Janet Mackay

Penny Spoelder

Senior Consultant | Canberra, Australia

A sustainable tourism expert, Penny has more than 30 years’ experience working in tourism planning, destination development, sustainable tourism and project delivery. With extensive public sector experience, she is invaluable for TRC’s destination development projects.
Penny’s expertise and focus on industry consultation has been instrumental in the delivery of projects involving national and local governments, private sector, community organisations, Indigenous communities and NGOs. She has led the planning and management of some of Australia’s most notable destinations and worked extensively in Australia in New Zealand, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Niue, Cook Islands and other Pacific nations. Her work has won numerous awards for the design and delivery of sustainable tourism projects.
Penny is a Director of the Destination Network for Southern NSW providing strategic direction for destination development in South East NSW, Australia. Penny is also a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

Strengths

  • Strategy and leadership on complex projects through pragmatic design and delivery with outstanding results
  • Excellent communicator and facilitator working side by side with community and stakeholders on complex projects
  • Extensive experience working on a wide range of economic, social and environmental initiatives, business feasibility and assessment.

Project Highlights

  • Central Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Area Benefits Assessment, Victoria Government
  • Sustainable Tourism Master Plan, Magnetic Island, Queensland
  • Great Ocean Road Regional Trails Strategy and Guidelines, Great Ocean Road Coastal Authority
  • Five Headlands Trail Feasibility , Kempsey Shire Council
  • NSW Primary Industries, Review of Non-Timber Values, NSW State Forests, NSW Government
  • Gunaikurnai Joint Management Plan for 10 parks and reserves, Victorian Government
  • Gippsland Destination Management Plan, Destination Gippsland
  • 12 Apostles Master Plan Stage 1 and Stage 2 (tourism advisor), Grimshaw Architects
  • Goldfields WHA Sustainable Tourism Toolkit, Victorian Government
  • Great Australian Wine Trail, Feasibility Assessment, South Australia
  • SA Parks Aboriginal Co – Management Review, South Australia
  • Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Royal National Park Visitor Services Review, NSW Government
  • Central Coast Eco Tourism Study, Central Coast Council
  • Sovereign Hill Master Plan (tourism advisor), Grimshaw Architects
  • Tourism Infrastructure and Investment Analysis, Fraser Coast, (QLD)
  • Tourism Infrastructure and Experience Audit of ACT and Region (ACT)
  • Business Case and Feasibility Assessment Great South Coast Walk (NSW)
  • Maria Island Ecotourism Feasibility Assessment (TAS)
  • Outer Eastern Region Mountain Bike Strategy (VIC)
  • Canberra Mountain Bike Strategy (ACT)
  • Mogo Adventure Trails Hub (NSW)
  • Attracting foreign investment in nature-based tourism in Australia (Austrade and Tourism Australia)
  • Maria Island Scoping, Feasibility and Options Analysis (TAS)
  • Mulligans Flat Concept and interpretation plan (ACT)
  • Tasmanian Visitor Engagement Blueprint (TAS)
  • Phillip Island San Remo Tourism Strategy 2016- 2035 (VIC)

International Projects

  • Pacific Sustainable Tourism Standard, Pacific Tourism Organization
  • Cook Islands Sustainable Tourism Strategy –Advisor, Cook Islands Tourism
  • Recovery Planning – ADB PSDI Private Sector Development Initiative, Asia Development Bank -Niue and Royal Marshall Islands
  • Tourism Resilience Framework, Private Sector Development Initiative, Asia Development Bank
  • Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework and Action Plan, New Zealand Government
  • NEOM Sustainable Tourism Planning Advisor, Saudi Arabia

Hear More From Penny