Board of Directors

Tourism South East’s Board is a diverse mix of tourism leaders and stakeholders from across the South East.

Chairman

Ken Robinson CBE FTS, Chairman

Ken Robinson assumed the role of Chairman in April 2012, having been a member of the Board and its predecessor (Southern Tourist Board) since its formation. 

Ken is passionate about tourism and has wide experience and knowledge of the industry. He has no political affiliations but believes that politician's do not fully appreciate the needs of the industry and the potential it has to contribute to economic growth and the quality of life for visitors and for host communities.  He believes that TSE has a vital role to play in supporting our private and public sector partners achieve this.

Ken is also Chairman of Visit England's Visitor Attractions Group and a member of their Strategic Industry Advisory Group.  He is a member of VisitBritain's British Tourism Industry Group, a Board member of the Tourism alliance and Chair of the Tourism Society Think Tank. 

Executive Directors

Peter Colling, Managing Director

Peter Colling has spent his career at regional tourist boards.  He joined the Southern Tourist Board (STB) as Development Services Manager in 1998 where he introduced and developed research and training services – later adopted by all other regional boards.  In 2010 he became Operations Director at Tourism South East, STB’s successor leading the organisation’s interventions in the fields of research, training, regeneration, sustainability, accessibility, visitor services and policy development. 

He assumed the role of  Managing Director in January 2012.

 Peter is also the Honorary Treasurer of the Tourism Management Institute and a fellow of the Tourism Society.

John Atherton ACA, Interim Company Secretary

John previously worked for Tourism South East between 2002 and 2006 after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with local firm Burnett Swayne and has returned on an interim basis after serving five years as Director of Finance and HR at East of England Tourist Board.

Non-Executive Directors

Local Authority and Industry Representatives

Sandra Barnes-Keywood (Chapel Forge B & B)
Tourism Council Representative
Sandra is also a member the Tourism South East Remuneration Panel.

Viv Williams (Hollybank House)
Tourism Council Representative  

Jan Halliday (Director of Marketing and Communications, BAA Southampton Airport)
Tourism Council Representative

Hayley Beer (Tourism Services Manager, West Oxfordshire District Council)
Chair Destination Managers' Forum

Chairs for Area Tourism Partnerships

Lyn Bibbings (Oxford Brookes University)  
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire
Lyn is also member of the Tourism South East Audit Panel.

Stephen Munn (National Motor Museum, Beaulieu)
Hampshire
Stephen is also member of the Tourism South East Audit Panel.

Sandra Matthews-Marsh (Visit Kent)
Board Representative for Kent

Co-Optees

David Philip, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
David is Vice-Chair and also Chairman of the Tourism South East Audit Panel.