Meet the Team

Our Team

AIH Group is headed by Executive Chairman, Rodger Powell, supported by a strong Executive and Senior Management team with depth of expertise across all areas of hospitality and tourism management, operations and marketing.

Rodger L. Powell
Executive Chairman

Rodger’s career has spanned four continents and encompassed a diverse array of disciplines including service, marketing, information technology, leadership and bottom-line profitability. He is a highly qualified Company Director with past governance roles including Board directorships with Tourism Whitsunday’s, Tourism Transport Forum (TTF) Australia and Chairman of the Queensland Regional Tourism Associations. He is current Chairman of BIG4 Holiday Parks Pty Ltd, Director of Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau and Executive Chairman of AIH Group. Rodger has held senior management positions for Southern Pacific Hotels (now IHG), Hilton, Best Western, Lion Nathan and gaming and fitness giant Bally. Prior to his current role as Executive Chairman of the AIH Group, Rodger’s five year leadership as CEO of Best Western Australia with 270 hotels nationally, delivered record growth in brand equity, revenue and distribution for the company.

Patrick Raper
Chief Financial Officer

Patrick brings over 25 years experience as Chief Financial Officer establishing and managing all aspects of commercial administration; financial planning, management and reporting; ASIC, ASX and tax compliance; and corporate governance to the Group. In similar roles for Citibank, Thomas Cook Travel and Financial Services, TourAust, Multiplex Capital Investment Management and CMA Corporation, Patrick has led mergers and acquisitions; broker and investor liaison; due diligence and transaction finalisation; capital management including debt and equity financing; and managed the start up listing on the ASX of the multinational company CMA. Patrick holds an accounting degree from The University of Technology, Sydney and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants.

Jason Starr-Thomas
Group General Manager and Director of Finance

Jason has over 15 years experience in service, hospitality, food service and franchising industries with an emphasis on operations, strategic management and quality assurance. In addition to owning and operating successful restaurants and cafes in both Sydney and Brisbane, his credentials include Best Western Australia; Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation and Australian Hotel Association QLD. He holds numerous industry qualifications, a Bachelor of Business and is a registered Licensee with the NSW Liquor Administration Board.

Lesley Aitken
Director of Marketing

Lesley is an award winning, Masters degree qualified sales and marketing professional with experience within service, tourism and infrastructure industries. Her passion for adding value to both business and customers through brand management, relationship marketing and product development has proven substantial revenue growth in previous management roles for Qantas Airways; Travel Corporation Group; Pinpoint; Sydney Airport; Australian Institute of Management and Sydney Olympic Park Authority.

Nick Harriman
Director of Operations

Trained at Les Roches Hotel Management School in Switzerland, Nick has held senior Food and Beverage Operations and General Management positions both nationally and internationally. Nick developed Accor Hostel concept ‘BASE” from inception and expanded the group to nine operating businesses within 18 months. His expertise also created substantial profit and business growth for Royal Lakeside Novotel, Rotorua; Bora Bora Lagoon Resort, Tahiti; Plein Ciel Boutique Hotel Switzerland; SOCOG Equestrian Centre; Peppers Hotels; and International College of Management Manly.

Steven McPharlin
State Manager QLD

Steve’s almost 20 year career in hospitality and tourism demonstrates a passion for the industry, cutting edge standards and outstanding customer service. Steve has held senior executive operational roles for world renowned brands such as Voyages Hotels & Resorts, P&O Resorts, Best Western, and the Coles Group along with high quality, boutique hotels and pubs throughout Indonesia, Fiji and Australia. His leadership and success in delivering marginal cost control, improved profit and acquisition and integration projects to enhance employee and customer retention will be integral to manage the growth and development of the AIH portfolio in QLD.

Brien Trippas
Chief Executive Officer Trippas White Catering

Brien commenced his extensive career in the UK with a degree in Hospitality Management from Aston University.  After completing his training with the world’s largest catering company, Brien worked in the Middle East and woked his way to General Manager of a large industrial catering company in Australia before forming Rowland Commercial Catering in 1985 with two partners.  In this venture, Brien successfully secured and operated prestigious catering services including Sydney Opera House, The Powerhouse Museum, The Art Gallery of NSW, Wharf Theatre and The Australian Museum.  He sold his shares in Rowlands in 1990 to form Trippas White.  Brien holds a Caterers Liquor Licence and is the President of the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association of NSW, Treasurer of Restaurant and Caterers National Association and sits on the Executive Council of The Employers Federation of New South Wales.

Megan Knoetze
Director of Human Resources

As a Management Trainee with Hotel Inter-continental in Sydney, Megan soon recognised her passion and began pursuing challenging HR roles in both Sydney and London. Career highlights over the past 10 years include high profile, high volume, catering companies - Spotless, P&O UK, Carlton Hotel Group, and Gardner Merchant.Prior to joining AIH, Megan held the position of National HR Manager for UK and Europe for Select Service Partner (a Compass Group company) for three years responsible for 6,500 employees. Megan holds relevant qualifications from both Sydney and UK based institutions and is respected in all facets of HR.