About our Speakers
Dr Tony Webber,
Associate Professor, University of Sydney Business School
Dr Tony Webber is an expert in the fields of econometrics, micro and macroeconomics.
He was chief economist at Qantas as part of a career spanning 22 years in statistical, mathematical and economic modeling. Webber has more than six years’ experience in tourism and aviation economics. Besides teaching at the university, he is also managing director at WebberQuantitative Consulting which specialises in macroeconomic advice, statistical modeling, risk advisory and Government policy impact modeling.
Mike Orchard,
Senior Director, CWT Solutions Group Asia Pacific
As Senior Director for CWT Solutions Group, Mike Orchard has responsibility for leading CWT’s business travel consultancy business across Asia Pacific. Mike joined CWT in 2009 as a member of the leadership team for CWT Australia & New Zealand through leading the sales function before joining CWT Solutions Group in 2011. Mike has over 13 years’ experience of the corporate travel market, and worked the first 10 of these years from his native UK. During this time, he held senior roles with British Airways before joining HRG where he worked as a management consultant leading global client strategic sourcing activity across Air, Hotel and Car Rental categories.
Tony O’Connor,
Director, TMS Australia
Tony O’Connor is director of TMS Australia, an independent management consultancy specializing in the procurement and management of travel supply for our corporate clients. Previously, as principal of Butler Caroye, O’Connor won BTTB’s Consultant of the Year award three years running and was the first inductee in the awards Hall of Fame.
Marcus McRitchie
Director – People Risk Management, International SOS
Director – People Risk Management, International SOS
Based in Sydney, Marcus leads a team responsible for advising Australian corporates on travel risk management and duty of care strategies for expatriate and international business traveller staff. Since taking up this role in 2003, Marcus has worked with clients across industries as diverse as finance, education, professional services, manufacturing and government.
Before joining International SOS, Marcus was a senior intelligence analyst for the Australian Customs Service and enjoyed a 14-year career as an officer with the Australian Army, serving in the Special Air Service and Commando regiments.
Before joining International SOS, Marcus was a senior intelligence analyst for the Australian Customs Service and enjoyed a 14-year career as an officer with the Australian Army, serving in the Special Air Service and Commando regiments.
Simon Francis
Security Director – Australasia, International SOS and Control Risks
Security Director – Australasia, International SOS and Control Risks
Simon is the security director – Australasia, International SOS and Control Risks, overseeing the delivery of all travel advisory and security services for clients across the Australasia region. He and the Asia Pacific team operate closely with the broader International SOS and Control Risks offices globally to provide a unified solution for travel security assistance needs. Simon was previously the Asia security head for a leading global risk consulting firm and the general manager of a commercial security organisation, both based out of Hong Kong. He has delivered security and risk-related consulting services to clients across a wide range industry sectors in variable risk environments from the Pacific to the Middle East.
Oliver Tams
Head of Corporate Solutions, Amadeus IT Pacific
Head of Corporate Solutions, Amadeus IT Pacific
Oliver Tams has been in the travel and tourism industry 30-plus years. His experience includes start-up TMC Destinations Travel Group and Travelscene Corporate head office before setting up the Business Select agency group, a trans-Tasman group of TMCs focusing on corporate travel within the new JTG entity. After JTG’s merger into the Stella group, Oliver joined Amadeus as head of corporate solutions, working with TMCs and corporations directly, for online travel solutions. Oliver is a keen follower of technology, an avid blogger and continues to be involved in the industry through thought leadership and mentoring initiatives.
Samantha Durban,
Director, Purchasing Index
Samantha has eight years’ experience within the benchmarking and analysis environment. At Purchasing Index, Sam works with clients to understand their business requirements for benchmarking and spend analysis, enabling intelligence from data from both internal systems and market information. Sam assists clients in the application of PI reports to promote effective procurement, finance and audit strategies and to validate and realise cost savings.
Stephen Pearse,
Consultant, Pinc Consulting
Stephen has extensive aviation & travel experience having started out in travel wholesaling with Thomson Travel Group in the UK before moving into aviation with British Airways. Subsequent roles were with United Airlines where he worked in the UK, NZ and then Australia as country manager Australia/South Pacific. With strong growth requirements in ANZ, Emirates appointed Stephen as the carrier’s first vice president for Australia in January 2007 with responsibility for the airline and other group activities. Since leaving Emirates in mid-2010, Stephen has consulted to both airlines and travel businesses and provides media commentary on commercial airline issues.
Bryon Merzeo,
Sales Manager - Australia & New Zealand, STR Global
One of the highest-rated speakers at BTTB Australia 2011, Bryon has a strong understanding of the global tourism marketplace. His experience in the industry includes housekeeping in Denmark, personally guiding tours all across North America, timeshare sales in Florida, and regional sales manager of a Mexico travel company. For the past four years, he has been the Sydney-based sales manager for STR Global looking over the data collection from 800 accommodation properties and further expanding within the Australia and New Zealand markets.
Dorina Santos,
Category Manager - Corporate Travel, Portland Group
Dorina has 10 years procurement experience in corporate travel. She managed the NSW Government travel programme for three years and has been at Portland Group for the last seven years, managing a range of clients from retail, banking, media, medical services and natural resources. She has extensive experience in strategic procurement and category management as well as implementation and change management experience including development of complete travel programmes.
Freddy Sharpe,
Chief Executive Officer, Climate Friendly
Freddy Sharpe is CEO of Climate Friendly, Australia's leading carbon management business. Freddy has worked in sustainability and climate change solutions for many years and has grown Climate Friendly into a global business leading the way on climate change, delivering easy and innovative carbon solutions to businesses and individuals. Before running Climate Friendly, Freddy was chief operating officer of Australia's largest residential energy efficiency company. Freddy has hands-on expertise in carbon markets, carbon and energy policies, energy efficiency and clean and conventional energy, developed in Australia and internationally for over 20 years.
Richard Savva,
Chief Executive Officer, Voyager Travel
Richard Savva is CEO and one of the owners of Voyager Travel Corporation, the largest independently owned travel management company in Australia, that prides itself on service delivery, experience and innovation. Savva’s career in travel started when he was 18, working as a retail travel agent in the UK. He has worked in Spain for a tour operator as well as in the US before migrating to Australia in 2000. Some of his career highlights included managing the sales and marketing for Aviareps in the north of England, General Manager for Rosenbluth International in Australia and managing the Kuoni office in Manchester.
Johnny Thorsen,
CEO, conTgo
Johnny Thorsen is the CEO and co-founder of conTgo. The developer of Mobile Travel Assistant, Thorsen is included in the 2010 BTN 25 Most Influential Executives of the Business Travel Industry list. His new venture brings together the insights he has gleaned in executive positions with leading TMCs and GDS companies. Thorsen, known for his technology evangelism, pragmatic approach and controversial views, is a regular presenter at BTTB events.
Matt Jackson,
new business and segment growth manager, ANZ Commercial Cards
new business and segment growth manager, ANZ Commercial Cards
Matt Jackson is a cards and payments professional, having worked in the industry for 12 years. Matt spent seven years working within federal government, including three years as a procurement and payables systems and business analyst, and two years managing the administration of card programs and EMS solution. In seven years of banking, Matt has specialised in the delivery of purchasing and corporate card programmes, EMS solutions and consultancy.
Marten Jagers, senior director – Asia Pacific,
Concur Technologies
Concur Technologies
Marten Jagers is a foundation member of the Concur Asia Pacific team and is responsible for leading and growing Concur’s sales and distribution model across the region. Marten has been in the travel and finance industry for the past 20 years, with companies such as American Express, ANZ, Ansett and Avis.
