Destination NSW is governed by an independent chairman and a Board of Management.
The Minister directs Destination NSW in accordance with the Destination NSW Act 2011 and the NSW Government is represented on the Board by the cluster Secretary.
Board Member Details
Sally Loane (Chairman)
BA (English, Politics, Journalism)
Sally was appointed as a Board Member on 12 April 2018 and then Appointed as Chairman 7 November 2022
Sally is an experienced Chair, Non-Executive Director and business leader in financial services, media, and corporate affairs. From 2014-2021 Sally was the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Council, the peak industry organisation developing policy for superannuation funds, fund managers, life insurance and advice licensees.
Sally is Chairman of Destination NSW, Chair of Ignition Advice, and a Director of Chubb Insurance Australia; Pankind, the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation and the Garvan Medical Institute Research Foundation. She is on the Advisory Board of Orizontas, a boutique corporate advisory consultancy specialising in political, market, reputational and climate risk; a trustee for Sydney’s Hyde Park ANZAC Memorial, a global ambassador for Business Events Sydney and a member of Chief Executive Women. She is a former director of Venues NSW and SCEGGS Darlinghurst, and was Waratahs Rugby’s first female director.
Her first career was in the media, where she spent 25 years as a broadcaster and journalist across ABC radio, commercial television and leading newspapers. As a senior executive at Coca-Cola Amatil for nine years, she wrote the company’s ESG reports and developed strong skills in reputation and stakeholder management.
A long-time supporter of the community and charity sectors, Sally is a Governor of the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation and patron of Lou’s Place, a women’s refuge. She chaired the Salvation Army’s Sydney East Doorknock Appeal from 2008-2011. She mentors women through McCarthy Mentoring, the Minerva Network and the Superstars of STEM program, and served on the corporate advisory board of the NSW Council for Women’s Economic Opportunity and is a member of the NSW Domestic and Family Violence and Sexual Assault Corporate Leadership Group.
Russell Balding AO (Deputy Chairman)
BBus, DipTech (Comm), FCPA, MAICD, M.S.I.D.
Appointed 24 August 2011
Russell Balding AO is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Chairman having served on listed and non-listed government entity boards covering ground public transportation, aviation sector, tourism, infrastructure, broadcasting and media and thoroughbred horse racing administration and regulation. As part of his Non-Executive Director roles, Russell has also served on and chaired numerous board sub-committees.
He is currently Chairman of Racing NSW, T/A Racingcorp, Deputy Chairman of Destination NSW, a Director of The Trust Company (Sydney Airport) Limited, a Director of Racing Australia Limited, a Director of ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited (Singapore) and Chairman of ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia Pty Ltd.
Previously, Russell was Chairman of the then ASX 200-listed company Cabcharge Australia Limited (now A2B Australia Limited). During his tenure, Russell also served on the Boards of ComfortDelGro Cabcharge Pty Ltd and CityFleet Networks Ltd (UK).
In 2012, Russell was appointed Chairman of the NSW Visitor Economy Taskforce, established by the NSW Government to develop a tourism and events strategy to double overnight visitor expenditure to NSW by 2020. Russell also served as a board member on the NSW Government’s former tourism body, Tourism NSW.
In November 2020, Russell was appointed to the NSW Crown Land Taskforce, established to oversee the development and implementation of the government’s first Crown Land Strategic Plan.
Russell also previously held the positions of Chief Executive Officer of the Sydney Airport Corporation, where he oversaw the continued growth and commercial success of Australia’s National Gateway Airport and Managing Director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), where he was responsible for the overall management and editorial functions of Australia’s most comprehensive broadcaster and media institution.
Russell holds a Diploma in Technology (Commerce) and a Bachelor of Business. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors, a fellow of CPA Australia and a past State President and National Councillor of that organisation.
Russell was awarded an Order of Australia (AO) in January 2007.
Steve Cox
MBA
Appointed 4 May 2020
Steve Cox is the Chief Executive Officer of Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.
Steve is a passionate and energetic champion for Sydney and regional NSW. He drives the strategic direction of Destination NSW, including the delivery of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 to ensure NSW is the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific by 2030.
Steve is also a Director on the boards of Business Events Sydney (BESydney) and the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse.
Prior to joining Destination NSW in 2020, Steve was the Managing Director of Dymocks for eight years, where he launched several high-growth business channels for the company. Before Dymocks, Steve held senior roles with David Jones and the Specialty Fashion Group. Steve holds an MBA from Macquarie University.
Anne Loveridge AM
BA Joint Hons, FCA, GAICD
Appointed 2 August 2021
Anne Loveridge is a highly experienced Director and business leader. Over the last eight years, Anne has served as a board member for highly regulated ASX-listed organisations in financial services and health sectors as well as at arts-related not-for-profit entities, including National Australia Bank, nib Health Fund, Platinum Asset Management and Bell Shakespeare Company.
Anne brings extensive experience in people leadership and remuneration as well as audit, risk, regulatory compliance and finance skills to her governance roles.
Anne has over 30 years’ experience in business. Prior to becoming a Non-Executive Director, Anne was Deputy Chairman and Senior Audit Partner at PwC, and leader of the financial services audit and risk practice.
Anne has always championed the role of leadership and culture in successfully navigating change, particularly as organisations seek to transform through digital and technological innovation.
Anne has a passion for the arts, and the role the sector plays in bringing diverse communities together with shared interests and allowing us to reflect on the things that we, as society and communities, value.
Anne is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors, a member of Chief Executive Women and of International Women’s Forum in Australia. Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and Economics (joint honours) from the University of Reading (UK).
Rod McGeoch AO
LLB
Appointed 24 August 2011
Rod McGeoch AO was the leader of Sydney’s successful Olympics 2000 bid. He is an Officer of the Order of Australia. He is also Chairman of Vantage Private Equity Growth Limited, Chairman of Chubb Insurance Australia Ltd, Chairman of SureVision, Director of Corporacion America International S.A.R.L. and Deputy Chairman of Venues NSW.
In March 2020, Rod was appointed Chairman of the Australian Advisory Committee of the technology company 99 Technology. In 2020, he was appointed to the board of TOGOV Pty Ltd, a company specialising in procurement for other governments and agencies in various countries of the world. He was appointed Chairman of Australia Media Co (AMC) in July 2020.
Rod is a former Chairman of the Committee for Sydney and plays a leading role in a variety of cultural, community and welfare organisations. He was also President of the Law Society of New South Wales and Director of Ramsay Health Care Limited. He has published two best-selling books: McGeoch and The Bid.
The Hon. George Souris AM
BEc, Dip Fin Mangt, FAIM, FCPA\
Appointed 12 April 2018
George Souris is an experienced former NSW Minister and has been responsible for a wide range of portfolios, including tourism and major events, and the management of large government departments. He is a former Minister for Finance and was responsible for the state’s business trading enterprises reform and efficiency agenda. He was previously responsible for the Sport portfolio.
In his former capacity as Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality, Racing and the Arts, George was responsible for creating Destination NSW and establishing the Visitor Economy Taskforce. George was also tasked with developing a strategy to target the visitor economy, including the night-time economy, in NSW. Tourism policy, and the role many portfolio areas play, continues to be emphasised as a key part of the government’s economic strategy.
George serves on Destination NSW’s Audit and Risk Committee and the Events Sub-Committee and believes Destination NSW can drive a substantial increase in the tourism economy in the city, Western Sydney and regional NSW.
George is the honorary President of the State Library Council of NSW and is a Director of the Board of Racing NSW. He is an honorary Director of the Board of Business Events Sydney Ltd, being Destination NSW’s representative. He is a trustee of the Sydney Cricket Ground Heritage Trust.
He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2016.
George retired from the NSW Parliament in 2015 after 27 years of elected parliamentary representation for the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW. Prior to entering parliament, he served seven years as an elected independent Councillor of Singleton Shire Council and was its Deputy President.
George served two terms as Chair of the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association and the Hunter Valley Tourism Task Force.
Before entering parliament, George was a partner, in public practice, of an accounting firm in the Hunter Valley where he lives.
George is a former representative rugby player representing the Australian U23 rugby team, Combined Australian Universities and NSW Country. With the Australian U/23 team he toured Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan and with NSW Country against France and South Africa. He was awarded a University Full Sports Blue.
Emma Hogan
GAICD
Appointed 1 August 2022
Emma Hogan became the Secretary of Digital and the NSW Department of Customer Service in October 2019, after joining government in May 2018 as the NSW Public Service Commissioner.
Prior to joining government, Emma had a 20-year career in the private sector, working with iconic Australian brands across hospitality, retail, aviation, media and entertainment. Emma is an experienced transformation leader across customer, digital, people, culture and communications, and has led teams of over 12,000 people in Australia and globally.
Emma holds postgraduate qualifications in HR and business management, is a graduate of the Stanford University Executive Program and holds an executive certificate in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Emma is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors program and is a member of Chief Executive Women.
Elizabeth Mildwater
Appointed 19 October 2022
Elizabeth Mildwater was appointed Secretary of DEIT in October 2022, bringing more than 25 years’ management experience across customer services, legal, company secretarial, compliance, risk, management, human resources and general operations.
She was previously CEO of the Greater Cities Commission, and also held senior leadership roles at Transport for NSW, including Deputy Secretary of Greater Sydney, Deputy Secretary of Customer Technology and Services, and Deputy Secretary of People and Corporate Services.
Elizabeth’s earlier executive roles included Director of Australian Programs for Save the Children Australia and the Victorian Group General Manager with Transurban.
Elizabeth is passionate about harnessing stakeholder and employee engagement and new technologies to achieve new levels of service. She serves as a NSW Council member with the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) and was appointed a National Fellow of the IPAA in October 2022.
Clark Webb
BA (Archaeology and Aboriginal Studies)
Appointed 13 February 2023
Clark Webb is a Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man who lives in Garlambirla (Coffs Harbour) in the heart of Gumbaynggirr country. Clark has been a committed learner and active teacher of Gumbaynggirr language for 16 years and is the founder and CEO of Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation (BMNAC) which commenced its programs in 2010. BMNAC is the proprietor of Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School (GGFS), which opened its doors to 14 students in 2022, growing to 52 students in 2023.
BMNAC and GGFS are supported by BMNAC’s highly successful cafe and tourism social enterprises that are designed to reinvest profits into cultural revitalisation, education and employment opportunities.
Clark currently serves as a board member of the NSW Aboriginal Languages Trust and NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (NATOC), and has previously held roles of Secretary, Deputy Chair and Chairperson of Galambila Aboriginal Health Service in Coffs Harbour.
As the Operator of Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours, Clark is passionate about the growth of sustainable tourism and utilising tours as a vehicle to support cultural revitalisation and economic development in communities. He therefore brings a unique grassroots perspective on how to combine cultural, ecological and economic sustainability that benefits the whole sector.
Anna Guillan AM
FAICD, MBA
Appointed 13 February 2023
Anna Guillan is a highly experienced Non-Executive Director and Chair and respected visitor economy business leader.
She is currently Chair of Regional Development Australia (Sydney) and is on the board of Hammons Holdings, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, and the Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation Advisory Board. She has held previous board positions with Tourism Australia, Tourism and Events Queensland, the Australian Tourism Export Council, CareFlight and Western Sydney Parklands Trust.
Anna is a member of the Forum of Western Sydney Airport and was also part of a specialist industry taskforce established by the NSW Government to review the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030, which informed the post-COVID-19 recovery plan for NSW.
Anna has strong commercial expertise in strategic planning, business development and transformation, brand and consumer marketing, customer experience, distribution, and crisis management.
Anna is also the co-founder of cancer support charity The NELUNE Foundation and is a passionate advocate of the power of social purpose. She was acknowledged in the Australian Honours list in recognition of her service to the Australian tourism industry and to the community for her support of social welfare and health organisations.
