Australia’s LGBTQ+ Travel Association, GALTA, is proud to announce the newest recruit to its Board with hinterland campaigner and event founder Wayne Parcell recently joining the association’s national team.
GALTA is a not-for-profit membership organisation that has been connecting LGBTQ+ travellers with welcoming holiday experiences around Australia for over 30 years and is operated by a voluntary Board of tourism and travel industry professionals.
GALTA President Louise Terry said that Mr Parcell’s skills and background would further enhance the Board’s strong expertise, spanning aviation and accommodation, trade distribution, destination management and marketing and product development.
“The GALTA Board is excited to welcome Wayne to the team and to harness his global experience and passion for tourism to further benefit our national membership base,” Ms Terry said.
“Recognised for his outstanding contribution to tourism by the Australian Tourist Commission (now Tourism Australia), Wayne has previously worked closely with airlines and tourism operators and was instrumental in driving inbound travel to Australia from key Southeast Asian markets.”
“Wayne is also a strong advocate for community and inclusion, particularly with regards to accessibility needs, respect for First Nations people and culture and supporting creative expression.”
Mr Parcell, also Founder and Director of the Rangebow Festival in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, said that his work in community and events was a strong alignment with GALTA’s role to champion diversity, equity and inclusion.
“I’m so pleased to be joining the GALTA Board to further elevate the profile of LGBTQ+ tourism in Australia, especially for hinterland and regional areas across Australia, where a sense of community is key to the celebration of diversity,” Mr Parcell said.
“The Rangebow Festival is a not-for-profit event with a purpose to elevate individual and community wellbeing through a focus on diversity, creativity, reconciliation and conversation, values that I will bring to GALTA’s important mission to drive inclusive travel in Australia.”
Mr Parcell joins the following current GALTA Board Directors:
Louise Terry, President
Ben Woodward, Vice-President
Rod Stringer, Finance
Dennis Basham, Membership and Socials
Andrew Bartholomew, Corporate Partnerships
Grace Stubbs, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
GALTA is also supported by a voluntary team of representatives including:
Nathan Fleming, Whitsundays and TNQ
Rohan Shearn, Victoria
Adam Bold, Sydney
Mario Paez and Barry Warner, Regional New South Wales
