Anita Donnelly has been a Director of the ARTN since August 2009.
Anita started her tourism career in international student exchange programs, promoting the benefits of studying overseas following on from personal experiences. Anita's qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) from RMIT University and a Master of Tourism from Monash University. Through her studies Anita worked in The Netherlands, Thailand and Estonia and loves travelling at every opportunity. Whilst completing her undergraduate degree, Anita worked at the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) which has 20 Victorian attractions, the majority regional, in the areas of marketing and tourism.
Following this role she moved into event management with roles at ParaQuad Victoria and Racing Victoria Limited which saw her managing major national events (and enjoying the races!). Joining Tourism Alliance Victoria in December 2007, Anita took on the role of Industry Development for the betterment of tourism across the State, in particular in the regional areas. In this role she visited all 79 Victorian Local Government Areas assisting in the areas of destination management, strategy, planning, event advice, structures and industry development. Anita also undertook major research projects for the Wimmera Mallee and Central Victoria which has now resulted in Goulburn River Valley Regional Tourism Organisation being established.
As the industry began consolidating resources Anita was promoted into the role of Deputy CEO, Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) and Victoria Events Industry Council (VEIC) as well as Executive Officer, Hotel, Motel and Accommodation Association (HMAA) and Backpacker Operators Alliance of Victoria (BOAV) and one of her main achievements was successfully managing the inaugural Victoria Tourism Week in 2010. Anita has now been given the honour to join Yarra Ranges Regional Marketing Limited and to lead the tourism and event recovery for Marysville and Surrounds.
Anita currently sits on the Young Australian Tourism Export Council (YATEC) Board, has been an active Director with the Australian Regional Tourism Network (ARTN) since mid-2009 and is a member of the Young Tourism Network. Anita loves our unique cities yet having spent 18 years in Tasmania she also loves escaping them and wishes all international visitors would do the same. Being an ARTN Director is an important role so Anita can raise Victoria’s issues to a National level. Having worked in and on attractions, battled for the ‘little guys’ in her industry role, been a policy influencer at VECCI and successful events manager, these are skills Anita brings to ARTN and skills she believes are needed to uplift ARTN to an even higher position of authority and conviction in our Australian tourism industry.