Robert Taylor
Chief Executive Officer, WAITOC
Robert, a Nhanda man from the Yamaji Nation in Western Australia, has served for the past ten years as Chief Executive Officer for WAITOC (Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council).
Robert has taken the organisation from a marketing and advocacy Aboriginal tourism organisation and introduced business development as a further arm of the organisation, with the goal of building future business leaders and creating a strong and vibrant Aboriginal tourism sector for Western Australia.
His drive to ensure the nation and visitors understand the economic and social values of Aboriginal tourism has been rewarded through securing funding for Aboriginal tourism at the local, state, and federal government levels.
Rob offers over 36 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. He has owned and managed hospitality, tourism, mining, sport and recreation and construction businesses. Having an entrepreneurial spirit, he has proved his capability of diversification, utilising his skills and knowledge to cross over industries to develop diverse income streams.
Robert became WAITOC’s chief executive officer in 2015. He has successfully delivered the Aboriginal Tourism Development Program and growing 39 new Aboriginal businesses across Western Australia. These businesses have created 104 full-time equivalent jobs for urban, regional, and remote communities. He has increased funding to enhance member business outcomes by over 300% and has the drive to create opportunities for Aboriginal people at a state, national and international level.
Robert has successfully worked with national and state governments, not-for-profits and philanthropists, highlighting the importance of Aboriginal tourism and its value to Australia and Aboriginal communities. He has been a leading voice to the government, successfully advocating for $40 million dollars invested into Aboriginal Tourism nationwide from this work.
He has worked with the State Government of Western Australia to help develop JINA: Western Australian Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2021-2025, a $20 million dollar investment into Aboriginal Tourism for the state.
Robert continues to create new partnerships to improve cultural understanding and respect and create positive social outcomes for the Australian Aboriginal People and a strong, diversified, sustainable organisation model.
Robert can differentiate between key opportunities and create embedded processes to ensure outcomes are reached on time and within budget.
