Courtney Somerville

Management of facilities; Ningaloo Aquarium and Discovery Centre, Ningaloo Visitor Centre / Ningaloo Centre, Paltridge Memorial Swimming Pool & Spray Park, Emergency Overflow Camping facility, Mandu Function Centre.

Key Callouts;

• Overhaul safety standards and manage Critical Risk and compliance throughout public facilities inclusive of community swimming pool, aquarium facility, public spray park.
• Day-to-day management of public swimming pool, spray park and Aquarium facilities, including managing staff, rostering, licencing, maintenance, critical spares, plumbing, electrical and associated procurement.
• Community communications and correspondence, complaints, queries and comments regarding all public facilities.
• Spearhead tender process and stock levels for merchandise sales, totalling more than 620K sales per Calander year.
• Management of local operators and their commissionable bookings via the Ningaloo Visitor Centre, totalling more than $1M in revenue annually.
• Increase merchandise margins from 47% to 53% over the course of three (3) years.
• Digitalise our PoS and reporting system at the Pool after 60 years.
• Budget management, budget reviews, project and CapEx planning for seven (7) facilities.
• I took over paid advertising for the Shire of Exmouth, including the Ningaloo Visitor Centre and Learmonth Airport. Successfully received over $40k in annual sales after years of zero reported revenue.
• Work with relevant stakeholders; Exmouth Chamber of Commerce, Gascoyne Development Commission, Tourism WA, Australia's Coral Coast and more to execute a cohesive Tourism Brand Strategy and strengthen our offering and messaging across the Ningaloo region.
• Member of WA Cruise Working Group with Tourism WA, bringing together local stakeholders for Exmouth WA Cruise Working Group and subsequent planning and engagement with ShoreX providers, Ground Handlers, DOT and Ports for Cruise Ship Arrivals into Exmouth.
• Departmental monthly Toolbox meetings to highlight Executive communications, WHS updates, Policy updates.
• Developed training materials for staff on operational procedures.
• Implemented policies to ensure compliance with local government regulations and governance.
• Trained employees on additional job positions to maintain coverage of roles throughout the Shire.
• Provided leadership during times of organizational change or crisis situations.
• Recruited and hired qualified candidates to fill open positions.
• Resolved conflicts between employees by providing guidance on company policies and procedures.
• Created monthly reports for CEO and Council, summarizing operational performance me

Management of facilities; Ningaloo Visitor Centre / Ningaloo Centre, Emergency Overflow Camping facility, Mandu Function Centre.

Key callouts;

• Digitalise booking platform for function facilities, rec centres, local ovals and Emergency Overflow booking platform after seven (7) years of paper-based booking.
• Day-to-day management of Ningaloo Visitor Centre, arguably Australia’s busiest Visitor Centre with a footfall of 200k per annum. Includes staffing, rostering, stock, cleaning and so on.
• Management of local operator relationships with the Shire of Exmouth.
• Developed training materials for staff to improve service delivery standards.
• Enforced customer service standards and resolved customer problems to uphold quality service.
• Recruited and hired qualified candidates to fill open positions.
• Analyzed customer feedback data to develop action plans for improving services offered.
• Monitored budgets and expenditures to ensure cost-effectiveness while maintaining quality standards.
• Completed thorough opening, closing, and shift change functions to maintain operational standards each day.

• DBCA Application for Operation of Whale Shark and Humpback Whale tour licences, 10-year licence. Outcome: 1 of 15 licences awarded to Live Ningaloo.
• Complete website build, strategy and visual design – www.liveningaloo.com.au.
• Wrote Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, Eco Tourism Application. Outcome: Gold Medal awarded to Live Ningaloo.
• Day-to-day Operations for main vessel, tender, vehicles and staffing.
• Coordinate partnerships with Tourism WA, Journey Beyond, Tourism Australia, Channel7.
• First point of contact for all guests booking Live Ningaloo, includes Media, VIP and families who travel from all over the world.
• Staff management, including contract negotiation, hiring and offboarding.
• Stock management and inventory control for Operating vessel including fuel, food, critical spares.
• Managing up, keeping owners informed of day-to-day operations.
• Implemented safety protocols and procedures for team compliance and training.
• Assisted in budget management by tracking expenses and resource usage efficiently.

• Brand refresh for Perth’s first ever 5-star hotel following a $42M refurb.
• Social media overhaul, including branding, strategy, photography and direction.
• Utilization of available spaces within the footprint, subsequent build of Piazza Pop-up in empty terrace space on the first floor. Inclusive of food and beverage catering, staffing, musicians and performers, promotion.
• Creation of ‘Meet the Maker’ VIP invitation only wine nights at request of owners Hawaiian; partnerships with brand such as Marchand & Burch, Penfolds, Domain Naturalist, Ampersand Estates.
• Ideate, build and execute pop-up Hilton Champagne Lounge in Claremont quarter, inclusive of butler service to introduce new branding to the target local market.
• Partnerships with aligned brands, such as Champagne Pommery, Claremont Quarter, WA Museum Boola Bardip, Channel7.
• Restaurant activations including; Oyster Thursdays, High Tea, Valentines Day, Christmas Lunch, Corporate Lunch Specials, Wine Pairing Menus.
• Creation of new accommodation packages to leverage off City events.
• Monthly reporting into Owners, Hawaiian and Managers, Hilton.
• Analyzed market trends to inform strategic planning and decision-making processes.

• This was a contract role to infill leave.
• Lead and delivered Water Corporations Community Partnerships within the Metro region.
• Working alongside the Community Development team to better understand how Water Corporation could have a meaningful impact on the local community.
• Spearheaded Water Corporation's Splash of Colour initiative, turning otherwise dull assets into a community initiative, and beautifying the local environment.
• Working closely with local school communities and artists on Splash of Colour programs and educational initiatives surrounding the local parks, waterways and wetlands.

• Lead Crown Perth's Community and Corporate Partnership Strategies both Charitable & Commercial. Includes; Channel7, AFL, West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Football Club, Nine News, Tourism Australia, Qantas, Paspaley, Optus Stadium, Perth Children's Hospital, Breast Cancer Care WA, RQCC and more.
• Acquisition and execution of Telethon 2019 at Crown Perth. Inclusive of all shows, events, live streaming, accommodation.

• Events Sales Executive.
  Key portfolio's managed include; Media & Entertainment, Not for profit and Charity, Tourism & Cultural Industry, Advertising, PR, Publishing, Communications and Marketing, Retail, Cosmetics and Fashion.
• Portfolio of $2.5M annually.

• Sales Executive position - Responsible for managing all events incoming at Hyatt Regency Perth. These include Corporate, Social, MICE and Weddings.