our team

Dr Naomi Dale

CEO, Canberra Region Tourism Industry Council | University of Canberra

Naomi is an Assistant Professor of Management and lecturer in the Bachelor of Business and the Bachelor of Event and Tourism Management degrees at the University of Canberra. Naomi has been teaching and researching in the Tourism Discipline at UC since 2006 and prior to that was a travel agent working in Canberra and Melbourne. Naomi’s Ph.D. investigated destination choice by school excursion groups in Australia. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Canberra Region Tourism Industry Council, coordinator of the Visitor Research Forum and a board member of the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC). Naomi’s research is concerned with Learning and Engagement in Tourism. This incorporates research in the specific areas of educational tourism, policy impacts of curriculum, and visitor research at cultural institutions and national capital attractions. It also captures emerging research interest in the application of social media, and strategies for engagement through e-platforms (in teaching, tourism and events). Other key areas are around consumer behaviour and marketing.

Garry Watson

NCETP Program Leader

Garry has been part of the ACT tourism sector for 30 years, and the Project Leader of the National Capital Educational Tourism Project (NCETP) since 1999. Under his leadership the NCETP has had a significant impact on the ACT tourism region with educational visitors injecting 140 million economic value to the ACT annually. Previous to this, Garry worked extensively in the ACT attractions sector including running visitor services and public programs at the National Film and Sound Archive and providing electoral education for the National Electoral Education Centre. He has also been a market research consultant, with a speciality in facilitating search conferences.

Garry has been a key part of the National Capital Attractions Association and Canberra Region Tourism Awards (CRTA) for many years. After 10 years as Chair of Judges for the CRTA, in 2016 Garry was appointed the Chair of Judges for the Australian Tourism Awards concluding at the end of 2018. Garry has been awarded the Canberra Region Tourism Awards, 2001 Outstanding Contribution by an Individual Award and has recently been included as a Member in the Order of Australia (General Division) for his services to tourism.

Debra Beetham

General Manager

Debra manages the National Capital Attractions Association and Canberra Region Tourism Industry Council, which includes the coordination of the Canberra Region Tourism Awards program and events, Quality Tourism Accreditation and Star Ratings. She has an extensive background in leading and inspiring tourism services in the Canberra Region. With over 20 years in experience, Debra brings a multifaceted understanding of high-quality tourism experiences from her various roles with major Canberra tourism attractions, including the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Questacon and the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Debra has thrived on working on exciting events such as Enlighten and the G20 Summit, through to successful delivery of numerous successful Canberra Region Tourism Awards Galas. Debra is a board member of the National Capital Attractions Association and holds a Post- Graduate Degree in Business Management from the University of Canberra. Debra is passionate about high quality tourism and educational experiences as a way to increase and sustain tourism in the Canberra Region.