At the Sunshine Coast Destination Limited (SCDL) Annual General Meeting held at Novotel Twin Waters today, three new members were welcomed to the Board of Directors.

Mark Skinner, Fraser Green, and William Darby will join existing board members: Chair Barrie Adams, Rodger Powell, Jane Fraser, John Hall, Ian McNicol, David Thompson, and Company Secretary David Wright.

SCDL CEO Steve Cooper said the nine nominees who stood for election possessed an outstanding calibre of knowledge and experience in management and business.

“The new board members will bring a wealth of awareness and understanding of the tourism industry to our existing Board, and we are excited to be working with them,” Mr Cooper said.

“We would also like to acknowledge the services of retiring board member Greg Laverty and thank him for his contribution to SCDL,” Mr Cooper added.
The nominees were:

• Birte Benecke-Uhrig
• Fraser Green
• Geoffrey Rickard
• Gregory McGrath
• Mark Skinner
• Martin Duncan
• Scott Derwin
• Wade Batty
• William Darby

Fraser Green

I am passionate about the successful promotion of the Sunshine Coast and recognition of the attributes that each sub region has to offer.
I have been actively involved in tourism for 20 years, the past 3 years I been a member of the Central Area Reference Group and Destination Advisory Panel. Being on the body corporate committees of 3 accommodation and retail complexes also assists me in understanding the challenges faced by business owners including accommodation operators.

My business, Sundaze, a successful chain of women’s casual fashion and speciality swimwear stores, employs 35 staff and operates from 6 locations across the Gold & Sunshine Coasts including Cotton Tree, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba with our head office at Warana. Retailing National and International brands including our own Australian & Overseas manufactured garments, Sundaze epitomises the professional standards and relaxed lifestyle that our tourists expect from a destination such as the Sunshine Coast.

Mark Skinner

Mark is an accomplished manager and professional with experience in the tourism, service, retail, education and manufacturing sectors with extensive knowledge in marketing, strategic planning, financial management, the development of information technology systems, human resource management and business administration.

He owns and manages Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, a boutique Montville hotel which recently won the Queensland Tourism Award for Hosted Accommodation, enjoying strong local, domestic and international clientele.

He has been secretary of Hinterland Tourism Sunshine Coast and is passionate about the development of the region as a world class destination He is  currently Chair of  Hinterland Destination Advisory Panel and President of Skal International Sunshine Coast, recently representing the Sunshine Coast at the Skal International World Congress in Korea.
He is a director of Rosshaven Marine, a major marine repair facility in Townsville. Mark holds a Master of Business Administration and is an accomplished IT and social media expert.

At 46 years old, Bill has been a Sunshine Coast resident for 20 years and since 1994 has successfully owned and operated tourism focused business, from Marcoola to Pelican Waters. Combining his passion for real estate and tourism, Bill directed his company’s growth from project marketing into management rights and currently operates Caloundra’s Rumba Beach Resort.

In 2007, Bill received his MBA from USC and now serves on the USC Foundation Board. He is also the Tourism Chair with the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Queensland Government’s expert panel on red-tape reduction for liquor and gaming.

The Directors meet on a monthly basis in different locations throughout the region