Community
4 March, 2026
Big win for Nina
GREAT Ocean Road Regional Tourism (GORRT) are proudly celebrating the success of Nina Barlow winning the 2026 Lynette Bergin Award for Tourism Excellence, announced at last Wednesday’s Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) Vision Summit in Melbourne.
The award offers up to $10,000 for the recipient to undertake an industry-related case study and a further $2000 for the recipient’s employer.
The funds will support Ms Barlow’s research project into how user-pays and incentive-based management systems can be designed and applied within a Victorian tourism context, looking at systems which can support sustainable visitor management and positive outcomes such as visitor dispersal.
The project outcome will be the development of a set of visitor management principles which can inform future destination planning and support funding the maintenance of natural attractions and visitor sites and provide community and environmental benefits.
The VTIC chief operations officer Chris Porter presented the strongly contested award.
“Nina’s submission demonstrated commitment, vision and a bold approach to make a difference in our industry,” he said,
“Her project stood out for its clarity, relevance and ambition.”
Ms Barlow is a Corangamite Shire resident and is no stranger to the impacts of visitor management challenges in the region, witnessing them firsthand long before she took on her role managing Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism’s digital content platform.
She said she was extremely grateful for the opportunity.
“The inspiration to apply for this award was an opportunity to step outside my day-to-day role and develop new skills in an area which is becoming increasingly relevant to our industry,” Ms Barlow said.
Advertisement
Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism are proud of Nina’s win and look forward to the outcome of her project setting a way forward for best-practice visitor management principles.
“Nina’s win is a fabulous opportunity for her and her professional development, but equally great for her role and contribution to GORRT and the region,” GORRT general manager Liz Price said.
“She is a valued and crucial member of our small team and our organisation is excited to support her on this important project, which is not only relevant but critical to our region right now.
“Her research will explore how other destinations around the world are effectively dealing with visitor management and what principles or strategies may be relevant here.”
Lynette Bergin was one of the tourism industry’s stalwarts and, before she passed in 2004, was one of the first to bring ‘Team Victoria’ to the world stage, leading international trade missions and building relationships with international trade and travel wholesalers, helping to grow awareness of Victoria and making the tourism sector what it is today.
Her family supports this award each year to honour her legacy and commitment to the tourism industry.
“This award is for people who want to shape the future of Victoria’s tourism and events industry for the better, striving to build their skills, deepen their knowledge and contribute fresh insights to our industry,” Mr Porter said.
“Most importantly this is an award that reflects the spirit and legacy of an extraordinary individual; Lynette Bergin.”
Read More: local