Team TCA

TCA is a great place to work.  And these are the people who make it so.

 

Patrick Bedford

Danial Rochford - Chief Executive Officer          Email Danial

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.

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Steve Jarrett - Membership and Marketing Manager          Email Steve

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?”

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Merrilyn Spencer - Finance and HR Manager          Email Merrilyn

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. 

Kassi Fleming

Kylie Payne - Corporate and Executive Services Manager          Email Kylie

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. 

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Susan Silvester - Manager (Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre)          Email Susan

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.

Bradley Kerkman

Selina Manouge - Manager (Battery Hill Gold Mining & Heritage Centre)          Email Selina

Originally from Mildura in Victoria, Selina has fulfilled a life long dream by relocating to Central Australia. Since her first visit to the Northern Territory as a child, she has been captivated by the unique landscapes and breathtaking sunsets in the Red Centre. Selina started her career in Tourism Information Services, and after 8 years then transitioned into hospitality. Here she spent over 12 years in management roles specialising in accommodation, restaurants, conferencing and events. When Selina’s not working, you’ll find her outside, she enjoys the simple things in life such as walking, swimming or enjoying a cold beer watching the sunset. Selina is confident in her ability to contribute to Tourism Central Australia and is looking forward to making an impact on the visitation to Tennant Creek & the Barkly region.

Dale McIver

Jaimie Mitchell - Membership & Marketing Specialist          Email Jaimie

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.

Craig Jervis

Georgia Tidey - Membership & Marketing Specialist           Email Georgia

Georgia is a 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.

Kassi Fleming

Jeremy Goddard - Membership & Marketing Specialist            Email Jeremy

Jeremy grew up experiencing the natural wonders that Tasmania/lutruwita had to offer. Growing up he loved the isolation, the ruggedness and often untouched wilderness that the land had to offer. He wasn’t alone in his passion of the land, and he saw tourism in the state transcend. A graduate in Business Marketing, with experience working in the Transport and Electricity sectors, he found himself moving to Alice Springs after falling in love with the place after a visit over 10 years ago. Jeremy is excited to promote this incredibly unique area that the Red Centre is and is always excited for his next weekend adventure that he is already planning for. On his quieter days, Jeremy can be found on the tennis court and finishing a day with a fine glass of wine.

Chris Hill

Emily Ilgen - Visitor Information Centre Officer (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.

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Annalese Parsons - Visitor Information Centre Officer (Alice Springs)

Annalese is originally from the South Coast of NSW and moved to the Northern Territory in 2013 with family to Arlparra, Utopia for her father’s work. She spent 4 years living and working in Arlparra and Ali Curung, working as a Sport and Recreation Officer and helping cook and deliver food from the age care kitchen. Since moving into Alice Springs she has done a range of different jobs, such as social work, child care and hospitality work in town. In her spare time she performs with the local community theatre Totem Theatre, enjoys crocheting and exploring the stunning local area. Annalese is very grateful for all the amazing experiences she has had in her time in the Red Centre, including meeting the love of her life.

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Ola Rzeszowska - Visitor Information Centre Officer (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!

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Glen Nelson - Visitor Information Centre Officer (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.  

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Tash Furrows - Visitor Information Centre Officer (Alice Springs)

Originally from Southern Africa, Tash relocated to New Zealand in 2001 where she studied Outdoor Recreation, which led to working in Milford Sound as a sea kayak guide. Tash moved to the Red Centre in 2011 as a 4-wheel drive camping tour guide. She has many years of guiding experience across the region for various types of tours. Working in Zoology and Guiding at the Alice Spring Desert Park has sparked a passion for wildlife and conservation, a passion she thoroughly enjoys sharing with visitors. Driving for Centre Bush Bus gave Tash the opportunity to visit remote First Nations communities in Central Australia, leading to a deeper appreciation and understanding of the importance of connection to Country.

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Pennie Cowin - Visitor Information Centre Officer (Tennant Creek)

Pennie has lived in and found a permanent home in Tennant Creek for 12 years, having been born in the UK, growing up in NSW and living in Tasmania. She has worked in the tourism industry since the mid 1990's. Pennie is passionate about the Barkly area and believes preserving natural and man-created history very important. She has also travelled all over Australia and overseas and enjoys learning as much about an area as possible. Pennie is looking forward to promoting our beautifully stunning Barkly region while working within a greater team promoting the whole Red Centre.

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Lorraine Gibson Napaltjari - Visitor Information Centre Officer (Tennant Creek)

Lorraine was born in Darwin and raised in Alice Springs. Lorraine is one of the many Traditional Owners of the Barkly Region, her language groups are Warlmanpa, Mudburra Jingulu and Warumungu. Lorraine has a background in tourism and has worked in Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Banka Banka West and Tennant Creek in a variety of tourism roles. Lorraine takes great pride in working on country and maintaining the continuation of many cultural practices such as harvesting the produce and materials needed to make bush medicines, arts and a variety of crafts from country on country. Lorraine welcomes you to embrace and experience this beautiful country requesting that you leave nothing behind other then your footprints.

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