Director, Arbold Consulting & Chair Mentor Panel

Derek Shepherd is a sales and marketing professional with an extensive background in the aviation, hospitality and tourism industries.

He has been employed in the airline, tourism and hospitality industries for over 40 years, with the past 25 years at senior/executive management level with a number of high profile international companies including Ansett International (General Manager International Sales; Regional Marketing Manager Asia & Japan), Ansett Australia (Director of International Sales), Hayman Island Resort (Director of Sales & Marketing), QANTAS (Regional Cargo Director U.K./Europe; State General Manager South Australia and Passenger Sales & Marketing Manager U.K./Ireland)

He has been based, at various times, in the U.K., Hong Kong, and Australia with responsibilities covering all major international markets.

He is a founding member and Deputy Chair of Tourism Macedon Ranges Inc., a past Chair of Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges Tourism Inc., and a member of the Hanging Rock Development Advisory Committee.

He has been a member of Tourism Australia's Industry Advisory Panels for Asia, Japan, U.K./Europe, The Americas and New Zealand, a member of the Australian Tourism Export Council and a past Chairman of the Adelaide Convention & Tourism Authority.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Sales & Marketing Management (U.K), a Fellow of the Institute of Travel & Tourism (U.K) and is currently a Director of Arbold Consulting, a tourism and hospitality advisory business.

Derek was a Victorian Tourism Awards judge for three years prior to becoming a member of the Mentor Panel three years ago.