The 2017 Future Leaders Award Goes To…

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April Whiston, General Manager, Merool on the Murray

PC-PHOTO__3378The CaravanCampingSales Future Leaders Award, now in its fourth year, celebrates the most impressive young leader in our industry.  This year we congratulate April Whiston of Merool on the Murray as an exceptional young leader today who is destined to further influence our industry in the future.

As the 2017 Future Leader, April will receive up to $15,000 towards industry study or professional development plus the opportunity to attend a Caravan Industry Association of Australia National Board meeting, to observe and provide input into important industry discussions.

April has been employed as General Manager at their family owned and operated park for three years, a large park with a licence for 494 sites.  She is also the sole founder of Cabin Connect and the blogger behind Mrs Caravan Park.  As a youth ambassador for the industry, April hopes to establish a reputable career path for school leavers interested in tourism.  She believes a hands-on training program, accompanied by a structured TAFE course, would provide skills and experience to youth that will enable them to enter a growing industry that can afford to pay satisfying salaries.

Acknowledging her husband April said, “We’ve had a tumultuous time in our business and to have achieved the things we’ve achieved and to be recognised with this award … I’m super proud of us as a team.  The industry’s got such a bright future and I couldn’t think of a better industry to be a part of”.

All future leaders who nominated for the award are to be commended for their commitment to the industry and their achievements to date.  We anticipate great things from everyone who nominated and recognise the caliber of the other five finalists:

  • Robert Gallagher, CEO, Adventures Group Holdings
  • Daniel Tilton, CEO, Next Generation Holiday Parks
  • Michael McIvor, Operations Manager, Broken Hill Tourist Park
  • Amanda Ferguson, Investment Analysis, Discovery Parks
  • Steven Edwards, CEO, Edwards Group

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