Phillipa Harrison promoted to Managing Director

Tourism Australia has today confirmed Phillipa Harrison as the organisation's new Managing Director.

Ms Harrison was previously Tourism Australia's Executive General Manager International, overseeing a network of international offices spanning 12 countries and managing airline relationships and distribution channels.

The promotion sees Ms Harrison become the national tourism organisation's first ever female head and comes after a period of several months during which she has held the Managing Director role in an acting capacity.

Tourism Australia Chairman, Bob East, said Ms Harrison had been a stand-out candidate in the interview process.

"Phillipa has made an enormous contribution in her three years at Tourism Australia. She has great support in the industry and I am confident that Tourism Australia is in the best of hands," he said.

Ms Harrison said the opportunity to lead Australia's national tourism organisation represented a career high.

"I couldn't be happier or prouder to be given the chance to head up the Tourism Australia team. This is a period of change, challenge and opportunity for our industry," she said.

"With competition for the global travel wallet and the demands of the international traveller ever increasing and both global and Australian tourism facing a number of significant headwinds, the need for a strong, cohesive and united industry has never been greater.

"My focus is very much on making sure that Tourism Australia continues to lead from the front, through creative and high impact marketing but also through the important distribution and partnership platforms we provide to industry."

Ms Harrison takes up the new position immediately.