Executive Team
Dr Craig Thompson – Chief Executive Officer
Appointed CEO in 2018, Dr. Craig Thompson brings extensive experience to the Executive Team, having served on the THE-ICE Board of Directors from 2015 – 2018, and as Deputy Chair from 2017 – 2018. Furthermore, Craig has been an active member of THE-ICE Assessment Panel, leading audits in Europe and Asia, and has undertaken audits on behalf of a number of national accreditation organisations including New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Lithuania and Latvia.
Craig holds a BA (Hons.) Humanities studied in Bristol, an MSc in Tourism Management and PhD in Entrepreneurship from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
Craig took his first lecturing role in the University of Derby before moving to New Zealand to develop and manage the country’s first specialist degree in Tourism Management. Another opportunity then took him to Switzerland, where he served as Academic Director of Swiss Education Group, the country’s largest provider of hospitality education. Following a spell in Scotland leading an industry project to create a private hotel school, Craig’s most recent position was as Head of Stenden Hotel Management School, the largest hotel school in Europe, at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
Prior to entering academia, Craig worked in both the public and private sectors of the tourism industry, as a Tourism Development Officer in the UK and as a Resort Manager in France and Spain.
Craig is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and the Higher Education Academy, and is a member of the editorial board for the journal of Research in Hospitality Management and Journal of Tourism Futures.
Through his varied academic career and latterly with THE-ICE, Craig has become completely committed to enhancing the quality of tourism and hospitality education internationally. Craig is convinced THE-ICE has a critical part to play in this process and is thus delighted to be able to lead the organisation.
Craig is committed to developing and establishing THE-ICE as the leading TH&E quality assurance agency through the development of strategic partnerships with government and non-government QA agencies and through the enhancement of benefits to the burgeoning membership of THE-ICE.
Ms Elise Lawrence – Operations Manager & Company Secretary
Elise joined THE-ICE in 2017 and, in her role as Operations Manager, provides operational support across a range of areas including corporate governance, marketing and communications, project and events management, and website administration.
Elise manages the annual THE-ICE ISB-SB (Student Barometer) survey portfolio as well as THE-ICE’s annual signature event, THE-ICE IPoE Forum, including the Roundtable Workshop Series.
With a professional background in administration, communications, and event management, Elise also holds a Bachelor of Business (Management) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Creative and Professional Writing). Elise has a strong interest in interpersonal communication and a passion for the written word, and looks forward to continuing to build strong, fruitful relationships with THE-ICE’s valued members and partners.
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Ms Jade Rheeder – Project Coordinator
Jade joined THE-ICE Executive Team in 2022 as Administrator, overseeing the marketing, communications, event coordination, and general administration duties for the organisation. In 2023 Jade was promoted to Project Coordinator, expanding her duties to managing THE-ICE Webinar Series and THE-ICE Global Revenue Management Challenge.
In 2016, Jade graduated from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, with a Bachelor of International Hotel & Tourism Management, majoring in Events Management and Hotel Management. Over the past 10 years Jade has worked in many different positions within the hospitality, events, and tourism industry, including completing a year long internship at Disney World in Florida, USA.
Jade’s passion for the TH&E sector and love for customer service make her a great addition to THE-ICE Executive Team.
Mrs Wendy Mullarkey – Finance
Working in company finance roles since 1997 in the UK, Wendy was certified by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) in 2002 then progressed her Business Accounting qualifications to Managerial level through the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Following her move to Australia in 2011, Wendy continues to develop her proficiencies through study with the Tax Institute whilst working as a bookkeeper.
With her 15+ years’ experience at dealing with corporate figures, THE-ICE welcomed Wendy on board in 2013 and values both her personal flair and her professional abilities.
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