Industry Experts

We call them experts for a reason, because they are the leaders of the industry that we see today. These experts have some common things: They all have years of experiences in the industry, their career journeys have been determined with continuous improvement towards perfection. What actually important for us is that they simply know what needs to be done for the industry, and caring for the younger generations as well as preparing them for success is one of those. AHA Vietnam is pleased to bring Australian hospitality alumni one step closer the opportunities to approach and learn from our thought leaders.

Meeting our industry experts

Mr Morgan Ulaganathan

Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam is pleased to welcome Mr Morgan Ulaganathan to join our network as an Industry Expert and an outstanding Australian hospitality alumnus from The Hotel School Sydney, Australia. Morgan is currently the Executive Assistant Manager at New World Phu Quoc Resort – a member of Rosewood Hotel Group.

With over 15 years of professional experiences in the hospitality industry, Morgan would like to offer his expertise in Rooms Division and General Management to the alumni network.

Find out more about Morgan’s journey HERE.

Ms Anlee Do

Meet the Expert: Australian Hospitality Alumni Network – Vietnam is pleased to introduce Miss ‘Princess’ Anlee Do – Country Manager Vietnam of Lufthansa Group, our first female member joining the Board of Experts. Anlee is an alumnus from Central Queensland Australia.

If you have heard of this saying: “Some people dance in the rain, others just get wet” by Roger Miller, Anlee is definitely one of those who dances in the rain. She actually thinks that “Happiness is definitely a default state of mind” – at least for her.

How did she get crowded ‘princess’? Follow Anlee’s story for more information HERE.

Chef John McFadden

Australian born and trained, John McFadden commenced his career in the kitchen at the age of 12, starting as a humble kitchen hand. He has over thirty-seven years in the food industry and is well recognised for his attention to detail and leading multiple teams and operations.

John McFadden is one of the great all-rounders of the hospitality industry. From Fine Dining, Hotels, QSRs, Catering Companies and busy club spaces to helping providores and consulting to suppliers and industry McFadden is a highly-motivated chef whose attention to detail is well-known industry-wide.

Interested in knowing more about Chef McFadden? Read our full article HERE.

Mr Clay Clayton

Joining Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam as a hospitality specialist with 25+ years experience across Australia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. Mr Clay Clayton joined Fusion Hotel Group in December 2020 as the General Manager of Fusion Suites Vung Tau where he is very proud to be a part of a passionate and dynamic team that are pioneering great hotel products.

Respected as a genuine person of strong values and integrity, Mr Clayton sees himself as a highly driven self motivated person that is passionate about life and he thrives on its challenges.

Find out more information HERE.

Mr Justin Louey

Meet Justin Louey, our Melbourne based Expert of Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam. Justin is the man who wears many hats: a full time hospitality professional as the Pre-Opening Front Office Manager at the Marriott Melbourne Docklands, a part time lecturer at William Angliss Institute and the husband to a Hanoian wife, who has set his heart for Vietnam as the second home that he’d always look forward to going back!

Interested in knowing more about Justin? Read our full article HERE.

Ms Kristin Le

Meet the Expert: Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam is delighted to welcome Ms Le Minh Thao (Kristin Le) to join us as a member of the Board of Experts. Ms Kristin Le is currently the Chief Happiness Officer at Pharmacity. Prior to her newest appointment at Pharmacity as Chief Happiness Officer, Kristin had spent over 13 years serving in luxury hotel services from top international hotel brands such as Accor, Marriott and Intercontinental.

Kristin would like to picture her role as an influencer to assist her younger generations in hospitality to achieve their goals. Read our full article HERE.

Mr Brad Bennett

Meet the Expert: Mr Brad Bennett, a renowned renowned Restaurateur and culinary educator, passionate about his career and the hospitality industry. He has owned and operated many restaurants in Melbourne, has relocated and worked in London, then Monaco and then spent a several years in China lecturing at the Chengdu University of Technology in hotel management and western cookery before returning to Australia. Brad Bennett is the founder and CEO of Le Culinaire Hospitality Institute, the Institute has been his drive and vision for the past four years.

In 2020 Brad was to Achieve his certificate as “World Chefs Culinary Educator”. Read full article HERE

Mrs Kerry Newsome

Meet the Expert: Mrs. Kerry Newsome has been working in the Travel & Marketing industry for over 20 years, in sales, marketing & communication roles. During these years, Kerry lectured part time in marketing for a private college in the years 2001 – 2008, and covered topics such as Integrated Marketing, Direct Marketing, Creativity, Presentation skills, and Database Marketing. Further to her lecturing, Kerry went on to join the RTO Priority Management, and trained business people in Influencing skills, Negotiation skills and Time Management.

In 2020, despite the pandemic, Kerry decided to take Vietnam travel experiences to a new channel and so she started her own podcast called “What About Vietnam – traveller Insights:” Now with a growing base of listeners, she is well known through her podcast and website www.whataboutvietnam.com Read full article HERE

Mr Mario Mendis

Meet the Expert: Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam is pleased to welcome Mr Mario Mendis to join our network as an Industry Expert. He has a huge passion in the Hospitality industry, not afraid to jump in and assist where is needed to contribute to the overall mission and success of a business. Mario is currently the General Manager at Sofitel Saigon Plaza – managed by Accor Group.

Mario has more than 22 years’ experience at hotels across The Middle East, South East Asia and the Pacific region. First entering the hotel business at the Carlton Crest in Brisbane, he has been working for various international hotel chains such as Le Meridien, Swissotel, Amari & Centara Grand, specializing in Food & Beverage leadership roles. Mario first joined Accor in 2015 at the Pullman Danang Beach Resort and came back to Accor at Sofitel Saigon Plaza in August 2018 as Executive Assistant Manager, subsequently rising up to General Manager.

Read full article HERE