Speaker

Gillian Saunders

Director
Gillian Saunders Consulting Pty Ltd

Gillian Saunders Independent Tourism and Hospitality Adviser. Gillian (BSc Hotel Catering, Surrey 1981, MBA, Wits 1988 Cum Laude), works as an adviser to private and public clients in tourism, including the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, the Tony Blair Institute, and previously Special Advisor to the Tourism Minister; Minister Derek Hanekom. Before Gillian was Deputy CEO of the Audit/Advisory Firm, Grant Thornton and head of their Advisory Services. Gillian’s was also Global Sector Leader, Hotels and Tourism for Grant Thornton. Gillian has consulted extensively in all aspects of these industries throughout Africa. Her work includes tourism destination and marketing strategies, and working on many aspects of feasibility, market development, economic and social impacts, including for accommodation, conference and exhibition industry, air-routes, airports, attractions, and more. Prior to consulting she worked in the hotel and catering industries in the UK, France, Germany Switzerland and South Africa in various operations positions and later heading up IT for Southern Sun Hotels.