Two new Skills-based Directors have been appointed to the TNE Board, selected from a strong field of candidates with broad experience and interests.

TNE Board Chair, Paul Carrick, announced today the vacant positions had been filled by Natalie O’Brien and Rosie Koop, who will bring an incredible depth of talent and skill to the TNE Board.

Natalie O’Brien is the current CEO of Melbourne Food & Wine Events, the entity that delivers the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Natalie has also previously worked for Tourism Victoria in marketing, infrastructure and investment roles, bringing a sound understanding of the tourism industry and one of the region’s product pillars, Food and Wine. She also has extensive board experience, currently as a Director on the Parks Victoria Board and the People and Parks Foundation, as well as the Victorian Food Wine and Tourism Council (as Chair), City of Melbourne Hospitality Advisory Board, and The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation.

The second skills-based appointee, Rosie Koop, will bring a wealth of knowledge to Tourism North East’s Arts & Cultural Heritage pillar. She worked as a publisher at Harlequin Enterprises for many years before tree-changing to Glenrowan to run a sheep farm. Since then, her local strategic marketing-based roles have included work for Hothouse Theatre in Wodonga and Centre Against Violence in Wangaratta. She is a recent graduate and now Board member of Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Inc., and an active member of the Advisory Committee for Arts, Culture and Heritage for Wangaratta Council.