New tourism leadership for new era

A two-term chairman of the Australian Tourist Commission will head the Tourism Queensland Board, Tourism Minister Margaret Keech announced today.

Mrs Keech said Don Morris AO would lead the Board and Tourism Queensland into a new era for the industry in Queensland.

“Don Morris is superbly credentialled to take on this role. He served for seven years on the Board of the Australian Tourist Commission (now Tourism Australia), with two terms as chairman,” she said.

“He brings years of experience at the highest levels of marketing and tourism to the position and will work closely with me to continue to implement the exciting Queensland Tourism Strategy.”

Mr Morris was a founder of award-winning advertising agency Mojo and chairman until his retirement from Mojo in 1995. He also helped found The Tourism Taskforce (now Tourism and Transport Forum) and has served on a number of other boards.

Mr Morris replaces Sunshine Coast businessman Peter Wade, who stood down as chair recently to concentrate on business and charity interests.

Mrs Keech said Mr Morris would provide strong leadership of the Board.

“He has been a great contributor since his appointment to the TQ Board in 2005,” she said.

“He acknowledges we are entering an exciting new era for tourism in Queensland under the QTS and will play an important role in implementation of the industry blueprint.”

Mrs Keech also announced that Executive Director International Anthony Hayes would fill the role of TQ Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of Ian Mitchell.

“Anthony Hayes is highly regarded both within TQ and the industry and will guide the organisation until a replacement CEO is recruited,” she said.

“We will be advertising nationally and I am confident we will attract a quality pool of applicants for the position.”

Media contact: Jo Gibbons 3224 2007

DON MORRIS AO CV

Don Morris has spent his 40-year career in advertising, brand building and as a professional company director.

He was Managing Director of D’Arcy MacManus & Masius Advertising until joining Alan Morris and Allan Johnston (Mo and Jo) as the third principal to launch the Mojo Australia advertising agency in 1979. He was Chairman until his retirement from Mojo in 1995.

Mojo was responsible for many iconic brand advertising campaigns, including the long running ‘I still call Australia Home’ for Qantas, the Paul Hogan ‘Shrimp on the Barbie’ international campaign for the Australian Tourist Commission, ‘I can feel a Fourex Coming On’ for Castlemaine Perkins Brewery, Australian Airlines from its launch in 1986 until its eventual acquisition by Qantas, ‘Too good to be true’ for Mirage Resorts, and ‘Come on Aussie C’mon’ for World Series Cricket.

Mr Morris was a founder and inaugural Deputy Chairman of the tourism industry’s peak advocacy group, The Tourism Taskforce (now Tourism and Transport Forum) and is a life member of its Board of Governors.

He was an active participant in the successful Sydney 2000 Olympics Bid team, being Chairman of the Sydney 2000 Community Support committee and a member of the Sydney 2000 Communications Commission.

In 1993 Mr Morris was appointed to the board of the Australian Tourist Commission, and served two terms as Chairman until his retirement from the Commission in 2000.

He was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in the Queen’s Birthday Australian Honours in 2002 for services to tourism.

Past and present Public Company board directorships and statutory authority boards include: Mojo MDA Group Limited; R M Williams Holdings Ltd; Tourism Assets Holdings Limited, former owner of all Accor’s Australian hotels; Chairman, Australian Tourist Commission; Port Douglas Reef Resorts Ltd (hotel owners and tourism operators in North Queensland); PMP Ltd (Australia’s largest printing and media services company); Deputy Chairman, Harvey World Travel Ltd (Australia’s largest retail travel agent franchise company);Hamilton Island Enterprises Ltd;