The Mentors
Decades of WA tourism & hospitality, on your side.
Hotel general managers, travel pioneers, event directors, trainers and people & culture leaders — every mentor below is actively guiding the 2026 cohort. Tap a mentor to read their story, how they help, and why they give their time.
Dushy Wanigatunga
Cluster General Manager · Accor Apartments & Realty WA
From a bar course to General Manager — proof the industry rewards people who put their hand up.
Read their story →
Tanja Coyne
People & Culture Manager · Accor (Mercure Perth & ibis Perth)
People and culture leader who measures success by watching someone else win.
Read their story →
Scott Campbell
Owner/Operator · Best 4 Travel
42 years in travel — and a business that came out of COVID twice the size it went in.
Read their story →
Kathy Purves
Training & Recruitment Manager · Connected Travel
35 years across airlines, retail and wholesale travel — now training the next generation.
Read their story →
Margaret R Wilson
Foundation Chair & Life Member · CMW Management
Never say you can't do something until you've tried — a career built on exactly that.
Read their story →
Terry Austen
Group General Manager - Hospitality · TenGolf Group
From hotel porter to General Manager — 30 years of leading strong teams.
Read their story →
Michael Collins
Principal · CF Global (Australia)
Waiter to GM to consultant for Tourism WA and every regional tourism organisation in the state.
Read their story →
George Booth OAM
Tourism Icon · Former Deputy Chairman, WA Tourism Commission
Started WA's first home-grown outbound tour operation — later part of Qantas.
Read their story →
Carmen Bold
Host & Industry Consultant · Tourism Matters
A career built on one question: does this sound interesting or exciting?
Read their story →
Cassandra Brennan
Director · Monarch Events
Events is not a spectator sport — 40 years from KFC promotions to running her own event company.
Read their story →
Belinda Austen
Director of Sales and Marketing · Holiday Inn Perth City Centre
Hotel sales and marketing leader who wants to ignite the next generation's passion.
Read their story →
Nicola Strudwick
General Manager Sales · Travellers Choice
Leadership isn't about titles — it's about impact, and bringing others with you.
Read their story →
Brooke Kelly
Events Lecturer · South Metropolitan TAFE
28 years in events — from a Fremantle Arts Centre traineeship to training the next generation.
Read their story →
Want a mentor like this in your corner?
The 2026 cohort is full, but applications for 2027 are open — for mentees and for industry leaders who want to mentor.