Committee
WITH Tas would not exist without the ongoing volunteer work of our committee.
Their mission is to Connect. Support. Inspire. women working in the tourism and hospitality industry.
WITH Tas Committee 2024- 2025
The WITH Tas Committee once again includes women from an impressive range of backgrounds and businesses who have equally varied skills and experience. These women all have two things in common – a heartfelt commmitment to tourism and hospitality on our beautiful island, and to supporting other women in our industry around the state.
President: Rita Warrener
A long-standing tourism professional, Rita has been on the WITH Management Committee since 2015, serving in various positions and was appointed President in September 2023.
Having worked in corporate communications in local government in southern Tasmania, Rita spent a decade in Melbourne working in retail travel, sales & marketing and public relations. This included working with retail and wholesale travel partners in Melbourne and regional Victoria to promote Tasmania as a holiday destination.
After more than thirty years in varied roles across marketing and industry development, Rita recently retired from Tourism Tasmania where most recently she worked with government and industry partners to support delivery of Tasmania’s 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy.
She remains a strong advocate for the contribution and potential of the tourism industry to the Tasmanian community – given the positive impact it makes socially and economically and its potential to be a global leader in responsible and sustainable tourism.
Rita believes the vital contribution that women make to our industry should be supported and celebrated and WITH Tas provides a platform to do this.
Vice President: Daniela Ruiz G.
Daniela is the Tourism Sustainability Manager at Carbonhalo. She is currently helping tourism and hospitality businesses with developing emissions reduction plans that can be easily communicated with visitors and stakeholders.
Originally from Patagonia, Chile, she has been living in Australia since 2012. Daniela discovered her passion for travel and tourism on her first solo trip at 14 when she lived in Alaska for seven months. She believes that travel is the greatest form of education, and has made her career about encouraging others to travel meaningfully.
Daniela has a Master’s degree in International Sustainable Tourism Management from Monash University and holds a certificate in Sustainable Tourism from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. She moved to Tasmania in 2019 to work for Tourism Tasmania for almost four years in the industry and partnerships team. She then moved to the Department of State Growth as a Project Manager to support the Tourism and Hospitality unit.
She has worn many hats in the industry, including hospitality, customer service, operations, marketing and industry development roles and is also now on the Board of the Migrant Resource Centre, Tasmania.
Daniela loves the outdoors – especially waterfalls and sunsets – pasta and a good glass of vino (Tassie Pinot is always her first choice!).
Secretary: Mette Dawe
Originally from Denmark, Mette has a background in Event Management organising events ranging from bespoke Tour de France VIP events to large corporate events and private functions.
Since first arriving in Tasmania in 2006, Mette has worked in hospitality, as a bushwalking guide, and as an Outdoor Instructor. This lead to her completing a MSc in Outdoor Environmental and Sustainability Education from Edinburgh University and working as an Outdoor Education Facilitator in both Tasmania and the Scottish Highlands.
In recent years Mette has worked within the Tasmanian tourism industry, spreading the word about the wonders of our island state through her work at the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre, Tourism Tasmania and Events Tasmania. Mette is currently taking up an opportunity at the Tasmanian Hospitality & Tourism Academy
Treasurer: Lucia Alvarez
Lucia holds a Master of Finance, a Master of Tourism and is currently working towards CPA accreditation whilst working at Tourism Tasmania as the Finance and Operations Officer.
Since migrating to Tasmania, Lucia has worked across a range of roles within the tourism industry, including positions at Spring Bay Mill, Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, and Under Down Under Tours.
Lucia believes tourism can drive economic development and growth, particularly in regional areas, while supporting the conservation of natural environments.
General Committee: Danielle Fontane
Danielle’s involvement with the Tasmanian tourism industry spans over 30 years.
During her 25 years working with Tourism Tasmania in various roles within industry development, strategic projects and international marketing, Danielle has built a wealth of knowledge and experience and contributed to significant and exciting projects both domestically and internationally in promoting the Tasmanian tourism industry.
With a love and curiosity of all things Tasmanian, Danielle enjoys the opportunity to work with like-minded businesses who share this passion, to contribute to the continuous growth of Tasmania as a unique visitor destination.
Danielle is currently focused on developing a small business, and continuing her tourism involvement in working with tourism-aligned businesses.
General Committee: Tania Thompson
Tania is an experienced chef and catering professional with food and design knowledge. She is constantly updating her knowledge and experience in the industry and enjoys networking.
She has worked for various organisations, mainly in the corporate scene, which has allowed Tania to cook for various executives, eg Prime Ministers, Bill Gates and Cate Blatchett to name a few. Her biggest event was the James Packer wedding to Jodie Meares.
Tania has a passion for all areas of the hospitality industry, loving the fact she can be innovative and creative and can constantly change her ideas and grow.
General Committee: Sherene Somerville
Sherene brings over 30 years of experience in tourism and hospitality with her.
She has the enviable position of managing PR and Earned Media for a unique destination in the world – Tasmania.
Driven and motivated by the authenticity and charm of Tasmanian island lifestyle and the quality of its people and products, Sherene has spent more than two decades getting under the skin of Tasmania’s tourism products and offerings via retail, wholesale and marketing and communications.
She is a passionate advocate of Tasmania’s tourism industry and loves nothing more than shining a spotlight on the genuine, unfiltered experiences that make the destination unlike anywhere else.
General Committee: Natalie Ellis
Natalie is a very proud, born and bred Tasmanian.
She began her career in the tourism industry over twelve years ago with Tourism Tasmania working across the agency in a variety of roles including within the Industry & Partnerships team and Corporate Communications.
Now working in the Trade & International Relations team at Department of State Growth as the International Missions Planner, Natalie’s passion and experience for showcasing and connecting Tasmanian businesses to the world is at the forefront, along with building the success of local businesses that contribute towards the benefit of the community
Natalie is very excited to continue her connection with the tourism industry.
Student Member: Vacant
Thank you to Ngoc Nhat Vy Dinh – known to all as Vy – who joined the WITH Tas Committee in October 2024 as a dedicated student and hospitality professional based in Hobart, Tasmania.
Vy has been a valuable contributor to WITH’s operations and events. We wish her all the best with her for her career in Tasmanian hospitality and tourism.
Ex-officio Youth Member: Rosie Bird
Rosie joined Tasmania Wild Seafood Adventures in 2024 with broad experience in the industry along with a love of sailing and recreational diving from a very young age.
She is now the master of her own wooden boat.
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.