Tourism Queensland’s Best Job in the World Top 50 announced

A charity fundraiser, dance instructor, physiotherapist, chef, radio DJ, scientist, actor, interpreters, adventurers, students, television journalists and photographers are among Tourism Queensland’s Top 50 candidates for the Best Job in the World, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle today revealed.

Releasing the much-anticipated list, Ms Boyle said the candidates came from 22 countries across the globe: the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, Russia, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, Greece, Ireland, India, China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Guam, New Zealand, Kenya and Australia.

“Tourism Queensland’s offices across the globe have been burning the midnight oil short-listing the 34,684 applications for Islands of the Great Barrier Reef caretaker,” she said.

“Yesterday, a team of Tourism Queensland marketing and international staff along with a professional recruitment company made the very tough decisions necessary to cut the short-list to the Top 50.

“I understand it was a robust discussion but what it boiled down to was the motivation and professionalism of the applicants and their ‘fit’ with the job and Tourism Queensland.

“The top 50 videos are now online on the campaign website: www.islandreefjob.com and make for compulsive and entertaining viewing.

“There’s everything from action and adventure, comedy, animation and a choreographed musical number that just stays with you!”

The Top 50 will be narrowed down to a final 11, ten of whom will be chosen by Tourism Queensland, and an 11th ’wild card’ applicant chosen by popular vote.

These top 10 and the wild card candidate will fly to Hamilton Island in early May to take part in the final selection process with the successful candidate announced on May 6.

The successful applicant will begin work on July 1.

Ms Boyle said the worldwide response to Tourism Queensland’s global marketing campaign had been nothing short of phenomenal.

The campaign offers a unique ‘Island Caretaker’ role – an $AUD150,000 contract for six months - based on Hamilton Island exploring the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

“The campaign has largely relied on public relations and social networking activity,” she said.

“It’s captured the imagination of the world and to date it’s generated more than $70 million in publicity value.

“Apart from brilliant television, radio and newspaper coverage, the campaign has been the catalyst for special online discussion groups, bulletin boards, blogs and websites with applicants critiquing their competition, having detailed discussions and swapping ideas and tips.

“Of course there are some people who are disappointed at not making the Top 50, but Tourism Queensland has also received many wonderful messages from candidates thanking them for the opportunity to participate.

“Many said they really enjoyed making the videos, learning about the Great Barrier Reef and they’ve made some great friends.

“The key for Tourism Queensland and the wider Queensland tourism industry is to convert this phenomenal global interest into visitors to Queensland.

“I know Tourism Queensland is busy working with tourism operators and international wholesalers and I hope to be able to share more news about that soon.”

For further information on the selection process, including timelines, visit www.islandreefjob.com.

Shortlisted 50 Applicants – Under strict embargo until 10am Qld time 3 March 09
To view applicants visit www.islandreefjob.com

Applicant Name Region Country of Origin
Mark Ashbuy Sherman Oaks, California United States
Chris Bray Sydney, New South Wales Australia
Anny Chih Burnaby, British Columbia Canada
Sandra Crane Bethlahem, Connecticut United States
Rafaelito DeAusen Barrigada Guam
Achim Dold Emmendingen, Baden -Wurttemberg Germany
Christine Estima Toronto, Ontario Canada
Clarke Gayford Auckland New Zealand
Ben Henry Lyon, Rhone-Aples France
Magali Heuberger Amsterdam Netherlands
James Hill Shute Harbour, Queensland Australia
Linda Hoang Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Kim Jagtiani Mumbai India
Kiran Jethwa Nairobi Kenya
Hamish Johnston Melbourne, Victoria New Zealand
George Karellas Bettystown, County Meath Ireland
Juweon Kim Seoul Korea
Mieko Kobayashi Tokyo Japan
Cali Lewis Dallas, Texas United States
Sarah Louise Lane Angel, London United Kingdom
Gina Maeng Seochogu, Seoul Korea
Sheree Marris Elwood, Victoria Australia
Felippe Mela Stockholm Sweden
Sam Miyano Pitt Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Japan
Jackie Miao Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia
Kat Mitsopoulos Athens Greece
Mitchell Moffit Guelph, Ontario Canada
Marcella Moser Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
Mirjam Novak Nueremburg, Bavaria Germany
Angelene Orth New York United States
Greg Reynen Singapore Singapore
Anjaan RJ Bangalore India
Steven Rogers Tyler, Texas United States
Erik Rolfsen Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
Melissa Schenk Stratford, Ontario Canada
Manon Schmidin Mundolsheim, Alsace France
Holly Smale Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
Ben Southall Petersfield, Hampshire United Kingdom
Adeline St.Romain Los Angeles, California United States
Douglas Stidolph Guildford, Surrey United Kingdom
Nila Tanzil Jakarta Indonesia
Hailey Turner Brisbane, Queensland Australia
Iris van Nispen Utrecht Netherlands
Clare Wang Banciao, Taipei Taiwan
Karyna Wallace Zushi, Kanagawa Japan
David Whitehill Gold Coast, Queensland Australia
Jimmy Wong Singapore Singapore
Julia Yalovitsyna Pertozavodsk, Karelia Russia
Yi Yao Guangzhou, Guandong China
Ying Yu Beijing China


Further information:
Tourism Minister – 07 3225 1005
Tourism Queensland – 07 3535 5588