Event – Leaders Breakfast – Women in Tourism and Hospitality Tasmania

Proudly supported by Hospitality Tasmania’s Women in Leadership Program

Your 2026 Breakfast host

Guiding the conversation is Alex Heroys, CEO of Destination Southern Tasmania and a tourism and business leader with more than 25 years’ experience. Alex is a passionate advocate for Tasmania’s visitor economy and believes great leadership starts with people, creating workplace cultures where people feel valued and encouraged to bring their best selves to work. Something you may not know about Alex: he previously owned and operated Indepth Diving, a tourism business with operations across the Mediterranean, employing more than 70 people at its peak.

To hear about the ‘why’ (and how to nurture that) behind this year’s panel, join us over breakfast.

2026 WITH Tas Industry Leaders Breakfast

For the last nine years, our Industry Leaders Breakfast has served up fresh and relatable stories as experiences are shared, surprising insights are gleaned and new perspectives are appreciated… all absorbed before the day’s work begins!

This year, another set of extraordinary people will join in a conversation that will no doubt weave fascinating threads through the trials and highlights of their journey to this point in their careers and lives. What drives them, and how do they keep focus on their chosen paths?

To find out and for some daybreak inspiration over a delicious breakfast, join us!

When: Thursday, 15th October 2026
Time: 7:00 am – 8.30 am. Please arrive at 6:45 for a prompt 7 am start!
Where: LUMINA, The Tasman

Tickets:

Members: $60
Non-members: $70
Students: $40

Meet this year’s speakers:

Emily Elmer – Founding Director of Younique Stays

Emily has grown her award winning luxury accommodation business to represent more than 130 premium properties across Tasmania’s East Coast. Known for challenging traditional approaches to short term accommodation, Emily believes holiday homes should create meaningful connections between people and place.

Katharine Dean – General Manager of the Taste of Summer festival

Katharine has spent more than two decades delivering some of Tasmania’s most recognised festivals and events, including senior leadership roles with Dark Mofo and the City of Hobart. She believes there is no single path to leadership, only resilience, curiosity, lifting others up, and the courage to back yourself.

Sofia Tsamassiros – Founder of Eudaimania Cycling Tours

Sofia launched her award winning business at just 22, after stepping away from a career path in medicine. She built Eudaimonia on the belief that travel should be about genuine connection, to place, to people and to ourselves, not just ticking destinations off a list.

Connect. Support. Inspire.

Women in Tourism and Hospitality Tasmania Inc.

info@withtas.com

We acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal people and their enduring custodianship of lutruwita (Tasmania). We honour their uninterrupted care, protection and belonging to these islands, skies and waterways, before the invasion and colonisation of European settlement. We acknowledge the Aboriginal people who continue to care for this country today. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. We honour their stories, songs, art, and culture, and their aspirations for the future of their people and these lands.