TCA is a great place to work. And these are the people who make it so.
Danial Rochford - Chief Executive Officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Over his career Danial has walked an extraordinarily diverse and successful path as a change manager in tourism, economic and community development and aviation sectors.
Danial is the CEO of Tourism Central Australia, the peak regional tourism authority for Central Australia. He is a former CEO of Whitsundays Marketing and Development Ltd as well as CEO of Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd as well as Director of Tourism for one of Australia's leading World Heritage listed tourism attractions, the Port Arthur Historic Site.
He has also held various roles in regional economic and social development organisations including CEO of Rural Alive and Well in rural Tasmania, Manager of Economic Development for the Roma Town Council, and early in his career, a Regional Business Advisor in rural and remote Queensland. He has also worked on two occasions in both tourism and aviation roles in the Pacific.
Steve Jarrett - Marketing Manager This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Steve joined TCA in October 2017 following a move from Perth to be closer to family. A regular visitor to Central Australia since December 2000, Steve is passionate about the landscape and the untapped potential for tourism growth in the Red Centre. Whilst much of his career has been spent in cooler climate wine growing regions of WA and SA, Steve’s focus has always been on ensuring visitors have the best possible experience. Steve says “There are many great wine regions in the world, but there is only one Central Australia. What are you waiting for?”
Merrilyn Spencer - Finance Manager This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Merrilyn first visited Central Australia in 2008 and immediately felt a connection to the red earth, blue sky and stark white ghost gums. She returned home and began planning a move to the region, arriving permanently on Australia Day 2009. Merrilyn worked extensively in many sectors of the tourism industry both in and out of the region, before joining TCA in July 2021. Every evening as the escarpment around Alice Springs begins to glow Merrilyn is truly thankful that Central Australia is now home.
Susie Thompson - Membership & Industry Support Manager This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Susie first came to Central Australia over 25 years ago (for what was supposed to be a short holiday) from the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. She very quickly fell in love with the stunning desert landscapes, its people, the lifestyle & fascinating culture, and decided to make Alice Springs her home. She has worked in tourism, media & marketing roles, so is super keen to positively facilitate her new role as Membership & Industry Support Manager with TCA.
Susan Silvester - Manager (Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Susan is a serial busybody, which makes her a perfect fit for tourism as she is legitimately interested in her clients. For more years than she cares to admit she has worked in the local and international tourism industry. Originally from Melbourne she has lived and worked in the NT for 37 years, the last nine with Tourism Central Australia. She has worked on major cruise ships, as a sales manager for the Darwin casino, Hotel Manager Darwin’s City Gardens apartments and began her working career as a Navy Aviation Medic. She speaks fluent Italian and loves Italian food, but prefers to explore that passion at the dining table rather than the kitchen. Winner of the Skal Tourism Industry Employee Award at the 2022 Brolga NT Tourism Awards.
Karl Herzog - Manager (Battery Hill Gold Mining & Heritage Centre) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Karl has lived and worked in Tennant Creek for more than 50 years, so you might say he qualifies as a local. He came to Tennant Creek in the late 1960s and was apprenticed with Peko Mine where he worked as a carpenter, and engine driver (Power Station Operator). Most recently Karl was training volunteers with the Northern Territory Emergency Service. He is a passionate, professional photographer and looks forward to driving tourism in the Barkly.
Jaimie Mitchell - Membership & Industry Support Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Originally from country Victoria, Jaimie fell in love with the tourism industry after moving overseas to work and travel after high school. Her love of culture, tourism sustainability and the industry’s ability to connect people and build lasting memories, inspired her to study a degree in Event Management and International Tourism Management on the Gold Coast which she completed in 2020. Jaimie’s passion for the outdoors and regional tourism has brought her to her new home and career in Alice Springs where she hopes to help others discover our beautiful region.
Georgia Tidey - Marketing Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Georgia is a recent graduate of a Business degree majoring in Marketing from Victoria. She has a passion for the outdoors and the natural beauty of the world, which is why she is bringing her expertise to help promote the opportunities on offer in the beautiful Alice Springs and surrounding regions. Georgia has travelled all around Australia during her childhood as well as New Zealand as an adult. She enjoys the adrenaline rush of outdoor activities like skydiving whilst also appreciating the uniqueness of the desert night sky.
Kylie Payne - Office Manager This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kylie spent the first 31 years of her career working in retail for Wesfarmers where she has held various management roles across Coles and Bunnings. She moved to Alice for a two-year contract in 2016 – five years later and a career change into our Visitor Information Centre Kylie is still enjoying her time here in Alice. Kylie loves travelling and has visited many places around the world; her favourite international destination is Africa with the beautiful people and animals.
Emily Ilgen - Visitor Centre Travel Consultant (Alice Springs)
Emily has been in the tourism industry since arriving in the Northern Territory in 2017. She formally studied wildlife biology in the USA before backpacking New Zealand and travelling to Australia. She settled into the NT working as a tour guide, cameleer, and reptile keeper, allowing her to share her love for animals with tourists from around the world. Emily found her home and true love in the Red Centre and is passionate about helping others explore this beautiful region.
Annalese Parsons - Visitor Centre Travel Consultant (Alice Springs)
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Ola Rzeszowska - Visitor Centre Travel Consultant (Alice Springs)
Alice Springs was meant to be the very last stop in her twelve-month travel around Australia, before returning to Poland. Absolutely stunned with the desert nature, sunny days, and the night sky, she decided to stay here for a little longer. Almost a decade later, she is still here loving the Territory. Ola also works in the events industry and travels around a lot for work and leisure, which makes it a very valuable combination of professional life and passion for travel. Ola is happy to chat and share some tips on making the most of exploring the Red Centre!
Glen Nelson - Visitor Centre Travel Consultant (Alice Springs)
Glen moved to Central Australia in the Year of the Outback in 2002, making last year his 20th anniversary. His first job found him visiting every community in the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara APY lands located in the Northwest top of South Australia, helping community members access the internet for the first time. Since then, he has had jobs that took him to Indigenous communities from over the Western Australian border to as far north as Ali Curung near Tennant Creek. Glen has developed a passion for all things Central Australia, be it geology, botany, history or its people.
Rhiannon Brown - Visitor Centre Travel Consultant (Tennant Creek)
Rhiannon is new to the NT moving to Tennant Creek from Melbourne in March (2022) with her partner and his father. She would love to travel the world some day, but currently has only managed to make it to Bali. Rhiannon has worked in the hospitality industry previously and enjoys making coffee (although she doesn't drink it). She is looking forward to learning more about the tourism industry and Tennant Creek, and expand her knowledge about the Battery Hill Mine Tours.
Pennie Cowin - Visitor Centre Travel Consultant (Tennant Creek)
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