Lynda’s role encompasses 73 hotels and more than 12,000 colleagues across two diverse and mature markets. She partners with corporate and hotel leaders to deliver HR Services and IHG People offer in a locally relevant way, taking advantage of the power of IHG’s global brands. 

Starting her career in hotel operations, Lynda then owned her own business for several years and developed her career as senior lecturer in hotel school education, building graduate career programs for industry. She joined IHG in 2006 as Talent Development Manager for InterContinental Sydney before taking on roles of increasing seniority and scope that led her to her current position.

Lynda has a deep passion for engaging and enabling people to reach their potential while contributing to business success. She was instrumental in designing and launching RISE, IHG’s mentoring initiative for female colleagues who aspire to becoming a hotel General Manager.

Michelle has more than 20 years experience in customer service and human resource management, having held senior management roles in the Hospitality, Information Technology and Financial Services sectors.

Michelle has a breadth of experience from undertaking both specialist and general human resource management roles and combines this with general management experience where she transformed and built customer service teams and business units.

Michelle  was appointed Director of Human Resources for TFE Hotels in 2014, with responsibility for human resources strategy and practice including service culture development, learning and organisational development, talent and career development, attraction and selection, rewards and recognition and employment policy.

She has been part of many business change projects and cross functional team to drive improved customer experience, finance transformation, systems implementations and preparation for and delivery of new hotel openings.

Con has over 30 years of Hospitality and Cleaning industry experience. He graduated from University with a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing, and joined Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation where he developed his career over eleven years through a number of Parkroyal properties. As a key member of the team at the then flagship Hotel (Landmark Parkroyal), Con accomplished a great deal in turning the property into one of SPHCs success stories. 

When this task was completed Con sought a position that could best capitalise on his strong rooms background and interest in human resources issues. This coincided with International Hotel Services (IHS) joining the market in housekeeping and labour provision to the Hospitality industry.

Since 1998 Con has been using his Hotel knowledge and experience to build IHS to the successful business it remains today.

Anthony has over ten years’ experience in government with a background in communications, regulation and relationship management. He is the Employer Liaison Officer for the greater Sydney region and the national lead for the accommodation and hospitality sectors. Anthony works with employers to understand their needs and collaborate to develop solutions from a variety of employment services and initiatives.

By working with industry to design employment pathways and investing in unemployed and inexperienced job seekers, we can meet industry’s workforce needs while providing opportunities for people who simply need a job. This is what the NABE has set out to do and Anthony is happy to be able to assist this important initiative.

Joined Hilton in November 2021 as Regional HR Director for Australasia

Prior to Hilton spent 8 years as HR Director for Merlin Entertainments (world’s second largest tourist attraction operator), initially for Australia & New Zealand then in Asia Pacific leadership role

Originally from UK, relocating to Australia in 2012

20 years in HR across a variety of sectors but always with a service orientated ethos

Strong commitment to upholding hospitality as an employer of choice where the most diverse talent can forge unique careers.

Lives in Sydney with husband (Liam) and two children (Betsy and Dexter)

Sam leads the Business team at Mullins Lawyers. He specialises in employment law, including employment relations, industrial relations and health and safety.

Sam combines practical business acumen and a high level of legal expertise to deliver clients with a full range of employment law representation across contentious and non-contentious issues including unfair dismissal, adverse action and discrimination claims an advice on contracts and policies and procedures.

His focus on achieving commercial outcomes makes him a valued advisor to clients across many industries; particularly building & construction, pubs & restaurants, clubs, and hotels, resorts & accommodation, where he also advises on enforcing and restraint of trade issues.

Approachable and pragmatic, Sam has significant experience in large-scale employment litigation across a number of jurisdictions and appears regularly for clients before the Fair Work Commission, the State and Federal Courts, Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland.

Helen has almost 30 years’ experience working within the superannuation sector, predominantly in leadership, consultancy and client facing roles both in the UK and Australia. Helen joined the national Industry Fund for those who live and love Hospitality, Tourism, Recreation and Sport and aligned sectors, Hostplus, 7 years ago and currently leads the national employer and member facing teams in her role as Executive Manager Client Relationships and New Business.

Helen is passionate about championing consumer access to meaningful financial education, guidance and advice to support the achievement of retirement goals and to improve financial literacy. Her passion for the Hospitality and Tourism sector is born from a family history of ownership of travel and hospitality businesses.

Outside of work Helen enjoys family and friend time, good food and wine, travel, walking and tennis.

The inaugural CEO of Accommodation Australia - National, Michael has more than thirty years of experience at the highest levels of the tourism accommodation sector across Australia and New Zealand.

As head of Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA National and NSW) since May 2019, Michael spearheaded the sector’s response to COVID, steering it through its darkest days in more than 100 years and representing the accommodation sector in the halls of power in Canberra and Sydney and in the media. A former long-time general manager of four- and five-star hotels, Michael lives and breathes the industry and is committed to providing all members with the highest levels of service and representation.

As CEO of TAA – and interim CEO of the Accommodation Association of Australia since October 2022 (the first person to hold both roles) – Michael has been pivotal in the amalgamation of Australia’s two peak accommodation bodies – a merger he has described as a long-held “dream come true.”

Michael epitomises the resilience of the accommodation sector and whether it’s encouraging the next generation of young hotel workers to build a successful career in hospitality or drawing attention to the needs of the industry at the highest levels, he is an enthusiastic and effective ambassador for the accommodation sector.