer affairs, immigration and planning. 

Dean is currently the CEO of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents and continues to be actively involved with the Association to fulfil the responsibilities of the position of Executive Director. Dean was elected to the position of Executive Director in September 2021.

Dean holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, Environmental Management and Tourism from Western Sydney University and Masters of Management from the University of Technology Sydney.

Dean is also an avid adopter of new technology, a soon to be owner of the NFL franchise - the Greenbay Packers, passionate follower the Australian Test Cricket team and an aviation geek.