Dean Long

CEO, ATIA

Dean has been at the head of two of the country’s most important peak industry bodies during COVID, successfully leading two of the hardest hit sectors through the devastating and complex challenges.

As CEO of the Accommodation Association of Australia from June 2019 to October 2021 and in his current role as CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association, Dean’s leadership, strategic acumen and extensive policy and political experience have come to the fore.

In these roles, Dean’s inclusive and innovative leadership has underpinned his ability to navigate complex, issues-rich regulatory environments, and engage varied stakeholder groups to progress difficult reforms. This has included successfully leading reform programs including the deregulation of Australia’s travel sector, legislative reform of the working holiday maker visas, the establishment of the Destination NSW Act and the third round of the COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program.

Dean also brings over 15 years as a government relations and corporate affairs professional with experience operating across government, enterprise, and the not-for-profit sector. Dean has leveraged his deep expertise in assisting businesses to understand, navigate and influence governments to deliver tangible commercial outcomes. Dean has also held positions at American Express, the NSW Government and the University of Western Sydney where his collaborative mindset improved each organisation and their understanding of key strategic interactions with community and Government.

Dean holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, Environmental Management and Tourism from Western Sydney University and a Masters of Management from the University of Technology Sydney.