Future Leaders Award: Finalists Announced

Amanda Dempster
Director, Holiday Brands and Stanthorpe Holiday Park
Amanda and her team at Holiday Brands are helping caravan holiday parks modernise and grow their direct bookings using innovative marketing tools, including AI-driven systems for review management and guest communication. She is also the owner of Stanthorpe Holiday Park in Queensland, the first caravan holiday park in Australia with a full-time AI receptionist.

Mitchell Gawthorn
National Operations Manager, NRMA Parks & Resorts
Mitchell is an experienced tourism operator who held senior roles in iconic locations such as Kakadu and the Flinders Ranges before becoming National Operations Manager at NRMA Parks and Resorts. In his current role, Mitchell has led the multi-million-dollar Turtle Sands Nature Resort development – an ambitious project that has required collaboration across community, government and conservation stakeholders

Blake Gray
Sales Manager, Viscount Caravans
Blake got his start in the caravan industry as a member of the sales team at Concept Caravans in 2017. This experience proved to be the perfect grounding for his current role as Sales Manager at Viscount Caravans, where he is responsible for sales and marketing, purchasing, customer service, warranty production planning and the operation of a dealership network.

Jack Hillis
Managing Director, Wagga Caravan Centre
Jack has drawn on his experience as an aircraft maintenance engineer to implement new processes and policies into his family business, Wagga Caravan Centre. A particular focus has been placed on the quality of work carried out by the business’ service department, a move that has help grow a strong and loyal customer base, particularly in the high-end offroad caravan market.

Erin Stevenson
Vice President Growth and Client Experience, Newbook
Erin has played a leading role in Newbook’s development, helping the business transform from a small start-up into a market-leading hospitality management platform. Over the past 11 years, Erin’s ability to drive operational structure, coupled with her relentless focus on customer success, have positioned the business for growth and helped navigate important transitions.