Assistant Professor of Psychology, Dr Peta Stapleton from Bond University’s Faculty of Society and Design has been selected by Gold Coast Tourism as a Business Events Ambassador for the City.
She joins our Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) Professor Keitha Dunstan who was named as one of the inaugural Ambassadors when the program was launched eighteen months ago.
An initiative of the Gold Coast Convention Bureau, the Ambassadors Program brings together Gold Coasters who are internationally recognised as leaders in their respective fields and harnesses their influence to bring congresses, conferences and corporate events to the Gold Coast.
Since the program was established in 2013, the Ambassadors have attracted a total of 7,300 delegates, generating $16 million for the local business economy.
“It is a tremendous honour to have been chosen to join this influential team and I look forward to making my own contribution towards the growth of the Gold Coast’s event portfolio,” said Dr Stapleton.
“I understand that my Bond colleague and fellow Ambassador, Dr Dunstan, has already secured one conference for the city through this program and is in the process of bidding for another so she is already flying the Bond flag with pride.
“Having lived and worked on the Gold Coast for many years, promoting it as a fantastic destination for conferences and business events is an easy ask and will allow me to give back to the city that has given me so much.”
Dr Stapleton has already made a significant contribution to the local community as founder of the Gold Coast Eating Disorders Association Inc and has served as President of the Eating Disorders Association of Queensland numerous times.
A practicing clinical psychologist and researcher of international standing, she also specialises in women’s health and adolescent issues and has been awarded many honours, including the Australian Psychological Society Elaine Dignan Award, the Harvey Baker Research Award for outstanding contribution to the field of Energy Psychology and the Association of Commonwealth Universities’ Early Careers Academic Grant.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have Dr Stapleton on board as one of our newest Ambassadors and congratulate her on this prestigious appointment,” said fellow Ambassador, Dr Dunstan.
“It is also a great tribute for Bond University to have two academics selected for the program and a measure of the high esteem in which our faculty members are held.”
Dr Stapleton was officially inducted into the Gold Coast Business Events Ambassador Program by the Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency, The Honourable Ms Penelope Wensley AC who also serves as the program’s Patron.