Executive Discussion Panel

Over the past 45 years, Harvey Lister has been involved in the presentation of over 40,000 events spanning sports, arts, conventions, exhibitions, and live entertainment and is a well-known figure in the major venues and events industry.

Dedicated to the positive development of his home town of Brisbane, the State of Queensland, and of the tourism and leisure industries in general, Mr Lister currently holds the following positions:

• Director, Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) Australia’s peak tourism industry group
• Director, Advisory Board, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Brisbane
• Member of the Australian Federal Government’s ‘Beyond Tourism 2020 Steering Committee’
• Advisory Board Member, the Committee for Brisbane
• Member, Olympic Games Advisory Board for South East Queensland Council of Mayors
• Member, CEO Circle, National Rugby League (NRL)
• Advisory Board Member, Courier Mail Children’s Fund

Past involvements in sports and tourism have included:

• Chairman, Sydney Kings National Basketball League (NBL) Team
• Trustee, Brisbane Cricket Ground Trust (The Gabba)
• Director, Queensland Events Corporation
• Director, Brisbane Marketing
• Director, Brisbane Bullets NBL Team
• Director, Ticketek Australia
• Marketing Committee Member, 1982 Commonwealth Games
• Director, the 1991 Australian Masters Games
• Director, 1994 World Gymnastics Championships

A passionate and engaging advocate for the industry, Mr Lister has been made an Adjunct Professor by the University of Queensland Business School, and has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Griffith University, Queensland, for his contribution to tourism and entertainment.

Mr Lister’s contribution to the growth and development of the venue management industry is demonstrated through his involvement with the Venue Management Association (VMA) Asia and Pacific. A Founding Member, Mr Lister has been awarded Honorary Life Membership in recognition of his long and dedicated service to the VMA and its Members.

Recognition for his contribution to the industry has been garnered with the receipt of awards such as:

• Inducted as an ‘Australian Tourism Legend’ at the Australian Tourism Awards (2017)
• The Lord Mayor’s ‘Legend of Brisbane’ Award (2013)
• ‘Premier’s Special Award’ at the Queensland Export Awards (2012)
• Australian Centenary Medal by the Federal Government of Australia (2002)
• ‘Most Outstanding Contributor to the Queensland Pop Music Scene’ by the Qld Pop Awards (1975)
• Duke of Edinburgh Award (1970).

As Chairman and Chief Executive of ASM Global (Asia Pacific), Mr Lister leads some 20,000 employees across Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

Stephen Wicks has recently shifted industries to Aged Care. Prior to his new appointment, Stephen was General Manager at the Tradewinds Hotel East Fremantle and before that CEO of the Western Australian Turf Club (WATC). Stephen has held senior management roles that have involved hotel and event operations, marketing and media, property development, corporate travel, facility and grounds management, government relations, and wagering operations.

While WA-born, Stephen’s career has seen him work in Sydney, Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Margaret River and Perth. Stephen holds an MBA (Exec) from UNSW, and is an Adjunct Professor at UQ Business School.

Adele is a partner at Deloitte Access Economics’ economic and policy advisory practice, where she leads the firm’s tourism, aviation and hotels business.

Prior to joining Deloitte, Adele held executive roles with Tourism Australia and with industry peak body Tourism & Transport Forum.  

As the former head of strategy at Tourism Australia and member of their executive leadership team, she was responsible for the development and delivery of the organisation’s long-term strategic direction and market framework and led Tourism Australia’s work towards Tourism 2020.  She was also responsible for the agency’s research program, collaborating with all the states and territories to expand the successful Consumer Demand Project.

As Executive Director at the Tourism & Transport Forum, she worked with executives across a broad range of companies and institutions to develop and implement successful advocacy programs resulting in public policy change and deliver strategic initiatives and research-based publications and reports to inform industry and influence decision makers. 

She has been a member of the Tourism Research Advisory Board, the Tourism Forecasting Reference Panel, the Tourism Visa Advisory Group and other industry panels and committees and has contributed to the development of a number of tourism employment plans and other government and industry studies.

Adele has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Business and Tourism and an MBA focused on strategic management.  She is also an adjust professor at the UQ Business School.

Daniel Gschwind is the CEO for QTIC – Queensland’s peak tourism industry body with more than 2000 regional members.

Daniel represents QTIC on various committees and advisory boards including the Tourism Research Advisory Board, University of Queensland Industry Advisory Board, the Griffith Institute for Tourism Advisory Board, the Bond University Regional Advisory Board, the GBRMPA Tourism Reef Advisory Committee (TRAC) and the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC). He is a member of Jobs Queensland and is the deputy chair of the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) and is chair of Australian Tourism Awards.

Daniel is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland Business School. He is the Honorary Consul of Switzerland for Queensland.

Daniel holds an honours degree in economics from the University of Queensland and has worked as a senior economist with Queensland Treasury. He is a Vice Patron of Surf Life Saving Queensland, and an Ambassador for the Queensland Museum Foundation, the Queensland Plan, and the World Tourism Forum. Daniel is also on the Inspiring Australia – Queensland program reference group.

He has previously been involved in yacht charter operations in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean for ten years.