The WAITOC - Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council - Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Council. As a governing board, it guides and directs the Council, sets performance goals, ensures corporate compliance and management accountability, endorses strategic plans and approves operating budgets. The Board ensures that WAITOC has the resources necessary to achieve goals and outcomes on behalf of its members.
Robert Taylor
Chief Executive Officer
Robert is a Nanda Yamaji man from Western Australia and the current Chair of the First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership (FNVEP). He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and brings more than 36 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Robert has played a significant leadership role in transforming Aboriginal tourism across Western Australia. He has championed a shift from purely marketing and advocacy to a broader focus that includes business development, helping to build future Aboriginal tourism leaders and a stronger, more sustainable sector.
Throughout his career, Robert has successfully secured funding at local, state and federal levels and through philanthropic partnerships, consistently highlighting the cultural and economic value of Aboriginal tourism. His entrepreneurial background includes ownership and management across tourism, hospitality, mining, sport and recreation, and construction, demonstrating a proven ability to adapt and develop diverse income streams.
Robert has increased funding outcomes for Aboriginal tourism businesses by more than 300% and continues to advocate for Aboriginal-led opportunities on state, national and international stages. He works closely with government, philanthropic organisations, and the non-profit sector to promote economic self-determination and strengthen the profile of Aboriginal tourism across Australia.
Di Below, Marketing Manager
Tourism is Di’s lifelong brand mark. She embarked on her first role with a UK tour operator in the 1980’s, never left the industry, and now celebrates over four decades of experience across all levels of the chain, from hospitality, retail, wholesale, online, airline, tour guiding in Tunisia, Kenya and the Maldives, to product development, business management, and destination marketing/PR.
Her skill set includes fluent German, French, a degree in commerce and tourism management, and a 22-year focus on Aboriginal tourism development and promotion.
Di was appointed by WAITOC as marketing consultant in 2010, and as Marketing Manager since 2015. Her career highlights include:
Three decades of promoting Australia to the global and domestic markets from Europe, as Sales Manager for TAA (Trans Australia Airlines), Market Development Manager for Tourism Australia, and Market Development Manager for Tourism Western Australia
Over two decades of partnership and employment with WAITOC
Strong, well established travel industry networks across Europe and Australia
Elected to the Destination Australia Strategic Planning Committee in Europe
Design and implementation of major cross-marketing campaigns in Europe with big-brand partners, e.g., Globetrotter (Adventure Travel Gear) and VOX (Adventure Travel TV), achieving outstanding PR valued at $5 mill.
The formulation of 14 award winning tourism and eco-tourism submissions for Aboriginal Tourism and Hospitality, at state, national and international levels
Born in England, Di has lived and worked in 6 countries and explored a multitude of destinations across five continents. “Working with WAITOC is another vibrant chapter in my life - championing the world's oldest living culture, Aboriginal guides redefine the value of travel - venturing beyond 'just' showcasing stunning places, they immerse in the deeper pulse of the destination, throwing a completely different lens on people, lifestyle and Country".
Gabby Simoni
Operations Manager
Gabby has worked in the Western Australian tourism industry for more than 20 years. Before joining WAITOC as its Operations Manager, Gabby worked at a Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO), Australia’s Golden Outback, for 15 years, responsible for marketing a tourism area of more than half the land mass of Western Australia.
Gabby has extensive experience in Destination Marketing, stakeholder management, and Business administration, understanding the challenges regional tourism communities face, and how working collaboratively with funding partners and stakeholders, communities can transform and flourish, making positive impacts on the visitor experience.
Gabby has a Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Management and Public Relations from Curtin University.
Julia Tolj
Operations Manager – ATWA
Joining in May 2023, Julia is excited to be working with Aboriginal Tourism Western Australia (ATWA), a new subsidiary of WAITOC. ATWA’s aim is to find opportunities for growth, create partnerships for industry, and sustainability for indigenous tourism businesses into the future.
Julia has extensive experience in the tourism industry in WA in a broad capacity, having been involved with assisting businesses through training, coaching and accreditation around the state and lecturing at TAFE in the tourism and events space. She joins the organisation after most recently spending several years in the corporate sector, managing leadership and training programs across the country, marketing and developing partnership opportunities across professional and Government sectors. Julia will be supporting the Business Development Coordinators in the regional hubs.
Much of Julia’s earlier years were in the NT, where she grew up in Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land and Kakadu, living and learning the culture of that country.
Briony Arnold
Business Development Manager
Briony is a born and bred West Australian woman, a descendent of the Yamatji nation, now living in Menang Country. After working for WAITOC in product development in the Southwest for the past 2 years, her role has been expanded to Business Development Manager, supporting the WAITOC team. She brings a strong background in Aboriginal business mentoring, with her own experience in consulting, project management, facilitation and business support..
Previous to the world of business, Briony worked as an educator in schools across the state, including remote, regional and metro regions for almost 20 years, and then in senior level public servant roles in education, including Regional Manager Aboriginal Education in 2015-2017 in the Great Southern region and then as the Coordinator Regional Operations until 2022.
After pursuing her interest in leadership and personal growth and development, Briony completed a Graduate Certificate in Business Leadership in Education in 2022, through Deakin University and completed several leadership courses, including the ARLF (Australian Rural Leadership Foundation) Resilient Leadership Course. In 2022, Briony became and associate of the ARLF and has facilitated leadership courses in regional WA, including work with Aboriginal participants in the Milparanga courses and regionally participants in the Change Maker courses to build leadership capacity in the regions.
Over her career, Briony has developed many transferrable skills, applicable to all sectors and industries, to bring about new initiatives in collaboration with Aboriginal people. Briony has developed strong networks across regional WA and is passionate about building capacity in Aboriginal individuals and businesses, particularly in tourism.
Natalie Ness
Partnerships Coordinator
Natalie joins WAITOC / Aboriginal Tourism Western Australia to lead our strategic partnership development across our funding partners philanthropy and corporate, to help strengthen our mission to grow Aboriginal tourism businesses.
Natalie has extensive experience building and managing strategic partnerships across government levels, resource sector, aviation, tourism, and private enterprise, focusing on stakeholder engagement, policy alignment and cross-sector collaboration. She works closely with industry, Traditional Owners, and government agencies to promote sustainable development and economic opportunities, leveraging her deep understanding of Aboriginal tourism, infrastructure, and investment to connect diverse partners to create long-term value for communities and industries.
Teresa Perone
Finance and Admin Coordinator
Teresa has over 35 years’ experience in Business Administration, ensuring WAITOC’s office runs like clockwork, and is highly specialised in bookkeeping, accounts payable and receivables, and financial and administrative reporting. Teresa’s focus is delivering exceptional customer service to all WAITOC members and stakeholders and is the beating heart of WAITOC’s Admin Services.
Emily Dalton
Data and Membership Coordinator
Emily brings a sharp eye for detail and a passion for data to her role as Data and Memberships Coordinator at WAITOC. Since relocating from Brisbane to Perth, she has drawn on her experience with both local and national member-based organisations to support WAITOC’s internal programs and strengthen its membership engagement.
With a strong background in data management and project coordination, Emily plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of WAITOC’s membership systems and reporting processes.
She is also deeply involved in CRM administration and SEER reporting, helping to ensure that insights and outcomes are both accurate and actionable.
Outside of work, Emily is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture, driven by her love of design and history. On weekends, she enjoys exploring Western Australia’s coastline, immersing herself in local culture, and discovering the best cafés along the way.
Neville Meyer
Product Development Coordinator – Coral Coast
On the surface, Neville Meyer is an accomplished all-around hospitality specialist with over 37 years of work experience across three continents, including Antarctica. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, and a proud descendant of the Khoisan clan. After he relocated with his wife, two daughters and a son, he worked hard to achieve his personal goals.
He worked in Tourism, non-profit organizations, hospitals, prisons, hotels, motels, and mine sites camps and owned a successful catering business before relocating to Australia. Neville earned his qualifications as a chef through the highly rated Airforce Academy. He also completed courses in Textiles and a Cert IV in Training and Assessment, alongside other short methods, to enhance his skills. He is also a retired church minister who continues applying his Christian values daily.
Now 16 years in Australia, he found his passion for assisting Aboriginal communities through the Work and Development permit scheme as Coordinator, mentor and Emergency food supply Coordinator for the Midwest and Goldfields. During his tenure as Mentor and WDP Coordinator, Neville cultivated his insatiable passion for being part of the change. He did this by researching each community under his care and applying utmost respect to each individual and country the Aboriginal people occupy.
More than his role as a Catering Manager, he is also effective at persuading and positively influencing individuals. His opinions are highly valued, and people trust and respect his judgments. Neville can take unpleasant tasks and transform them into positive and thriving ones. Because of his skills, Neville can produce productive and long-lasting results for various clients. In particular, he focuses on sustainable development, self-employment, and community growth. Here, he managed multiple groups while managing the quantitative analysis needs of the office.
Neville also contributed to developing policies and implementing company values, rules, and regulations. Neville experienced inequality, and racism during the apartheid era in South Africa, hence his passion for helping and assisting others to achieve their goals. He wants to engage more with the Indigenous communities to bring change and hope for a better future. He is open to challenges, conversations, and exchanging ideas from inside and outside the WAITOC community. He wants to use his untiring commitment and drive to bring more dignity and autonomy to Indigenous communities across Australia. His long-term goal is to become an international voice for the Aboriginal culture in the Tourism industry.
Kyle Bigos
Business Support Hub Coordinator
Kyle is an Australian-American professional with a passion for advancing Western Australia’s tourism industry. Beginning his career as a multi-skilled tradesman in the United States, he immigrated to Australia in 2018 to begin a new chapter with his wife, Hannah.
Since then, Kyle has developed a well-rounded professional background across real estate, sales, and tourism. He is recognised for his initiative, compassion, and attention to detail - bringing a unique blend of business acumen and authentic “Southern charm” to every professional environment.
