About Us

Ian’s career has been in aviation, recently retiring from Qantas after 45 years.Ian moved to WA in 2000 as the Regional General Manager for the state, overseeing a period of significant growth in route capacity to both the Pilbara and the Kimberley in support of the tourism, resources and community sectors.

Prior to 2000 Ian worked in Sydney, New Zealand and South-East Asia in a range of senior commercial roles including sales, marketing, route planning and alliances.Ian is also the Vice Chairman of the Perth Convention Bureau.Term expires 2023.

Darren has been a pillar of the tourism industry for the past 30 years, representing Broome as a destination, while creating employment and pathways for Broome locals. Darren actively delivers the North West message to the world, serving on boards including Broome Visitor
Centre, Cruise Broome and Australia’s North West Tourism as well as through personal ambassadorship, including participating at five international SKAL congresses.

Darren’s association with Willie Creek Pearls has spanned more than 30 years in roles from cleaning toilets to managing staff and more. Darren’s collaborative
and approachable nature, combined with business acumen and a passion for tourism in the North West sets him apart as a highly regarded role model in the Broome community. This culminated in Darren being awarded Business Person of the Year at the 2020 Broome Business Excellence Awards. Term expires 2021.

Born in Derby, Charlie’s family has been involved in tourism in the Kimberley since 1968 (Fitzroy Crossing) and at Lake Argyle since 1973. A lifetime Kimberley local with a few years through Europe and the USA from 1994 until 2004, establishing several tourism businesses in the Greek Islands, Cyprus, New Jersey and Florida. Since 2004 focussing on the redevelopment of the Lake Argyle Resort, Caravan Park and Tours operations while raising a family in the Kimberley.

Recently joined the Savanah Way board covering all of Northern Australia from the far North of Queensland through the NT and into Northern WA. I remain passionate about the future of the tourism industry across Australia’s North West and believe the next five years will be a critical turning point for the region with Tourism now recognised as a definitive pillar of the economic and social landscape. Term expires 2022.

As CEO of Mackerel Islands Pty Ltd, Drew oversees three very unique properties in the Pilbara region including the Onslow Beach Resort and offshore Mackerel Islands (Thevenard and Direction Islands). He also oversees the management of the iconic Karijini Eco Retreat in nearby Karijini National Park on behalf of the traditional owners.

Working his way from Island Manager to CEO, he has 14 years experience both operationally and at an executive level in the ANW region. He also has experience in the management of a well established marine tourism business in Europe. Drew holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management, is a board member of the Pilbara Tourism Association and is an active participant in the tourism and hospitality industry in Perth and the North West. Term expires 2021.

Kym is part of the Marketing Leadership Team promoting Western Australia.

Her role as Senior Manager WA Partnerships and Industry involves the relationships and contracts with the five Regional Tourism Organisations (RTO), the Perth Convention Bureau, WA Visitor Centre, Tourism Council WA, Tourism Australia Signature Experiences Program and other related projects.

Kym has got a background that reflects all things tourism and marketing from being a qualified Dive Master, Business Owner and Communications Manager to a Tourism Consultant specialised in marketing strategy development.

Simone owns and operates Adventure Wild Kimberley Tours, which offers 12- day extended tours throughout the Kimberley region.

Having lived and worked from Broome since 2001, initially as a police officer for 10 years, Simone offers an independent, objective understanding of the complexities and diversities within the region.

Term expires 2022.

Digital marketing strategist Meg Coffey is an award-winning entrepreneur and regular on Australia’s business speaking circuit. Texan by birth and Australian by choice, she is managing director of the tourism-focussed social and digital marketing agency Coffey & Tea, developing campaigns and delivering training that enable Australian businesses to compete on the global stage; the founder of State of Social, Australia’s favourite social media conference; and #SMPerth, the free knowledge-sharing network and event series.

Meg is a regular contributor to media having recently appeared on Sunrise, The Today Show, ABC News, 6PR and the Daily Telegraph. In 2017 Meg was named as one of Australia’s Top 50 Small Business Leaders and in 2021 was nominated as a finalist for Campaign Brief’s Ad Person of the Year. Term expires 2022.

Jessie is the Executive Manager for Pearls of Australia. Her experience in tourism spans over 13 years in managerial positions across the Pilbara and West Kimberley. She spent six years at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula working across pearling, marine & indigenous tourism, eco-accommodation, retail and hospitality. She is now based in Broome with a focus on marketing, trade and strategic business development across Pearls of Australia’s operations in both Cygnet Bay, WA and Broken Bay, NSW.

Jessie holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance & Marketing, is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course and also sits on the Broome Visitor Centre board. She was recognised nationally in 2019 winning the Len Taylor Young ATEC Award for Leadership. Term expires 2022.

Sonja has been part of the fabric of the ANW tourism industry for over 30 years since beginning as a pilot in Kununurra flying scenic and charter flights. Getting to know the Kimberley and Pilbara landscape and making lifelong friends has instilled in her an enormous passion for Australia’s North West. Her contribution to the development of the Kimberley tourism industry was recognised with the 2006 ‘Individual Award for Excellence’ from Australia’s North West Tourism.

In 2001 she was the first person from the North West, and the youngest at that time, appointed to the board of the WA Tourism Commission. A strong advocate for the ANW tourism industry through representation on local committees and state boards, Sonja has held positions of General Manager, CEO, Board Chair, Tourism Commissioner and Non-Executive Director. Currently she is self-employed and works as a Business Builder and Tourism/Business consultant. Term expires 2022.