New appointee to lead Tourism WA and Western Australia’s jobs agenda

The Western Australian Government has announced the appointment of Rebecca Brown as Chief Executive of Tourism WA and Director General of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (WADJTSI).

Brown, who served as Department of Health Deputy Director General where she oversaw transformational change to deliver better outcomes for the community, was appointed after a formal process run by Western Australia’s Public Sector Commission.

Brown takes on her role at the ‘super department’ at a time when Western Australia is battling declining international visitor numbers while the rest of the country experiences a tourism boom.

As a result, the Western Australian Government has this year dismissed WADJTSI’s last Director General Stephen Wood, who received a $500,000 payout and WADJTSI Deputy Director-General of International Education, Trade and Investment Rob Delane.

In her new role, Brown is being tasked with helping to increase the contribution of tourism to Western Australia’s economy while also providing strategic leadership to the development and implementation of our strategies and the Two-Year Action Plan to grow tourism and engage with a range of public and private sector stakeholders.

In addition, as Chief Executive of Tourism WA, Brown will report to the Tourism WA Board, and be supported by the soon-to-be-recruited Managing Director of Tourism WA.

The Managing Director will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of Tourism WA and will work closely with the Board.

Brown will commence in her new role as of 3rd September.