Kirsty Tomas has roamed the world, but it turns out that home for her family, with a whole lot of oak trees and, hopefully, truffles, is a bush block just outside Canberra where peace and quiet reign.
Region’s new sales director joins the team after extended stints in retail and hospitality, having worked in London, Dubai – and Albury.
Born and raised in Cairns, Kirsty says she’s been gradually moving south and ended up in Canberra almost seven years ago.
Like many, she and her husband, who also comes from a hospitality and management background, hadn’t necessarily intended to stay, but the pair were swayed by the Goldilocks nature of Canberra, which proved to be “just right” for them and their growing family.
“I looked at my husband one day and said, ‘You know what, I think this might just be home’, and we both agreed,” she laughs.
With strong ties through her extended family, Canberra feels comfortable and neighbourly to Kirsty but with all the advantages of larger centres.
She and her husband have planted a truffiere on their bush block, formed friendships with their neighbours, and hope to begin harvesting the precious black gold this season.
“Canberra has everything you can get out of a capital but still with that country feel,” Kirsty says.
“We call ourselves the bush capital, and it’s a city, but without the traffic, the high level of crime, the frustration that you get somewhere bigger.
“For me, the joy of Canberra is having the city connections but with the strong regional feel and being no more than a couple of hours from the coast and the snow.”
In her new role, Kirsty heads Region’s sales team and will direct the sales strategy on all our platforms in Canberra, surrounding NSW, the Riverina, Illawarra and Cape York.
While media is new to her as an industry, she’ll be a familiar face to many from her roles with Rydges, directing marketing across the southeastern region and, most recently, at Watson Blinds.
She’s travelled the world working in the hospitality industry with EVENT, Marriott and IHG, and hotels throughout Australia, London and Dubai, which has given her diverse skills and insight.
Kirsty describes herself as “a highly motivated and results-driven sales leader with a passion for creating the best outcome for customers and the business”. Her particular focus is on developing long-lasting client relationships.
She’s excited about the future-driven agenda at Region and being part of an expanding new media business.
“Region‘s journey and growth really attracted me, as did the fact that this isn’t your usual mainstream media business,” she says.
“It’s unique, and the business focuses on locals in everything we do. I find that really exciting as someone who has always worked in roles where I’m trying to serve the community and meet their needs.
“It’s about being able to touch people’s everyday lives in the service we offer to clients and our audience. Region can shape and mould and target our information to the readership as it evolves.
“We’re not looking to the past. We’re poised to take our readers and our clients into the future.”