Nat Burke

 Chair

Nat Burke has more than 18 years’ experience in program management, policy advocacy, and applied research in the fields of social development, conservation, education, and public diplomacy.

Nat is Senior Manager, Social Development at WWF-Australia. He leads a team of conservationists working with Indigenous and local communities in Australia and across Asia and the Pacific to achieve conservation outcomes while supporting sustainable and inclusive development.

Nat is a strong advocate for community-led approaches that put local people and their social, cultural, and economic aspirations at the heart of conservation and sustainable natural resource management.

From his early career working with the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to designing and leading inclusive conservation and sustainable development programs in Nepal, Solomon Islands, and bushfire-affected communities in Australia, Nat has seen firsthand how sustainable nature-based tourism can be a powerful force for environmental, social, and economic change. Nat believes that high-integrity ecotourism is one of the best ways to demonstrate that we don’t have to choose between a healthy environment and a strong economy.

Alysia Brandenburg

Deputy Chair

Alysia is an active Director of Ecotourism Australia, and serves on the Executive, Finance and Audit Committee, is Chair of Business Development Committee, Co-Chair Governance Committee and a member of the Policy & Advocacy and Conference & Awards committees.

As the tourism industry faces challenges, she aims to ensure the recognition of the sector’s value and the importance of sustainable practices. A strong advocate for EA’s certification programs, Alysia champions quality standards, auditing, and skills training. Her commitment extends to strengthening services and support for members as EA expands its offerings, engaging with regional destinations, leadership organisations, governments, and the visitor economy.

Alysia holds a Masters of Tourism Monash University, is a Tourism Award Judge/Team Leader, an ART Regional Ambassador and Director on Walhalla Committee of Management. She has an IAP2 Australasia Certificate in Engagement and has a passion for engaging in a collaborative manner, focused on sustainable destination planning, public land activation, responsible tourism, accessibility, and innovative partnership development.

As a tourism advisor Alysia’s recent clients include Tourism Australia (Policy Development), Tourism Events & Visitor Economy (Victoria’s NBT Action Plan), Business Victoria (workshops/ seminars/mentoring), Wine Yarra Valley (Grant management), Shire of East Gippsland (Tourism 101), Destination SNSW and SSS (DMPs), ART (Be a Grant Ready Organisation training module).

Wendy Hills

For over 25 years, Wendy has worked in the Australian tourism industry in various marketing and development roles, including destination, product, and industry development with a proven expertise in sustainable indigenous tourism and the importance that this sector plays in identifying Australia’s cultural strengths and ‘point of difference’, in a very competitive global marketplace.

She has worked for private enterprise companies, two State Tourism Organisations, Indigenous Business Australia, and Tourism Australia as the head of the Australian Experiences team, responsible for the development and marketing of Australia’s 7 key experiences, including ‘Natural Australia’ and ‘Aboriginal Australia’.

Wendy joined the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in December 2011, and has managed several portfolios, including Aboriginal cultural tourism development, marketing and campaigns, nature-based tourism, and partnership development, and now currently manages the Volunteer and Education Teams, responsible for program development within relevant NSW National Parks and Reserves.

Wendy is a current Director of Ecotourism Australia, and a Board member of the Booderee National Park Joint Board of Management.

Robert Taylor

Robert, a Nhanda Yamaji man, offers over 38 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. He has owned and managed hospitality, tourism, mining, sport and recreation and construction businesses. Having an entrepreneurial spirit, he has proved his capability of diversification, utilising his skills and knowledge to cross over industries to develop diverse income streams. Robert became CEO of Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council WAITOC in 2015. During this time, he has successfully delivered the Aboriginal Tourism Development Program, growing 39 new Aboriginal businesses across W.A.

He has taken the organisation from a marketing and advocacy Aboriginal tourism organisation and introduced business development to build business leaders for the future and create a strong Aboriginal tourism sector for Western Australia. His drive to ensure the country understands the value of Aboriginal tourism has been rewarded through securing funding at a local state and federal government level for Aboriginal tourism.

He has been a leading voice to the government, successfully advocating for 40 million dollars invested into Aboriginal Tourism Nationwide from this work. He sat on the National Indigenous Tourism Advisory Group to NIAA, advocating for further change across the nation.

Robert continues to create new partnerships with prospective stakeholders to improve Cultural understanding, respect, and positive social outcomes for the Australian Aboriginal People and create a strong, diversified, sustainable organisation model.

Amy Gash

Amy Gash and her family are the proud Custodians of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort and are a Certified Operator with Ecotourism Australia. Active in the tourism community, Amy has served on the Women in Tourism Gold Coast Committee and completed the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s Young Professional Mentoring Program. She has received several accolades, including the Young Achiever Award at the Queensland Tourism Awards in 2022 and the Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year ‘Environmental Warrior’ award in 2023. Amy is dedicated to inspiring young people to pursue careers in sustainable tourism.

Jeff Gillies

With over 30 years of leadership experience in the travel and tourism industry, Jeff brings a wealth of expertise across key sectors, including expedition cruises, major events, and hotel operations, particularly within the Asia Pacific region. A passionate advocate for sustainable tourism, he has led iconic businesses such as Cooinda Lodge Kakadu and the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel and has served as a Regional Director with Tourism Queensland. Currently, as the Chief Commercial Officer of Coral Expeditions, he oversees growth strategy and partnerships, including the company’s Hall of Fame recognition with Ecotourism Australia.

Jeff’s extensive governance experience includes serving on various advisory boards and committees focused on tourism and sustainability, such as Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s Finance and Risk Committee, the Reef Authority Tourism Representative Advisory Committee, Savannah Way Ltd, and the Kakadu Tourism Consultative Committee.

Sharon Raguse

Sharon Raguse is a dedicated executive with over 25 years of regional tourism experience. She has held significant roles, including Manager of Tourism Development at BEDA, Regional Director at TEQ, and General Manager of Falls Creek Ski Lifts. Sharon has contributed to various Government Tourism Recovery Task Forces and served as a National Tourism Awards judge. Notably, she led recovery efforts for East Gippsland Shire Council, achieving global recognition ECO Destination Certification as Victoria’s first Ecotourism Australia Certified Destination. Since returning to Queensland as CEO of Tourism Noosa in August 2023, she focuses on reducing environmental impacts and promoting cultural awareness of the Kabi Kabi people.

David Young

David Young is a seasoned sustainability leader with extensive experience in the travel and hospitality sectors in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. As Director of Sustainability for Accor Pacific, he leads the region’s sustainability strategies, focusing on Sustainable Tourism Certification through Ecotourism Australia, carbon reduction, and diversity initiatives. David has also held key sustainability roles at Qantas Group and the Oneworld Airline alliance.

His governance roles include directorships at YHA Australia, Out for Australia, and the Golden Stave Foundation. A proud Gamilaroi man, David holds qualifications in commercial law, accounting, hospitality, and tourism management.

Elissa Keenan

Chief Executive

Elissa has vast executive experience within the tourism, aviation, government and peak body sectors including with Queensland Airports Limited, Airservices Australia, Virgin Australia, the REIQ and Surf Life Saving. Passionate about the tourism industry, Elissa is on the Board of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and a former non-executive Director with Reef Check Australia an innovative citizen-science environmental charity dedicated to empowering people to take positive action for conserving reef and marine environments.

She has been a member of the Australian Tourism Awards Judging Panel, Chair of the Queensland Tourism Awards Panel, and judge with the Outback Queensland Tourism Awards. Elissa is a keen advocate for female representation in leadership and is a mentor and former Corporate Executive Board Member with Women in Aviation International. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from SCU, Master of Business (QUT), Bachelor of Business (QUT), and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Elissa loves to travel across Australia and beyond, has just two continents still to see (Africa and Antarctica), but firmly believes our beaches, wildlife, rainforests, outback and nature-based experiences are among the best – if not the best – in the world.

Nadine Schramm 

Head of Sustainability and Business Operations

As the Head of Sustainability and Business Operations, Nadine oversees all of Ecotourism Australia’s sustainability programs and certifications as well as the audit and compliance program for over 500 businesses and destinations.

After completing her degree in Tourism Management with a major in International Sustainable Tourism Management in Germany, Nadine lived in London and worked for a Destination Management Company before permanently relocating to Australia in 2017.

Since joining Ecotourism Australia in 2017, Nadine has been fortunate to assist hundreds of tourism businesses across Australia on their sustainability journey. With expertise and qualifications in global certification standards for tourism businesses and destinations as well as eco-, sustainable, and regenerative tourism practices, Nadine is committed to making Australia a world-class sustainable tourism destination and creating long-term positive impact for the environment and local communities.

Nadine sits on several global sustainable and ecotourism panels and committees with the aim to improve global ESG standards and practices in tourism.

Myvawny Costelloe 

Stakeholder Engagement Manager

Myv is a policy and communications professional with over ten years’ experience in tourism both in the public and private sector. In her role at previous role at Austrade, she led the development of the National Sustainability Framework and Sustainable Tourism Toolkit, which saw all Tourism Ministers come together to state their vision for a more sustainable visitor economy.  Prior to Austrade, Myv spent four years at Intrepid Travel where she contributed to a wide array of social impact initiatives.  With a Master of Tourism from Monash University, Myv is of course a passionate traveller, and counts walking Tasmania’s Three Capes Track with Eco-Certified operator the Tasmanian Walking Company as one of her all-time favourite travel experiences. 

Shea Wittig 

Sustainable and Ecotourism Specialist

Living in Australia, the UK and the Middle East has inspired Shea’s actions to reflect those of a global citizen. It was during her first visit to Africa that she saw first-hand how ecotourism operators are well placed to have a lasting and positive impact on their local communities, which left her determined to be involved with this exciting and influential industry. She enrolled at Bond University, successfully graduating with a qualification in Sustainable Environments and Planning, was awarded a first in class for Environment and Economic Impact Assessment, as well as Planning Processes and received two Dean’s Awards for Academic Excellence.

Shea has held positions as an Intern, Data Entry Officer, Membership Coordinator and Certification Coordinator at Ecotourism Australia and now, as an Ecotourism Specialist, is passionate about building relationships and supporting operators with their journey towards a more sustainable future.

She is a Mental Health First Aider, has completed the AIATSIS Core Cultural Learning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Course and in 2023 was accepted into the QTIC Young Professionals Mentoring Program.

Contact Shea for any enquires regarding Ecotourism Australia’s certification programs and internships.

Corinne Lewis

Sustainable and Ecotourism Specialist

Corinne joined the Ecotourism Australia team, after returning to Brisbane following a 10-year hiatus, living and working in remote Northern Territory and rural Queensland.

Corinne holds a bachelor’s degree in Tourism with majors in Marketing and Management from The University of Canberra. Her long professional career in the Travel and Tourism industry includes over 10 years with Flight Centre’s Global Head Office in various roles, and 3 years with Nitmiluk Tours and Cicada Lodge on the Stunning Nitmiluk Gorge as National Marketing and Partnerships Manager. Corinne was key in driving the Refresh Noosa initiative for Tourism Noosa, the project winning the QTIC Prize for Innovation in 2018.

Corinne is looking forward to utilising her diverse experience to support tourism operators and partner with them through their Ecotourism development and pathway to certification and beyond.

Outside work, Corinne can be found walking with her dog and enjoying cafes, markets and time with family and friends along Brisbane’s beautiful bayside where she now calls home

Martin Lopez Behar

Sustainable and Ecotourism Specialist

Martin started working in the Certification team in February 2023. He has an Accounting Degree and is currently studying a Master’s in Management of Eco and Sustainable Tourism at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. As a Sustainability Specialist, Martin oversees the Strive 4 Sustainability Program, being the primary contact for registered businesses and leads.

Martin has spent time in New Zealand and Southeast Asia before travelling all around Australia, working for many ecotourism certified operators. Martin aims to inspire others about ecotourism and sustainable travel. Outside of work, you will find Martin hiking, diving, and snorkeling.

Annalina Fichtner

Program Co-ordinator

Annalina recently graduated from the Master’s program International Hospitality Management at the University of Angers in France and holds a Bachelor’s in Geography from Kiel University in Germany. 

Her studies as well as her travels have sparked her interest in sustainable tourism and motivated her to become a part of the positive change that is happening in the tourism industry. In her free time, you can find her doing yoga, being on a walk outside or surfing.

Jillian Santry 

Communications & Events Officer

Jillian is a marketing and communications specialist with over 12 years’ experience working in the travel and tourism industry, including 9 years working for Flight Centre as a digital and direct marketing specialist. More recently she worked for Spicers Retreats helping launch the Spicers Scenic Rim Trail 5-day walk, an ecotourism venture in partnership with the Queensland Government.

Jillian has a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Anthropology, Sociology and History and a love of different cultures and the natural world from having travelled extensively. She loves to get out into nature with her family regularly, so appreciates the importance of educating people about the natural world and protecting what we have so that future generations can enjoy it in years to come.

Jessica Yun

Communications COORDINATOR

 Jessica is a skilled marketing and communications professional, with expertise in brand marketing, content creation and stakeholder engagement. Having graduated with a Bachelor degree in Business Management and Communications, she brings to Ecotourism Australia her passion for storytelling and ability to craft meaningful narratives across a range of topics. With her love for travel and experiencing different cultures, Jessica is dedicated to sharing stories that will highlight the importance of sustainability and inspire positive change in the tourism industry.