GOLD COAST BULLETIN:

Tell us about your existing role in charge of economic development and activation for the City of Perth and how it sets you up to lead Destination Gold Coast?

ANNALIESE BATTISTA:

City of Perth is obviously a larger city, about two million people. My role includes emphasis on economic development through visitation, tourism and events. There is a big emphasis activation — and a growing emphasis on a precinct-based approach — profiling individual neighbourhoods and what they have to offer. From the tourism point of view that’s especially important because it leads to staying and paying. For my sins, I look after the media and communications team, stakeholder engagement, marketing, digital media and campaigns, business support, sponsorship and arts, culture and heritage. In summary, the role is to develop strategies and plans with key stakeholders that develop the local economy and in turn the local community — fantastic role.

GCB:

Give us your CV in short?

This will age me straight away but I have just over 20 years experience in marketing, destination marketing, 15 years in management and leadership roles. I’m used to looking after diverse portfolios — along with marketing, communications and engagement I’ve also looked after team members as diverse as engineers and data managers.

AB: GCB:

What attracted you to lead Destination Gold Coast?

AB:

I wasn’t actively looking. A colleague sent it to me, said ‘You would be perfect’ — he’d previously worked as project manager on the Gold Coast light rail ... When I read all about what Destination Gold Coast was looking for … it’s quite a niche skillset. I thought I’d be the kind of person they are looking for.

Your experience of the Gold Coast?

I love Burleigh Heads, swimming at the beaches, my husband and I will do just about anything on a board. I spent seven years (as a reservist) in the air force and spent time at Amberley and did the trip along the coast from Melbourne to Brisbane or Canberra to Brisbane regularly. Southern Queensland is my favourite place in Australia. The Gold Coast offers the best

GCB: AB:

of everything Australia has to offer — the sea, the sunshine, fantastic people, major attractions like theme parks, shopping and night-life, food and beverage offering?

Your vision for the city? My vision for the Gold Coast is it’s the pre-eminent choice for tourism within Australia and internationally in key markets. Something I’m looking forward to is providing clear direction and leadership. That includes developing a clear vision and strategy for delivering return on investment with the key stakeholders. A guiding principle of mine is we build the city of the Gold Coast by growing our tourism economy — 46,000 jobs are linked to the tourism economy. We can build on that, that actually builds the community and