Queensland tourism boss calls time after nine years

Another top executive from the Queensland tourism industry has called time after enduring the sector’s darkest days.

The boss of Queensland’s biggest tourism body has decided to call it quits after guiding the industry through its darkest days.

Tourism and Events Queensland chief executive Leanne Coddington will finish up at the end of the year after nine years at the helm and 25 years in the organisation.

She is the second long-serving tourism executive to exit this year, after Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind left his post last month after 22 years in the jo.

Speaking to The Courier-Mail on Friday, Ms Coddington said it felt like the right time to move on after serving three three-year contracts since 2013 and enduring the gloom of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tourism and Events Queensland chief executive Leanne Coddington. Picture: Attila Csaszar

“The last couple of years have been really challenging for the industry, and now with international borders starting to open, the time is right for me to look at what the next opportunity is for both me and for the industry,” she said.

“It’s a really exciting time for us.

“Australians are still loving to travel domestically while we are starting to interact with our international markets again.

“It’s time for someone to come in with fresh eyes.”

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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk thanked Ms Coddington for her contribution to the tourism industry.

“Leanne Coddington has skilfully supported Queensland tourism operators through the once-in-a-lifetime challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

Leanne Coddington has called time on her post as chief executive of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Ms Coddington would “leave a wonderful legacy not only within Tourism and Events Queensland, but also the wider Australian tourism industry”.

“I admire Ms Coddington’s enthusiasm, expertise and the many first-class tourism industry relationships she has built in Queensland, Australia and globally,” he said.

TEQ has already begun the search for Ms Coddington’s successor, with advertisements for the position going out this week.

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