2023 QELA Welcome Function

QELA invites all members and guests to welcome in the new year at the 2023 QELA Welcome Function.

To welcome in the new year, our guest speaker, Managing Director and Custodian of Lady Elliot Island, Peter Gash OAM will provide an update on the sustainability program at Lady Elliot Island.

Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay situated at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. The Island is located approximately 80 kilometers north-east of Bundaberg and nestled in between Fraser Island and Lady Musgrave Island. Lady Elliot is the closest Great Barrier Reef island to Brisbane. The Island lies within a Marine National Park ‘Green Zone’ and forms part of Australia’s World Heritage Listed Area on the Great Barrier Reef.

Lady Elliot Island is the most remote Great Barrier Reef Island regularly accessed and boat access is impractical. This is just one of the challenges associated with the operation of a world-leading eco resort on an Island where there is no supplied electricity, no mains water or wastewater treatment operation and no weekly garbage truck! 

In 2018, Lady Elliot Island was selected as the first ‘climate change ark’ through the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s Reef Islands Initiative. This initiative brings the Resort, local businesses, Government, community and Traditional Owners together to fast-track the Island’s restoration through on ground and in water actions.

The Welcome Function will close with drinks and canapes at Aquila Cafe - a great way to catch up with colleagues following the festive break!

The Welcome Function will be chaired by QELA President, Hannah Riggs, Partner, Carter Newell Lawyers.

GUEST SPEAKER: 

Peter Gash OAM, Managing Director, Lady Elliot Island Resort & Seair Pacific

Lady Elliot is a coral cay island located 80 kms north-east of Bundaberg, on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. In his early twenties, Peter discovered the island and its amazing beauty, both above and below the water. Coincidentally, that's where he and his now wife, Julie, became close friends and both shared a passion for the natural environment and the fragile eco-system of the island.
 
Peter is a licenced Pilot and has been flying tourists to the Great Barrier Reef for over 30 years.  He started out operating regular scenic daytrips by seaplane from the Gold Coast to Lady Musgrave Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef. In the mid 90's, Peter took the floats off the plane and began flying guests to nearby Lady Elliot Island. Lady Elliot Island is the only coral cay island on the Great Barrier Reef with an airstrip. Peter, his family and two business partners took over the lease of the island in 2005 and has been operating the 150-bed eco resort since that time.
 
Peter's main motivation is Education and the Environment. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort operates on a 'Four E's' Philosophy: To look after our Environment we need to be Efficient, Economically Sustainable and able to Educate Effectively.
 
In recognition of Peter's 30+ years in Queensland's dynamic tourism industry and his passion, dedication, and leadership in sustainable ecotourism, he was awarded the Marie Watson-Blake award for 'Outstanding Contribution by an Individual' at the 30th annual QLD Tourism awards in November 2014. In 2020, Peter was honoured to be awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to ecotourism and aviation
 
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort has been awarded the Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism in 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Due to the previous three wins in this category, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is now a Hall of Fame recipient.
 
In 2019, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort won silver in the Australian Tourism Awards in Ecotourism, and in 2022 the resort was awarded the Banksia Award for Sustainable Tourism, as well as the Finder Green Award for Green Hotel of the Year.
 
Although awards and recognition are wonderful accolades, Peter’s main personal mission is to "inspire & encourage other people, particularly the younger generation to follow their dreams to make a difference on the planet".

PROGAM

Seminar 
5:00pm   Registration opens and drinks
5:30pm   Seminar commences
7:00pm   Seminar concludes

Welcome Drinks & Canapes at Aquila Brisbane

G/82 Eagle St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
7:00pm   Drinks & Canapes
8:30pm   Event concludes

REGISTRATION OPTIONS

Immediately following our guest speaker, QELA is hosting 2023 Welcome Drinks

• To register for the seminar only, see below
• To register to attend the seminar + welcome drinks, see below.
• To register for the welcome drinks only, click here.

Registrations that include welcome drinks includes beer, wine, basic spirits, non alcoholic drinks, and a variety of canapes.

Please note, costs below exclude GST.  GST is added during the payment process.

Members need to log in to book tickets at the member rate.