Prior to starting my own business, I spent my career opening and operating attractions all over the world, from executive and general management roles to the openings themselves.
2020 to 2023 · Victoria, Australia
General Manager, Tourism
Phillip Island Nature Parks
Led the multi-site tourism operation: Penguin Parade, the Nobbies, Koala Conservation Reserve and Churchill Island. Responsible for operating budgets with revenue of over $20 million and a team of more than 150 through pandemic closures and recovery. Acting CEO for three months in 2022. Led a complete pricing review that lifted yield even with reduced capacity, negotiated the F&B, POS, security and retail contracts, and won the 2021 VTIC Innovation & Resilience Award for Penguin Live TV, which reached millions worldwide.
2014 to 2019 · Abu Dhabi, UAE & St Louis, USA
Executive Director
zoOceanarium Group
Executive leadership of a company that develops and operates aquariums, zoos and nature-based science centres, with more than 100 full-time staff worldwide. Oversaw company and client financial performance across portfolios exceeding $40 million in revenue, and built the operational, financial and recruitment frameworks that supported the group to triple in size. Projects included The Green Planet Dubai, St Louis Aquarium at Union Station, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Dubai Safari Park and Al Ain Zoo.
Australia · UAE · USA
Pre-opening & opening
Melbourne Aquarium · Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo · The Green Planet · Yas Waterworld · St Louis Aquarium, Ropes Course & Mirror Maze
Part of the pre-opening and opening teams for aquariums, zoos, waterparks and nature-based attractions, taking each from build to guest-ready across operations, training and the guest experience. This included developing the end-to-end operational processes for the world's first rollercoaster integrated into a waterpark.
Australia · UAE
Operating attractions
Phillip Island Nature Parks · Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo · The Green Planet · Hili Fun City · Park Trek Walking Holidays
Running attractions day to day across ecotourism, aquariums, indoor rainforests, family entertainment and guided tourism. Leading frontline and specialist teams, managing budgets and commercial contracts, building the systems, procedures and training that keep operations safe and consistent, and finding the efficiencies that lift both the guest experience and the bottom line.
