Meet our regional tourism experts
Passionate. Proven. Purpose-driven.
At Tilma, we’re proud to be a small but mighty team of regional tourism experts who live and breathe rural Australia.
With deep roots in regional communities and decades of combined experience in destination development, sustainable tourism, agritourism, and regional events, we bring insight, creativity and action to every project.
Our team doesn’t just talk tourism — we’ve worked on the ground from international tourism hotspots to remote outback towns. We’ve led regional tourism organisations, judged national tourism awards, designed multi-regional destination management plans, and supported countless tourism operators to grow and thrive.
From strategic planning to capability building and event development, our diverse skills are united by one mission: to help regional and rural Australia shine through meaningful, sustainable tourism.
Linda Tillman
Chief tourism visionary and regional cheerleader
If there was a gold sticker for the “Person most passionate about tourism in regional Australia”, this chick should get one.
Linda has worked in tourism, events, and destination marketing for 20 incredible years since studying a Business (Tourism) degree and travelling Australia working at the frontlines of tourism. She’s delivered events for Charles Sturt University, been CEO of Riverina Regional Tourism, and launched her own consultancy.
Linda’s experience in local government, education and private sectors has given her insight, knowledge and understanding of the tourism industry on a local, regional, state and national level.
Linda’s specialties are events and agritourism - her sixth sense is spotting opportunities.
A true-blue country gal, when she’s not travelling around the countryside giving great advice, Linda is probably trail running with her dogs.
Kushla Gale
Tourism experience across 3 continents
Kushla grew up in amongst the bush near Toowoomba, before ending up amongst the black and white cows of Wisconsin.
For 12 years, Kushla worked in a major tourist destination near Chicago - a rural village serving millions of annual visitors. There she enjoyed motorbike touring and living in a community with people from all across the globe. Later, Kushla spent 4 years living in Spain, England, Germany and Holland.
Kushla loves cycling and gardening, and her passion is a safe climate.
Kushla’s speciality is sustainable tourism. She has a Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Living from the world’s #1 climate action university, in addition to a bachelor in destination management.
Kayla Bauer
Farmer and communications specialist
Kayla is driven by a strong personal purpose to use her passion for communications to help people visit, understand, and fall in love with regional Australia.
An established communications professional, Kayla’s experience encompasses journalism, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications. She has delivered high-impact campaigns for agriculture, disaster recovery and regional festivals, working closely with governments, councils and community organisations.
Kayla understands how storytelling, communications and partnerships can strengthen outcomes for regional communities.
Our regular collaborators
Tilma regularly develops strategic plans together with Jayne Jennings of JJ Strategic Consulting, and collaborates on projects with experts such as mountain biking experts Blue Sky Trails, and economic analysts Lucid Economics.
Jayne Jennings
JJ Strategic Consulting
Strategic direction, experience design and development
Jayne has over 25 years of experience in local government and national and regional tourism organisations delivering projects to help the tourism industry achieve strong performance.
Her tourism experience encompasses Australia and New Zealand across a range of projects including strategic tourism planning, experience design and development, sustainable tourism and creation of training programs and resources.
Jayne regularly assists organisations in designing meaningful and demand-driving tourism experiences, ranging from nature-based and transformational journeys to arts and cultural experiences.
Recent collaborations
Nature Based Tourism Strategy for Tourism and Events Queensland
Events & Visitor Economy Strategy for City of Latrobe
Operator capability building for Experience Gold Coast
Michael Campbell
Lucid Economics
Economic analysis
Michael has 20 years of experience in economic development, tourism, property and industry/economic research on three continents.
Michael works with public and private sector clients using economic and financial analysis to inform strategy development, investment decisions, and government policy.
Michael’s tourism consulting experience is two-fold; working with investors on tourism projects and working with state and local governments in terms of policy and strategy for tourism development.
Michael regularly provides advice and analysis to tourism investors, developers and operators on market/demand assessments, feasibility, due diligence, and economic impact and need assessments to support development approvals for projects.
Michael routinely conducts analysis on hotel and resort developments, caravan parks, eco-developments and other tourism products, attractions, and events. This often includes cash flow analysis, market demand, return on investment and economic impacts.
Qualifications: MBA and IMBA (Finance)
Recent collaborations
Business case for The Wired Lab
Business case for the Australian Agricultural Centre
Business case and securing funding for Narooma Mountain Bike Hub