Judging for the Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards is conducted by a panel of industry peers appointed by Tourism Council WA.
All judges provide their time and expertise on a voluntary basis and are educated in the entire judging process including submission assessments, scoring guidelines, undertaking site inspections/interviews and providing adequate feedback to entrants.
The objective of the Awards judging process is to fairly and independently evaluate each entry through the formalised and professional assessment process.
The appointment of judges is designed to be completely transparent and all judges must meet strict criteria as well as be a representative of the tourism industry. They possess a strong knowledge of the operations of the industry and will be, or have been, involved in tourism or a similar service at a senior management level.
Each submission is assessed by three different judges. The final score is determined by the aggregate of the three scores (individual categories include an interview score).
Professional auditors oversee the WA Tourism Awards judging process. Their role is to audit submissions for compliance, audit score sheets and check conflicts of interest and confidentiality declarations.
Please find below a list and short biography of our judges.
Pat Strahan - Chair of Judges
Pat commenced her career in the travel and tourism industry in 1984 and started her own business, Strahan Events, in 1990, organising both large and small international, national and State events as well as the annual Caravan and Camping Show and Holiday and Travel Expo. She was also CEO of Caravan Industry Australia WA for 15 years. Pat is now semi-retired and focusing on her voluntary commitments within the tourism industry as well as community events. Her involvement with the awards began in 1995 as the WA Awards Co-ordinator, then a State judge and was an Australian Awards Judge for 6 years. She is currently Chair of Judges for the WA Tourism Awards. In addition, she is Chair of Visit Mandurah and Chair of Relay For Life West Coast.
Pat was a founding member of Tourism Council WA and sat on the Board for many years and has previously sat on the Boards of the Caravan Industry Australia, Meetings Industry Association WA and the Events Industry Association, Visitor Centres WA just to name a few. In 2013 Pat was awarded the Sir David Brand Medal for her Outstanding Contribution to the Tourism Industry for which she feels very honoured.
Anthony Arrigo
A pioneer in the China and Asia Pacific markets since 1994.
Terry Austen
Terry Austen is a seasoned Hotel General Manager, who has led hospitality operations in the Perth market for 18 years, and brings over 30 years of multi-tiered experience across the region with IHG. Is well-versed in high-pressure environments, he has navigated pre-openings, rebranding projects, and atypical market conditions with positivity and resilience.
In 2023, he founded Austen Hospitality Management, delivering coaching and mentoring programs, asset oversight, and commercial strategy. Following several strategic assignments, he joined TenGolf Group as Group General Manager – Hospitality, where he now leads their hospitality division’s strategic, operational, and commercial performance across the portfolio.
He holds a Master of Business (Finance) and is a committee member of Skål International Perth, serving both as Mentor and Club Treasurer.
Julian Barry
Julian Barry has worked in the tourism industry for over 30 years, predominantly in aviation and tourism development, along with the caravan and camping industry. He has previously been a state judge for both the WA Tourism Awards and the NT Tourism Awards (the Brolgas), and has also been a national judge for the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. Julian is currently the General Manager Commercial for Airnorth, based in Perth, and holds an MBA with majors in marketing and international business.
William Barry
William Barry is an experienced tourism and economic development professional with international expertise across the USA, Canada, Switzerland, UK, and Ireland. A graduate of Shannon International Hotel School, he arrived in Melbourne during the late 1980s and successfully revitalized the Naval & Military Club's food and beverage operations.
This achievement led to establishing a boutique guest house and restaurant on the NSW South Coast, earning top accolades in Tourism, Restaurant, and Wine Awards while fostering regional collaboration. His business experience taught him the transformative power of cooperative marketing and destination promotion.
Currently serving as Business and Economic Development Principal Advisor for the City of Canning, William drives destination development and investment appeal for this culturally rich Perth region. His expertise spans hospitality operations, staff training, marketing, and economic development.
William actively contributes through board roles with Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco Tourism (FACET) and as Joint Chairman of Economic Development Australia (WA). He holds an MBA from the University of Western Australia, a Diploma in Hotel Management from Shannon Hotel School, and is an Accredited Certified Practitioner of Economic Development (ACEcD).
Passionate about creating business synergies and community partnerships, William continues driving economic growth through strategic tourism initiatives.
Di Below
Tourism is Di’s lifelong hallmark. Her first role was with a UK tour operator in the 1980’s. She never left the industry, has lived and worked in 6 countries, and celebrates over 4 decades of experience at all levels - from hospitality, retail, wholesale, airline, tour guiding, resort representative in Tunisia, Kenya and the Maldives, product development, business management, to destination marketing and PR.
Di’s career is laced with a degree in tourism management, and a 30+ year focus on Australian tourism development and promotion, based in Europe and Australia, where she has specialised in promoting WA and Aboriginal tourism on the world stage. July 2025 marked Di’s 10-year anniversary as Marketing Manager for WAITOC.
Tabetha Beggs
Tabetha Beggs brings more than 30 years’ experience across Western Australia’s tourism industry, spanning destination development, tourism strategy, stakeholder engagement, events and industry partnerships. She is a five-time WA Tourism Awards judge and is preparing to judge the Australian Tourism Awards for the second time. Tabetha is Chair of Wheatbelt Arts & Events Inc., a Board Member of FACET and a mentor with the Women in Tourism and Hospitality WA Mentor Insights Circle. In 2026, she launched Dear Tourism, Love Tab Consulting, drawing on her extensive industry experience to support destinations, tourism organisations and communities through strategy, engagement, experience development, facilitation and storytelling.
Martin Black
Martin worked in the media and public relations industries for many years before starting The Margaret River Chocolate Company with a childhood friend in 1999. The iconic WA business was soon followed by other tourism ventures including Margaret River Providore, The Margaret River Coffee Company and Coward & Black Vineyards, in both the Swan Valley and Margaret River wine regions as well as in Perth city.
Martin has been intimately involved in the not-for-profit sector for more than 25 years and is the immediate past chairman of both WA’s oldest not-for-profit organization, Ngala, and national not-for-profit organization The Fathering Project. He is also the WA member of the Australian Fathers Day Council and is on the board of the Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund. Martin is also a keen cyclist, music lover and father of two teenage boys.
Steve Crawford
Steve’s very broad tourism industry experience, mostly in senior management roles within government, extends to tourism destination planning, development and management. He has represented Western Australia both nationally and internationally and is recognised as a leader in his field with many accolades including National and State Tourism Awards.
In addition to his role as the immediate past Chair, Australian Tourism Awards judging panel, Steve holds several board positions including the Tourism Research Cluster at Curtin University; Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco Tourism; Australia’s South West and Edith Cowan University’s Tourism and Hospitality Consultative Committee.
Steve’s formal qualifications include a Doctor of Business Administration.
Jan Devlin
Jan Devlin is the former CEO of the Gravity Discovery Centre & Observatory, where she advanced tourism, science education and community engagement. She has a previous history in gymnastics, developing programs that develop athletes’ skills, confidence, and resilience. Jan has also worked closely with the Kowanyama Aboriginal community in Far North Queensland, supporting projects that strengthen cultural connection and opportunities for young people. Now semi-retired, she continues to mentor and advise on initiatives that inspire learning, health, and community pride.
Brendan Dugan
Brendan currently serves as the Managing Director of Directions Hospitality Consulting with over 30 years of sales and operations experience in Australia and Asia. Brendan has dedicated the last 5 years to training Hospitality professionals in Australia and Internationally. Prior to transitioning to training, Brendan worked in various senior positions including General Manager and Food and Beverage Director.
Brendan possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, and Advanced Diploma’s in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism and Events Management. Brendan is a member of the Australian Institute of Management and the Bali Hotel Association. Brendan serves as the State Chair of Judges for the Restaurant and Catering Association and has judged for the Clubs WA awards for excellence for the last five years. He is a Certified Hotel General Manager (CHGM) from the International Hospitality Institute and has been recently inducted as the Australian Board Member and invited to be on the panel of leading industry representatives in the upcoming Global Hospitality Summit.
Scott Fleming
Scott has enjoyed working in a variety of sectors within travel and tourism, both in government and private enterprise, in Australia and overseas. His work history includes management roles with Flight Centre Travel Group, Accor Hotels and Renaissance Cruise Lines.
Since 2006 Scott has been the Manager at Swan Valley Visitor Centre for the City of Swan. He is responsible for the strategic direction of visitor servicing in the Swan Valley and involved in all areas of tourism. With extensive experience in tourism, staff and financial management, he has the pleasure of leading one of Australia’s most successful and awarded tourism teams.
Scott has been on the board of the Visitor Centre Association of Western Australia, the executive committee of the Swan Valley Tourism Council and is an experienced tourism awards judge with the 7GWN Top Tourism Awards, the Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards and the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.
Gory Gale
Cory Gale is a tourism storyteller. For nearly 20 years, Cory has elevated characters across the sector and achieved strategic outcomes for some of Australia’s most iconic destinations, in Queensland, Northern Territory and his home state of Western Australia. Cory has crafted thousands of stories with hundreds of partners across roles in a range of tourism organisations, flourishing across destination marketing, trade marketing, attractions management, events management, visitor servicing and communications. A jack of all trades and master of some, Cory’s extensive experience has culminated in the founding of his own consultancy, Cory Like Story Tourism, providing end-to-end solutions
Paul Grootveld
Paul has been involved in the tourism industry in Perth for more than 25 years. Highlights of his career includes the successful management buy-out of Adventure World in 1990, being a founding Board member of the Australian Amusement, Leisure & Recreation Association, a past Chairman of the Association of Perth Attractions and a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Tourism Committee. Paul also chaired the South West Tourism Marketing Committee.
After obtaining a Master of Business Degree from Murdoch University in 2000, he went on to manage Hotham Valley Tourist Railway before taking up the position as CEO of the Swan Bells Foundation in 2001. He retired in early 2013, but has continued to take a keen interest in the tourism industry.
Sally Hollis
Sally is an accomplished tourism and hospitality professional who has held senior roles at State and National level in peak tourism industry organisations over the past 35 years. In her current role as CEO of the Rottnest Foundation, Sally works with corporate partners, funders and the West Australian community to raise funds and deliver projects that conserve and enhance the unique environmental, cultural and heritage assets of Wadjemup (Rottnest Island).
As a founding Director and National Manager, Sally was instrumental in the development of the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program and was the inaugural CEO at Tourism Council WA.
Sally holds a number of board positions and has shared her knowledge and passion by mentoring tourism businesses under the Federal Governments Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure Program - Tourism Boost, facilitating and delivering Customer Service and Tourism Fundamentals training and lecturing and supervising future tourism professionals in Singapore and Perth for Murdoch University
Kirsten Holmes
Kirsten is the Director of Curtin University's Tourism Research Cluster and an elected Fellow and past Chair of the Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education, which represents institutions that teach and research tourism, hospitality and events in Australia and New Zealand. An experienced project manager with over 25 years’ experience delivering outcomes for industry, government and the community, Kirsten’s specialism is events and festivals - both large scale mega events and smaller community events; and issues related to sustainability, event volunteer programs and event legacies. Kirsten also has expertise in the not-for-profit sector and volunteer tourism and teaches responsible tourism.
Karen Hook
Karen Hook is a Perth-based project manager and consultant with more than 20 years’ experience delivering corporate events, conferences, exhibitions and festivals. Having commenced her career in the travel industry, Karen’s expertise spans strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and partnerships, with a strong focus on customer experience.
With a deep understanding of Western Australia’s business events and visitor economy, and having lived in five countries, Karen brings an international perspective and a considered, inclusive approach to assessing excellence. Her industry and community involvement includes executive and consultancy roles across government, education and a diverse range of industries including food, building, media, professional services, energy and defence. Karen is committed to continuous improvement and creating meaningful experiences for customers, stakeholders and communities.
Judging these awards aligns with Karen’s enthusiasm for recognising, supporting and promoting the exceptional businesses, people and experiences that contribute to Western Australia’s visitor economy.
Tania Hudson
Tania is the Chief Executive Officer of Committee for Perth, an independent and apolitical member-based organisation that champions and advocates for making Perth one of the world’s most liveable cities. Since starting her career as a journalist, she has held executive leadership roles in sectors including banking, mining, medical research and the arts, in Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria. She is passionate about using her communications, strategy development and stakeholder engagement skills to help to position Perth as one of the greatest places on earth in which to live, work, travel, study and invest.
Tania serves on the Board of The Essentials Collective, a grassroots organisation dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness or poverty, access basic essential items, and is on the Arts Working Group of the Hanrine Foundation. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ian Johnson
Before retiring in 2023, Ian worked in the WA Public Sector for more than 40 years, mostly at Tourism WA in a variety of roles ranging from Public Relations to Marketing, Product and Regional Development, and Executive Services. Ian also managed the agency’s east coast sales team and coordinated the annual Sir David Brand Awards for Tourism for several years. From 2010 until late 2021, he was a policy advisor to several Tourism Ministers.
Phil Lockyer
Phil Lockyer is a Noongar man from Western Australia with 26 years of experience working in First Nations Affairs across government, community organisations and corporate sector.
His career focus is creating meaningful opportunities for First Nations peoples’ businesses, and communities, and is one of Australia’s leading practitioners of the Reconciliation Action Plan Program.
Since February 2021 he has been Head of Indigenous Affairs at Tourism Australia where he is focused on ensuring the warmth, wisdom and generosity of First Nations peoples is central to Australia’s tourism narrative.
Phil doesn’t believe in ‘leaning in’ but in ‘knocking stuff’ over to ensure First Nations peoples are the ones at the table making the decisions that impact their communities.
Erwin Losekoot
Dr Erwin Losekoot FIH, FRGS, FHEA is Senior Lecturer at ECU University in Perth, Australia. After 10 years of operational hospitality experience with P&O Cruises, Sheraton and Crowne Plaza hotels he previously taught at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, UK), Auckland University of Technology (Auckland, NZ), RMIT University (Saigon, Vietnam) and NHL Stenden (Leeuwarden, The Netherlands).
His PhD (AUT, 2015) was on the airport customer experience and investigated hospitality in non-hospitality settings. He has published journal papers and book chapters and presented at conferences such as CHME and CAUTHE on the nature of hospitality and hostmanship and how we can create hospitable spaces.
He is a Book Review Editor for Tourism Planning & Development and Editorial Board member/Associate Editor for Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, Research in Hospitality Management and Journal of Tourism, Heritage & Services Marketing.
Holly Mitchell
Holly Mitchell is an experienced leader with a background spanning tourism, destination marketing, major events and economic development. In her current role as Director Event Engagement with Tourism Western Australia, Holly is responsible for event investment, marketing and stakeholder engagement strategies that economic and media impact for Western Australia. Prior to Tourism WA, Holly held senior positions within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI), where she led international marketing, strategic communications and major campaigns supporting investment attraction, international education, and skilled migration initiatives. Throughout her career, Holly has worked closely with government, industry and tourism stakeholders to deliver initiatives that strengthen destinations, build industry capability and enhance Western Australia's global reputation. Holly remains passionate about recognising innovation and excellence across the industry.
Ryan Mossny
Ryan Mossny is the co-founder of Two Feet & a Heartbeat walking tours and Matagarup Zip+Climb. His specialties include tourism product development, product planning, heritage/historical/cultural interpretation, tour guide training, financial sourcing/management, place making and grant application management. He provides these services to tourism organisations, governments and individuals.
Ryan grew up and was formally educated in Canada and attended the University of Saskatchewan studying Chemistry and Commerce. After completing school, Ryan worked for a number of multinational organisations in both science and business related fields.
In 2001 he embarked on an around the world journey that would cement his passion for travel, tourism, heritage and culture. It was at this point he arrived in London and took up a position in the strategy department at Transport for London (TFL).
In 2007, he co-founded Two Feet & a Heartbeat, an organisation dedicated to interpreting history, heritage and culture. More recently Ryan is part of the ownership group of Perth’s newest adventure activity Matagarup Zip+Climb.
Suzy Parravicini
Suzy Parravicini GAICD is a senior leader with more than 25 years of cross-sector leadership and experience across tourism, heritage, government and board contributions. Most recently CEO of a state owned not-for-profit charity, she led the organisation through a significant financial turnaround, growing self-generated revenue to more than 60 per cent of total income and repositioning the brand.
Her earlier tourism career spans senior local government roles in Western Australia and Tasmania, regional economic development, events and visitor centre management. In Tasmania she led the team that took a heritage asset to Hall of Fame status in the state tourism awards.
Joanna Pearce
Joanna is a Senior Lecturer within the School of Business and Law's Tourism and Hospitality program at Edith Cowan University. She teaches across various units including Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality and Sustainable Tourism Development. Her research focuses on visitors to protected-areas, well-being of peer-to-peer accommodation providers, and pro-environmental behaviours. She is also currently involved in a multi-agency, cross-cultural project with Nyamba Buru Yawuru in the Kimberly looking at social and cultural values. Joanna has previously served from 2017-2023 as the Deputy Chair of the Swan River Trust and member of the Burswood Park Board.
Sally Pullin
Sally has a diverse background in tourism and hospitality over a 30 year career. After completing her Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) degree, Sally's early career was spent working up the chain of the International Hotel sector through customer service, accommodation and conference sales management before moving to renown Melbourne caterer Peter Rowland Catering as a Group Venue Sales Manager. In 2007 Sally and her husband relocated to Albany to join her family's premium hosted accommodation business, The Beach House at Bayside, which was inducted into the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame in 2018.
Sally has contributed periods as Board Director for both Australia's South West Regional Tourism Organisation and the Tourism council of WA and has a passion for ensuring invested micro business operators have access to industry resources and an industry voice.
Rei Seah
Rei is an experienced international trade and marketing specialist with a history of working in Aviation, Destination marketing, International Education, Sports, and Events across APAC and Oceania regions. Rei grew up in Singapore and in 2001, moved to Australia to pursue a degree in Sports Management. In her current role as Vice President -Market Development with Perth Airport, Rei is responsible for facilitating market development opportunities across a range of industry sectors that ensure long term sustainable viability and commercial success for global aviation partners. Prior to Perth Airport, Rei held senior roles with Tourism Western Australia, Study Canberra and VisitCanberra focused on attracting international visitors, overseas international students, and business events to Australia. During her time as Senior manager - Eastern Markest at Tourism WA, she was fortunate enough to travel widely across WA and worked closely with regional tourism organisations and industry operators on product development, trade distribution, and international market entry strategies. Rei continues to be a passionate advocate of WA through her global inbound connections.
Tracy Shea
Tracy Shea has held a range of policy, advisory and leadership roles across State government in environment, conservation, recreation, and nature-based tourism during a career spanning 38 years, with the last 10 spent as assistant director in parks and visitor services at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. After retiring from the department in 2018, Tracy has focused on running her own consultancy business plus her short-term accommodation property in Bridgetown. In recent years Tracy has also worked in the not-for-profit sector where she developed and activated the Spring into Parks program for the WA Parks Foundation, which has become an ongoing feature of the Foundation's calendar.
Tracy has been a Park Ambassador for the Foundation since 2017 and continues to volunteer with programs that showcase the health benefits of spending time in nature. A longstanding board member of FACET (Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco-Tourism Inc.), Tracy took over the day to day-to-day running of FACET in July 2020 and is now Chief Executive Officer. She also volunteers her time as Secretary of Geoparks WA and was appointed to the Swan River Trust Board in May 2023.
Michael Volgger
Michael is a Professor at the School of Management and Marketing at Curtin University and Curtin’s Discipline Lead for Tourism, Hospitality and Events. Michael is also the Research Lead of the Australia’s South West Sustainable Tourism Observatory (recognised by UN Tourism). Michael has a diverse teaching experience at university level in Australia and Europe and has also worked as a tourism researcher in Italy for seven years. Over the past 15 years, Michael has carried out 45 tourism research and consultancy projects in Australia, Asia and Europe. Michael’s areas of interest span questions of transformation and innovation in tourism, hospitality and consumer behaviour with a particular interest in sustainability, governance and tourism atmospheres.
Margaret Wilson
With over 40 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, Margaret has worked across various facets, including conference management, inbound tourism, marketing, restaurant ownership and management, and tour guiding. She was also the owner and manager of a 50-acre retreat in the Avon Valley.
Margaret's contributions to the industry have been recognized with the prestigious Sir David Brand Medal. She is a Life Member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association and Founder & Life Member of Women in Tourism & Hospitality WA. Additionally, she has served on the board of Destination Perth, Australia’s Southwest and the Pacific Asia TravelAssociation.
Although semi-retired, Margaret remains actively involved in the industry as the Secretary of Skål International Perth.
