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 The Steering Committee for Australia Week (G'Day USA) is chaired by
The Hon John Olsen, Australian Consul General in New York.
The membership of the Committee is comprised of Michelle Gysberts, Vice President, The Americas, Tourism Australia; Wally Mariani, Senior Executive Vice President of Qantas; Innes Willox, Consul General in Los Angeles; Sally Ann Watts, Senior Trade Commissioner, Austrade Los Angeles and Gerard Seeber, Senior Trade Commissioner, Austrade New York |
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The Hon. John Olsen AO was Australian Consul-General in Los Angeles from 2002 to 2006 and Premier of South Australia 1996 to 2001. During his term,
Mr Olsen initiated and developed the Australia Week concept. From it’s inception in 2004, the event has now grown to become arguably the largest foreign country promotion held annually in the United States.
Mr Olsen is a Fellow of the National Institute of Accountants. He and his wife Julie have three children and three grandchildren. His interests are barefoot water skiing, swimming and the gym. |
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Wally Mariani was appointed to his current position as Senior Executive Vice President, The Americas and Pacific, in January 2000. In June 2001, the position was relocated from Sydney to Los Angeles, where the Marianis are currently living. In this position, his responsibilities cover Qantas operations in America, Canada, South America, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. He had held numerous management positions during his career which began in 1965 at Australian Airlines. During his 42-year career in the airline industry, he has lived in America on three separate occasions. His wife, Barbara, is an American and they have a daughter, Jessica.
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Michelle Gysberts was appointed Vice President, The Americas for Tourism Australia in October 2007. Michelle has been with TA for the past four years as Partnership Development Director for the region.
Originally from just "East of Sydney," Michelle's background has focussed predominantly on the hospitality industry not only Down Under but also London, Dubai and Amsterdam. Her career includes extensive experience in tourism marketing in the hospitality sector, senior sales and marketing positons in the hotel industry, a television network, and owning her own marketing consultancy company.
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 Innes Willox
Australian Consul-General
Los Angeles
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Before taking up his post in Los Angeles, Mr Willox served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2006 with direct policy responsibility for Australia's relations with the United States and international crime and terrorism issues. Mr Willox has also held a number of private sector and government positions including Senior Manager Public Affairs (International and Corporate) with Singapore Airlines, Federal political correspondent, The Age.
Mr Willox is married and has three children. |
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 Sally-Ann Watts
Senior Trade Commissioner
Austrade, Los Angeles
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As Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner for the West USA region, Sally-Ann Watts oversees 8 regional offices, including Honolulu, Las Vegas and San Diego/Orange County, as well as the work of her own office in Los Angeles. Prior to being appointed to this position Ms Watts was Senior Trade Commissioner and Consul-General for the Australian Consulate-General Toronto. During her time in Toronto Ms Watts was a member of the inaugural G’Day Toronto 2007 Steering Committee.
Ms Watts was born in Bendigo, Victoria and is married with three daughters. |
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