Tourism Minister Don Farrell announces Penny Fowler as Tourism Australia board chair

A new look for the nation’s most powerful tourism body has elevated Penny Fowler as the first female chair.

A revamp of the nation’s most powerful tourism body has elevated Penny Fowler as the first female chair and industry veteran Ian Horne as her deputy.

Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell on Wednesday announced the new-look Tourism Australia board, which also included four new appointments.

Senator Farrell said tourism was the lifeblood of Australia’s regions, supporting thousands of jobs and small businesses, and was a key driver for local economies across the nation.

He said the new appointees, who also include former Labor tourism minister Michael Lee, would “continue to drive demand and attract more international travellers to our shores”.

Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Newly appointed Tourism Australia board chair Penny Fowler

Senator Farrell said the new leadership, steered by Mrs Fowler and Mr Horne, was exciting for both Tourism Australia and the wider industry.

“Penny has made an important contribution to the board over the last five years, working alongside fellow members to support the industry to recover from the impact of the pandemic,” he said.

“Ian Horne has decades of experience in the industry and a deep understanding of the importance of tourism for jobs and businesses.”

Mrs Fowler, also community ambassador for News Corp Australia (publisher of The Advertiser) and Herald & Weekly Times chairman, said it was an honour to be appointed Tourism Australia board chair and have the “opportunity to promote the work of our country’s fantastic tourism operators”.

“Tourism is so important to our economy and, as the peak body, Tourism Australia is a key vehicle to drive more visitors to Australia and does important work to support the industry,” she said.

“I have been on the board for five years and look forward to working with the Minister, my board colleagues and the TA team to help the industry go from strength to strength.”

Newly appointed Tourism Australia board deputy chair Ian Horne.

Mr Horne, a former long-term head of the Australian Hotels Association’s SA branch, said the nation and state had “almost cleared ourselves of the economic curse of Covid-19” and now needed “to be primed and ready to pursue every opportunity that leads to economic activity, investment in infrastructure and job creation”.

“Tourism in all its forms is Australia’s fourth-largest export industry and makes a

significant contribution to our state’s economic wellbeing,” he said

“Having spent around four decades involved in tourism and hospitality advocacy, being

able to bring that experience and learning to the national table is exciting.”

Originally published as Tourism Minister Don Farrell announces Penny Fowler as Tourism Australia board chair