Meet Your Future Leaders Committee

Amanda Dempster (Qld)

Holiday Brands

Amanda is the director of Holiday Brands. Tourism-focused creative marketing & brand agency that focuses on helping parks and businesses in the caravanning industry increase their direct bookings and exposure.

She has over 20 years experience developing brands across all industries, delivering strategy and growth for many large national brands. This year being recognized as an Australian Top 5 for Digital Marketing.

Having always loved camping, Amanda professionally joined the industry 10+ years ago as the ANZ marketing manager for a park group and now brings her experience in digital, marketing AI, branding, web, and print together, to work with everyone from small family run parks to some of the industries most recognized brands.

Stewart Lofts (Vic)

BMPRO

Stewart is product specialist team leader at BMPRO, with over 20 years of experience in the caravan camping and hotel industries in Queensland and Victoria.

Stewart’s focus has always been that of their customers, from business to business right through to the end user, with his role seeing him involved in everything from education, training, marketing & sales to industry events.

I look forward to working with the industry in how we can bring through the next up and coming generation of future leaders.

To help give the industry’s younger members a clear pathway for growth through the ranks and a voice which may lead to future innovation and positive change

Andrew Hewitt (Qld)

BIG4 Gold Coast

I have 22 years’ of experience across hotels, destination locations, new build’s, and holiday parks allowing me to acquire a truly diverse interpretation to the tourism industry. I remain active across various governing bodies and am well skilled in operations, revenue management, marketing, finances, and social media.

I believe I am in the business of making lifelong memories for guests of the tourism industry, and still get a great sense of achievement of seeing smiles on faces. With an innovative mind, I look forward to developing how people think about sustainability of the planet and the people working in this incredible industry.

James Field (Qld)

MDC Camper Trailers & Offroad Caravans

James Field has a genuine passion for the Caravan industry and has worked full-time in the sector for over 15 years in various trade, training, technical and compliance roles.

Over this time, he has held positions managing RV workshops, as well as serving as Chief Technical Officer for Caravan Industry Association of Australia.  In his most current role, James is the Product, Technical & Standards Manager for MDC Camper Trailers & Off-road Caravans.

Committed to broader industry improvement, James also volunteers his time and expertise to a number of RV industry technical and manufacturing advisory committees.

Jack Green (Qld)

Green RV

Jack is the CEO and shareholder of Green RV. Together with his team, Jack leads the way providing outstanding sales results and service that is second-to-none! Jack considers himself an innovator and a challenger of the status quo; always striving to find opportunities to better serve his customers and improve the industry.

Jack’s passions, strategic foresight, drive, and determination has built a strong, successful business in an exciting time to be in the industry and to be providing caravan and camping enthusiasts opportunities to get back to nature and connecting further with friends, with family and as couples.

Being able to thrive in and admire opportunities that allow him to devise new approaches, new ideas and new projects. Pushing the limits of creativity and creating new and innovative ways to further grow and enhance the caravan industry.

Fernando Braganza (WA)

Fernando Braganza. Born in Doha-Qatar, completed my studies at Goa University-India in 2007 and migrated to Australia in 2014.

By profession I am a mechanical engineer. I have over 15 years of experience in sales and project management. In April 2022 I have been appointed as a Justice of the Peace for WA.

I have been in the industry since November 2014. I was actively involved as a board member on the Board of the CIAWA from November 2019 to November 2021. Although I am coming close to a decade in this space I am still as passionate now as I was when I started to promote this industry.

Nicole Hurkens (Vic)

Overlanda Caravans

Nicole grew up around the family caravan manufacturing business Overlanda Caravans (established in 1973) specialising in custom manufacturing and repairer of caravans.

Having generational experience and lived understanding in business challenges motivated Nicole to become an Accountant, specifically driven to build a solution to improve financial literacy and certainty for business owners. Nicole took over the financial management of Overlanda Caravans in 2008, working alongside her father Gerald Hurkens, then took over full management of the company in 2018 when Gerald was diagnosed with cancer and subsequently lost his battle in 2020.

Under Nicole’s supervision, the business has gained ISO accreditations in WHS, Environmental and Quality; grown from 4 to a team of 15, and secured two years of signed contracts. With high growth resulting in splitting the manufacturing side of the business and a dedicated service centre next door, Nicole now focuses her time leading and mentoring her team to one day take over the company and development of collaboration with industry business in regional Victoria – pre and post Covid.

Margaret Shannon (NSW)

Tiona Investments

Margaret has 20 years’ experience in the hotel, cruise and caravan industry, and is currently General Manager at Tiona Investments; responsible for strategy, capital investment and business planning of tourism holdings on the NSW Mid North Coast.

Throughout her career, she has developed a reputation for tourism excellence, regional advocacy, and innovative marketing and product development; driven by a passionate commitment to the tourism industry and community. She was 2022 Myall Lakes Woman of the Year in recognition of her contribution to regional tourism, and currently sits as a director on the National Caravan and Camping Industry Association board. She is a judge for the NSW state and Australian Tourism awards, and is actively involved in local and regional chamber, tourism association and strategy groups.