NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres congratulated 16 students on their academic achievements and acknowledged the importance of professional training to the tourism industry.

“These Awards celebrate the achievements of our State’s best students who represent the future of tourism and hospitality,” Mr Ayres said.

“Our tourism industry is all about delivering outstanding experiences every day – making sure visitors enjoy their stay, tell others and return year after year.

“Providing world-class service demands the dedication and commitment of the thousands of individuals employed by our tourism businesses and it is my pleasure to honour the next generation of tourism staff and operators.”

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said the students’ commitment to excellence would see them well placed to deliver fantastic visitor experiences throughout their careers.

“These students will make an important contribution to the NSW tourism industry in coming years and, as the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, we are delighted to acknowledge and support their professional development,” Ms Chipchase said.

Students from NSW education institutions offering degrees, diplomas and certificate courses in tourism and hospitality studies can be nominated for the Awards. To be eligible, students must have completed one year of their studies and be a resident of NSW.

The 2016 Minister’s Student Achiever Award recipients:

  • Ashleigh Barnes
    Certificate III in Tourism
    TAFE NSW, Illawarra (Bega Campus)
  • Emma Blanshard
    Diploma of Tourism and Travel
    TAFE NSW, Northern Sydney Institute (Brookvale)
  • Nicholas Cachia
    Certificate III in Travel
    Australian Pacific College (Kent Street)
  • Oksana Diadyk
    Advanced Diploma of Travel and Tourism
    TAFE NSW, South Western Sydney Institute
  • Dominic Elmaloglou
    Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
    TAFE NSW, North Coast Institute (Coffs Harbour Education Campus)
  • Kyle Ferguson
    Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
    TAFE NSW, Riverina Institute (Albury Campus)
  • Danielle Fuller
    Bachelor of Business (Hospitality Management)
    William Blue College of Hospitality Management
  • Anthony Hiscox
    Future Club Leaders Program, Diploma of Management
    Barrington Training Services
  • Natalie Johnson
    Certificate III in Travel
    TAFE NSW, Western Sydney Institute
  • Jacqueline Jones
    Bachelor of Tourism Management
    Western Sydney University
  • Amy Lawry
    Bachelor of Business (International Hotel & Resort Management)
    Blue Mountains Hotel Management School & Torrens University
  • Katie Lee
    Bachelor of Business (Tourism)
    The University of Newcastle
  • Kylie Monckton
    Bachelor of Business (Tourism & Hospitality Management)
    Southern Cross University (Lismore Campus)
  • Zoe Saunders
    Diploma of Hospitality
    TAFE NSW, Hunter Institute (Hamilton Campus)
  • Chelsea Smailes
    Bachelor of Business (Hotel Management)
    The Hotel School Sydney
  • Clare Wang
    Bachelor of Management (Tourism)
    University of Technology Sydney

Download a PDF version of this media release (PDF 167 kb)

Learn more about the Minister’s Student Achiever Awards