Ken Hore Tourism Mentoring Program
2026 applications now open!
We’re inviting passionate tourism professionals who have joined the tourism industry in the last 5 years and are working in the tourism industry in Gippsland or Phillip Island to take the next step in their career!
Download Guidelines and Selection Criteria 2026
Applications open now till Thursday 19 February 5pm
The Ken Hore Tourism Mentoring Program honours the contribution made by the late Ken Hore to the Gippsland and Phillip Island tourism industry. It does so by providing an annual career development opportunity to young tourism professionals or new entrants in the Gippsland and Phillip Island Tourism Industry.
The Mentoring Program provides an annual career development opportunity to young tourism professionals or new entrants in the Gippsland and Phillip Island tourism Industry. The Program will:
- Promote skills and excellence among young people and new entrants into the tourism industry extending ‘tourism networks’ and providing a ‘broader understanding of the industry’
- Contribute to the continued development and growth of tourism in Gippsland and Phillip Island; and
- Perpetuate the memory, skills, and contribution of Ken Hore
- Provide an opportunity for young achievers and new entrants to grow professionally
- Provide an opportunity for young achievers and new entrants to share their experience with their peers and the industry on completion
- Support recipients to be ambassadors for the Gippsland and Phillip Island tourism industry
Now in its 12th year, the Program has gone from strength to strength and has seen 75 participants graduate.
The program was recognised with a Silver Award in the 2025 Victorian Tourism Awards training category.
The Mentoring Program seeks to:
- Provide an opportunity for young achievers and new entrants to grow professionally
- Provide an opportunity for young achievers and new entrants to share their experience with their peers and the industry on completion; and
- Support recipients to be ambassadors for the Gippsland and Phillip Island tourism industry.
The Mentoring Program will provide the successful recipient with mentoring support and opportunities that include:
- Complimentary ticket to any industry development workshops/events provided by Destination Gippsland, Destination Phillip Island and Bass Coast Shire Council
- Meet and Greet day – providing an introduction to the tourism boards and the structure of the Victorian Tourism industry. (To be held in either Gippsland or Phillip Island)
- 3 Famil days - Melbourne (Visit Victoria and Victorian Tourism Industry Council offices), Phillip Island & Gippsland
- Six once a month mentoring session with an assigned leader in the Gippsland or Phillip Island tourism industry
- Encouragement of networking between mentees.
Opportunities to directly learn and experience their area of special interest in the tourism industry (this could include appointments with business owners/managers, behind the scenes tours, hands-on experience, meetings with peak industry bodies)
The Program continues to go from strength to strength and has seen 75 participants graduate to date.
For more information contact:
Kim Storey, General Manager- Destination Phillip Island
M: 0466 620 856 E: dpi@visitphillipisland.com.au
or
Sarah Barrot, Tourism Officer - Destination Gippsland
M: 0422 130 767 E: sbarrot@destinationgippsland.com.au
or
Jenni McMillan, Visitor Economy and Events Officer - Bass Coast Shire Council
M: 0419 157 980 E: j.mcmillan@basscoast.vic.gov.au
About Ken Hore
Ken Hore had a long association with members throughout the Gippsland and Phillip Island tourism industry. He encouraged their business and personal development with his generous support and commitment to others. Ken offered a guiding hand to many of the industry's newest recruits. At the 2011 Victorian Tourism Awards, he received the award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual in acknowledgment of his tourism career, which included: Founding role as CEO of Country Victoria Tourism Council, Chair of Sydney Melbourne Touring , Deputy Chair of Destination Phillip Island, Director of Yarra Valley Country Club and Board Director of Destination Gippsland
A tribute to illustrate Ken’s journey in tourism by Paul Cooper
2025 Participants
Gemma Bresnahan - Bass Coast Shire Council
Erin Polson - Baw Baw Shire Council
Heather Hood - Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
David Brim - The Old School - Grand Ridge House
Regan O'Clery - Harman Wines
Cathy Thomas - Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
Kelly Ambler - Ambling Along Tours & Transfers
Kimberley Walton - Maru Koala and Animal Park
Louise Casey - Phillip Island Nature Parks
Todd McConville - Phillip Island Nature Parks
Filip Turabi Demir - Local Way Tours
Chloe Ann Hammond - Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
Kelvin Moffatt - Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
Paige Barry - Bass Coast Shire Council
Program Alumni
2024
Baylee Matheson - Will Schmeiz - Heidi Knabe - Kelli love - Belinda Armour - Pam Boyes - Katie Harris - Irene Skilton
2023
Sue Graham - Sarah Barrot - Lauren van Strijp - Neesa Lee - Paul Kenna-Law - Jessica Shapiro - Amanda Wicks - Tenita Hoefer
2022
Phoebe Graham - Kaye Ellery-Burke - Kym Griffiths - Jodie Ashworth - Rebecca Bertram - Courtney Debono - Georgia Bisset - Sam Ruzica
2020-21
Anne Roussac - Lee Atkinson - Letitia Hessels - Makayla Rimington - Sophie Winters
2019-20
Isabelle Langhoff - Taylah Fox - Louise Matthews - Elizabeth Wharton - Lynette McGowan - Lucy Dewhurst - Andrew Bowring - Nicole Harman
2018-19
Meghan Bye - Melissa Moseley - Lucinda Cousens - Caron Bordonaro - Kellie Willis
2017-18
Nick Stephens - Jaci Hicken - Jie Liu - Cageon Loy - Dena Waters
2016-17
Bregje Van Watershcoot - Nicholas Matolytsch - Kelly McCarthy - Kellie Panayioutou - Lydia Tesch - Kylie Pattison
2015-16
Nina Barry-Macaulay - Samantha Holcombe - Mikala Peters - Kelsey McFadzean - Laura McCowatt
2014-15
Arnika Martin - Ellie Priestly - Michelle Rogers - Pauleen Boulton - Phoebe Honey - Kim Kleinitz - Sascha Johns
