The Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) has expanded its business development teams in London and Hong Kong as it mounts an intensified push into key international markets.

Sue Wilkes has been appointed Director of Business Development, UK and Europe, and will work in conjunction with the SCVB’s London-based representative Axis Sales and Marketing. 

Sue is the first full-time Europe representative employed solely by the SCVB and will be responsible for building new relationships with international associations and developing new business in one of the bureau’s most important markets.

Sue has extensive experience in the Australian events and tourism sectors and was previously Manager NSW/ACT for ICMS Pty Ltd, based in Sydney.

She is a past Director of Sales and Operations for Global Events and Conferences and Event Manager for the Harvey Events Group, and has held training consultancy and resort manager roles in Queensland.

Bondie Fung has been appointed Business Development Executive, Asia, based in the SCVB’s Hong Kong office.

Bondie will support the bureau’s Business Development Manager, Asia, Sinead Yeo, in mounting increased sales missions in China and other rapidly growing Asian markets.

Bondie spent seven years in the travel industry before becoming Commercial Services Manager of ICI Group where she was responsible for organising corporate conferences and exhibitions for the company’s Hong Kong and China offices.

More recently Bondie has worked in the Hong Kong offices of Tourism Victoria and the Singapore Tourism Board.    

SCVB Managing Director Jon Hutchison said the new appointments would greatly enhance the bureau’s capabilities as it expanded its offshore operations.

“The SCVB has launched a concerted effort to increase Sydney’s ranking among the world’s top conference destinations and our latest overseas appointments are a big part of that strategy,” Mr Hutchison said.

“Europe remains one of our most important markets and Sue will give us the ability to focus even more on developing relationships with international associations and seizing new bidding opportunities,” he said.