Tourism Australia has confirmed changes to its business events operations in response to the ongoing uncertainty affecting tourism globally.

The decision follows a recent global review of the agency’s business plans ahead of the new (2021-22) financial year.

The changes will see a reorganisation of Tourism Australia’s international, events and business events operations from 1 July 2021.

Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said the changes to the business reflect the need for reorganisation in response to the ongoing impacts on tourism of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“The past 18 months have been the most challenging that our industry has ever faced, and throughout the crisis, we have continued to adapt our business operations to place resources where they are needed most,” she said.

“With international tourism remaining on hold due to ongoing travel restrictions and border closures to manage the spread of COVID-19, Tourism Australia’s recovery plans continue to focus on rebuilding domestic tourism for leisure and business events, whilst also targeting emerging opportunities in markets such as New Zealand.

“To ensure our organisation is well placed to maximise the immediate opportunities to rebuild tourism, whilst also planning for those ahead, we are making some changes to our operations for the approaching financial year.”

Harrison said the departure of Tourism Australia’s executive general manager of events, Penny Lion, was among the most significant changes to the business.

“After more than 10 years with Tourism Australia, we are sadly farewelling Penny Lion, who has done such a tremendous job heading up both events and business events in our organisation,” she said.

“Penny’s vision combined with strong commercial business acumen has resulted in business events being elevated within Tourism Australia with excellent results.

“With Penny’s departure, our intention now is to continue with Penny’s vision by integrating business events more across the whole business.

“Penny will continue to assist our business in an advisory capacity for business events, which we are extremely pleased about. This will also assist us in further embedding business events within our organisation.”

As a result of the changes, Tourism Australia’s current Business Events Australia distribution and partnerships will transition to reporting to Robin Mack, who has been promoted to executive general manager of Business Events Australia, in addition to his commercial role on the executive team.

Business events marketing will move to the wider marketing team, led by chief marketing officer Susan Coghill.

Harrison said Tourism Australia would continue to support the tourism industry through its marketing and trade programs aimed at travellers and the business events sector both in Australia and overseas.

“While it will likely be some time before tourism returns to its pre-COVID levels of international travel, we will continue in our efforts to ensure future demand for Australia’s tourism experiences remains strong, and continue driving immediate demand and bookings for domestic travel,” she said.

Lion said the decision to depart the organisation was a difficult one.

“Working at Tourism Australia and working with the business events sector to grow the opportunity for Australia has been such as great honour,” she said.

“Australia has a fantastic business events offering, and there will no doubt continue to be strong demand to host international meetings, congresses and corporate incentives here in the future once we get beyond the immediate crisis.

“And the advantage of business events are the long lead times so that the work of Tourism Australia with industry can continue to deliver successful business outcomes in the future.”

Tourism Australia’s international business events operations will remain in operation to build demand for future business to Australia.