Professor Elizabeth Roberts, Associate Dean, Stakeholder Engagement in the Bond Business School, has been appointed a Director of Broadbeach Alliance Ltd.
She joins Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach General Manager, Mr Marcus Hanna and Pacific Fair Centre Manager, Sandra Livingstone as the new appointees to the Broadbeach Alliance board, all of whom have been appointed for four-year terms.
The Alliance, which is wholly owned by Gold Coast City Council, promotes and manages the precinct of Broadbeach, communicating with all of the businesses, accommodation providers and residents to ensure positive results for the area and managing its events, including the popular Blues on Broadbeach festival.
Professor Roberts said it is a real privilege to have been appointed the Directorship.
“Broadbeach is obviously an important community that Bond University serves, and I welcome the opportunity to act as a liaison with the aim of strengthening this relationship,” said Professor Roberts.
“Through my involvement with a number of Gold Coast tourism organisations, including the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, I have already had the pleasure of working with many tourism operators who call Broadbeach home. I look forward to broadening the scope of this engagement to the larger Broadbeach business community,” she said.
As Foundation Head of Bond’s School of Hotel, Resort and Tourism Management and a former academic at the prestigious Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in the United States, Professor Roberts’ industry expertise and widespread connections both nationally and abroad are set to be of significant benefit to the Broadbeach Alliance.
“It is my hope that my extensive international tourism and hotel management experience will assist in promoting the diverse and high quality products that Broadbeach businesses have to offer to local residents, domestic and international visitors alike.
“I also look forward to helping steer the strategic direction of Broadbeach Alliance to ensure the precinct is ideally positioned to take advantage of the opportunities presented by a number of upcoming projects and events, including the light rail, the expansion of Jupiter’s Casino and preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“One of my key objectives when we launched the School of Hotel, Resort and Tourism Management at Bond was to build upon the University’s fine reputation in relation to our extensive industry ties and encourage collaboration with industry. This role is not only a wonderful opportunity to broaden my own understanding of the day-to-day challenges facing Broadbeach business operators, it also represents a chance for me to give back to the community,” Professor Roberts said.
Council CEO, Dale Dickson, who was authorised to make the appointments on behalf of the Council, said the Company Constitution provided for a merit-based appointment process, with appointees generally having to be business persons based in the Broadbeach precinct.
However, Mr Dickson was of the view that Professor Roberts possessed relevant management skills and experience and her stakeholder engagement role at the University would enable her to bring a different and valuable perspective to the board table.
Broadbeach Alliance Ltd Chairman, Matthew Brown said he was looking forward to working with Professor Roberts.
"I am delighted with the appointment of Professor Elizabeth Roberts to the board of Broadbeach Alliance Ltd,” said Mr Brown.
“Professor Roberts will bring a fresh and diverse knowledge base to our organisation and we welcome the independence and link to the broader community this appointment has to the board".