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DestinationQ Forum Program

The DestinationQ 2026 program brings together government and industry leaders as well as operators to collaborate on opportunities, tackle challenges and deliver a strong, sustainable future for tourism in Queensland. 

We look forward to welcoming you!

DestinationQ Forum 2026 Program

SESSION
Registration and coffee
Arrive early to collect your delegate pass, download the event app, and grab a coffee while you connect with colleagues.
Welcome to Country
Master of Ceremonies welcome
Tim Davies

Channel Nine

Opening keynote - Setting the Scene: Queensland Tourism & the Future Visitor
Demographer and trends analyst Simon Kuestenmacher opens DestinationQ with a look at the forces reshaping our industry, from how people live, work and travel to the changing ways visitors discover and choose destinations. Then, put your questions directly to Simon in a live Q&A and dig deeper into what these trends could mean for your business and region.
Simon Kuestenmacher

Demographer & trends analyst

Premier's Address - Queensland's Torusim Growth Agenda
Hear directly from the Premier on the Queensland Government’s vision for tourism and the priorities driving Destination 2045, including the ambition to more than double visitor expenditure to $84 billion. Discover what this direction means for our industry and the opportunities ahead.
Hon David Crisafulli

Premier and Minister for Veterans

Tourism Cabinet Committee - Whole-of-Government Alignment
Step inside the big conversations shaping the future of Queensland tourism. This facilitated panel with Queensland’s Tourism Cabinet Committee will explore what’s ahead for infrastructure, better connections, major events, workforce and regulation, and what it all means for our industry.
Hon Andrew Powell MP

Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation

Hon Tim Mander MP

Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Hermann Vorster MP

Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs and International Student Attraction

Hon Steven (Steve) Minnikin

Minister for Customer Services and Open Data and Minister for Small and Family Business

Deputy Premier’s Address
A candid, live Q&A with senior decision-makers. Ask what you need to know about priorities, coordination, delivery timelines, and how agencies are working together with industry.
Hon Jarrod Bleijie MP

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations

Morning tea
Director General 'Ask Me Anything'
A candid, live Q&A with senior decision-makers. Ask what you need to know about priorities, coordination, delivery timelines, and how agencies are working together with industry.
Director-General Patricia O'Callaghan

Director-General Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science & Innovation

Director-General Graham Fraine

Director-General of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development

Director General Andrew Hopper

Director-General Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games

Director-General Damien Walker

Director-General Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Moderator: Sofie Formica

Media Broadcaster | Founder – Travel Well Media & 4BC

Queensland Premier’s Welcome Address
The Premier officially welcomes delegates and outlines the state’s priorities for a thriving, resilient visitor economy—now and through to 2032 and beyond.
Hon. Premier David Crisafulli MP

The Premier of Queensland

Deputy Premier: Infrastructure & Investment Outlook
Tourism-enabling infrastructure underpins growth. The Deputy Premier shares the pipeline, pathways for investment, and practicalities around project acceleration (including “call-in” processes).
Hon. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie MP

Deputy Premier

Morning tea
Tourism is in our Nature
How a leading destination is activating nature-based tourism at scale: strategy, investment in natural assets, First Nations partnerships, and experience design that balances protection with growth. Practical examples, measurable outcomes.
Tim Baker

Chief Executive Officer – City of Gold Coast

AI & Digital Futures Spotlight
Real operators, industry stakeholders, real tools: dashboards for decision-making, AI in marketing/distribution, workforce productivity, and on-the-ground lessons. What to try, what to avoid, and how to scale quickly without losing your brand’s voice.
Julian Croft

Platform and Media Partnerships Director – Tourism and Events Queensland

Hana Robinson

Co-Founder – Drop Bear Adventures

Nicci Goulter

Owner and Host – 31 The Rocks

Adam Schwab

CEO – Luxury Escapes

Moderator: Sofie Formica

Media Broadcaster – 4BC, and Founder – Travel Well Media

Pathfindr: From Prompts to Personalisation
This session takes delegates from how AI is being used today to what’s next — showing how generative AI is moving from content creation to personalised travel design. It’s fast, visual, and non-technical, with one clear “do this next week” action for every attendee.
Georgia Newton

AI Innovation Strategist – Pathfindr

"45 Projects. One Bold Vision"
How the “45 by 45” criteria can shape Queensland’s next wave of ecotourism. Matt introduces the framework, shares home-and-abroad case studies, and invites industry to think bigger, move faster, and embed regenerative principles.
Matt Bron

Program Director for Ecotourism – Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Workforce: Innovation, Mentoring & Transition
People power the visitor economy. This session explores recruitment, retention, pathways for First Nations employment, mentoring models, and transition programs that meet operators where they are - urban, regional, and remote.
Emilie Howe

General Manager – eeger

Seleena Blackley

First Nations Project Officer – Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC)

Carla Giuca

Head of the Tourism and Visitor Economy Policy Branch – Office of Tourism and the Visitor Economy at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)

Nick Dowling

Chief Executive Officer – Oatley family business & Hamilton Island

Moderator: Judy Porter

Director – Shiift

Lunch
Highlights Reel: Destination IQ Reflections
Insurance in Tourism
Premiums and exclusions are biting. This session unpacks the scale of the challenge across segments, emerging solutions, risk management practices that actually shift premiums, and where industry/government can intervene.
Paul Davenport

Client Director – Affinity Insurance Brokers

Andrew Bassingthwaighte

Founder and CEO – Xcelerate

John O'Sullivan

Executive Director – Experience Co

Moderator: Sue Monk

Group Executive – Articulous

Regional Futures: Investment & Partnerships
Place-based strategies, private capital, and long-run partnerships. Panellists share how projects get bankable, the approvals and community steps that matter, and how to sustain momentum from concept to opening.
Michael Hurley

Development Director – Aria Property

Luke Altschwager

Founder/Director – Palm Valley Gold Coast

Naomi Miles

Head of Museum - Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History

Moderator: Melanie Anderson

General Manager – Strategy & Advocacy – Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC)

Afternoon tea
Events as Catalysts
From blockbuster sport to regional cultural festivals, events drive visitation, reposition places, and leave legacies. Panellists share what works, where the gaps are, and how to scale regional activations sustainably. Live questions via the app.
Jamie Fitzpatrick

Managing Director – FGH Group

Richard Clarke

Group Executive Events - Tourism and Events Queensland

Karen Bolinger

Founder & Chief Disruptor – Karen Bolinger Consulting

Moderator: Stewart Moore

Chief Executive Officer & Founder – EarthCheck

Aviation Futures: Connecting Queensland
Queensland’s aviation network thrives on the synergy between regional and capital city airports working in concert. This session shifts the focus from airline-led route announcements to how airports, Tourism and Events Queensland’s demand engine, and initiatives like the Connecting Queensland Fund align to build capacity across domestic and international markets. Together, they drive frequency growth, smooth seasonality, and underpin sustainable load factors for regional destinations. Expect discussion on practical levers including airport–destination partnerships, co-operative marketing linked to events, smarter incentive design, data-sharing, and improved integration with ground transport — all working to unlock Queensland’s full visitor economy potential.
Ryan Both

Executive General Manager Aviation – Brisbane Airport

Craig Davidson

Chief Executive Officer – Tourism and Events Queensland

Richard Barker

Chief Executive Officer – North Queenslands Airports Group

Moderator: Sofie Formica

Media Broadcaster | Founder – Travel Well Media & 4BC

Closing Reflections
A concise wrap of the day’s themes and takeaways, plus the call-to-action for industry and government as we move into delivery mode.
Assistant Minister Bree James

Assistant Minister for Tourism, Early Learning, Creative Industries and Far North Queensland

Networking drinks

While all endeavours are made to ensure event information is accurate, please note that times and sessions are subject to change.