Team

Ricky Jeffs offers over 35 years’ experience in the hospitality industry.

He has managed hotels across Accor Asia Pacific and Marriot International.

As a member of the ERDI Board of Directors Ricky Jeffs and the Board, share a vision to transform the current business portfolio to premium branded hotels that push the boundaries on design and function, while providing an exceptional guest experience.

Qualifications:  Dip App Sc (Med Radiography), B Bus (Acc), PhD (RMIT)

Dr Amalia Di Iorio AM is a Professor of Finance and currently Pro-Vice Chancellor (Educational Partnerships) at La Trobe University, after holding numerous senior executive positions in the Australian university sector, including MBA Director at La Trobe and MBA Director at RMIT University.

Amalia has an outstanding record as a teacher, having taught in Australia and throughout Asia.  She has received nine teaching awards, including two at the national level.  Her research has appeared in top international journals, and she has been a Chief Investigator of projects that have been awarded highly competitive Australian Research Council (ARC) grants.

Amalia is the Chair of the Board of the International Specialised Skills Institute.  This not-for-profit organization has, for over 30 years, been dedicated to enabling Australians to undertake study into world’s best practice in their area of artisan skill.

Amalia is a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to tertiary education, skills development, and transformative advocacy for women’s success.

Board member since 2013. Jeffrey Appel is Chairman at SBA Law and specialises in commercial structures, commercial litigation, mergers and acquisitions generally, with an emphasis on large scale and complex commercial litigation including contract law, trade practices, building disputes and finance issues across a range of industry sectors.

Jeffrey is a Director of the Board of Jewish Care (Victoria) Inc and is Chair of the Building Sub-committee and Chair of the Gold Patrons Division of the Jewish National Fund Victoria.

Jeffrey was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2014 for services to the community, particularly in the field of social welfare.

Emma Belden is a seasoned professional with over two decades of operational management experience in the hospitality industry. With a genuine passion for teaching and mentoring, Emma enriches the classroom with practical skills and real-world insights, empowering students for success in the field.

She has held leadership roles across diverse sectors such as leisure, fine dining, events and aged care, cultivating a comprehensive understanding of industry dynamics.

Committed to inclusivity, Emma champions diversity and community engagement, recognising the importance of working with Sudanese refugees and Indigenous partnerships to create employment opportunities. This commitment to inclusivity and community engagement continues to be a driving force in Emma’s career, highlighting her dedication to fostering positive change within both the industry and society, a principle she seamlessly integrates into her training programs.

Carolyn Neilson is an accomplished education leader with over 15 years experience shaping learning pathways in the hospitality and training sectors.
During her tenure at William Angliss Institute, she held a variety of senior roles from teaching to leading programs. This breadth of experience has given her a deep understanding of curriculum design, innovative delivery methods, and student success strategies.

With a passion for creating engaging, industry-relevant education, Carolyn bridges academic excellence with practical know-how, ensuring learners are prepared for real-world challenges. Her leadership style is grounded in collaboration, inclusivity, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Now serving as General Manager of Erdi Academy, Carolyn draws on her extensive background to drive high-quality training programs that inspire both personal and professional growth. Her dedication to empowering students and fostering industry-ready skills reflects the Academy’s mission to develop the next generation of hospitality professionals.

Steven Oakley is an experienced leader and business manager with a career spanning more than 25 years in the industry.

From independent multisite Food and Beverage operations through to 9 years with the bespoke QT brand including openings and extensive refurbishments. Driving a large team for a collective common goal along with creating a pipeline of talent is what motivates Steve.

The ERDI values and aspirations align with Steve’s personal ethos and desire to deliver exceptional service to our guests and solid returns for our efforts.

Matt Davoren has been Chief Financial Officer of ERDI since 2019 and has 20 years’ experience providing a full range of accounting, audit, advisory and corporate finance services to both private businesses and public companies.

Matt previous held senior finance roles across hospitality, hotels and property groups after spending the first 8 years of his career at Deloitte.

Matt is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and a holds a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance.

With a passion for the hospitality industry, Alex has an extensive marketing experience in different large hotel groups including The Langham Hospitality Group and TFE.  Alex a keen interest and expertise in online digital strategy, creative direction, branding, social media strategy as well as website design and function. Alex also worked in the education industry for 3 years, teaching English in South Korea.

Alex joined ERDI in 2022 and is excited by bringing the ERDI brands to life in innovative ways whether it’s at one of our hotels or one of our excellent bars or restaurants. Alex loves all things travel and exploring Melbourne’s amazing food scene.

With over three decades of experience in the travel industry, Rebecca Ferguson has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in various areas including sales, marketing, and distribution. Rebecca has held various senior leadership positions in several prominent travel companies and joined ERDI in 2015 to oversee the group’s Sales and Marketing strategy.

More recently, Rebecca has transitioned into Risk and Compliance, where she helps navigate complex regulatory environments and mitigate risks.

Rebecca is also championing our acceleration of sustainable solutions in our hotels.

Chris is an experienced hotelier and commercial leader with a progressive career spanning over twenty years in business development, account management, marketing, communications and operations in recognised luxury and mid-market hotel brands including Pan Pacific hotels Group, Intercontinental hotels Group, Langham Hospitality Group and Constellation Hotel Group.

Joining the ERDI team in January 2023, Chris is focused on ensuring exceptional customer experiences at all points of the customer journey, designing commercial strategies and plans to support retention and growth while working closely with hotel sales teams to drive performance.

With a natural love of travel, Chris has visited over sixteen countries with still so much left to explore.