Robert L. Foord

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With over 35 years experience in the tourism and travel industries, Robert Foord has an intimate understanding of the Australian and international tourism sectors.

He is a former Director of Jetset Tours (WA) Pty Ltd and Jetset Tours (SA) Pty Ltd.  In 1982 he established the Proud Australia Group of Companies.  Since then Mr Foord has expanded the business to become one of Australia’s leading tourism operators. 

The Proud Australia Group now operates Travel Centres in Australia and overseas.  It owns and operates the River Murray cruise vessel Murray Expedition. It also owns and operates hotels in Australia and overseas.  The Group is one of Australia’s major exporters of Tourism. 

Today, the Proud Australia Group maintains the same private ownership but a far more extensive and diverse business portfolio. 

The Group primarily derives its income from:

1. Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
2. Property Development and Investment
3. Media Production and Sales
4. Health and well being

Mr Foord’s humanitarian work has spanned many different areas over the years.  He was instrumental in settling the first Cambodian refugees in Australia and retains close contact with that community.  He is also actively involved in settling the recent Sudanese refugees into Australia and remains committed to that cause.

Mr Foord is:

1. Chairman of Proud Australia Group of Companies
2. Chairman of Travel Auctions Australia Pty Ltd
3. Chairman of the South Australian Tourism Commission
4. Chairman of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre
5. Chairman, Indonesian Humanitarian Organisation/The John Fawcett Foundation
6. Board Member of the Australian Rainforest Foundation
7. Former State Convenor for Australia’s Tourism and Transport Forum
8. A founding member and past Chairman of the South Australian chapter of ATEC formally, the Inbound Tourism Organisation of Australia (ITOA)
9. A past Board Member of the South Australian Travel Agency Licensing Board. 

In 2003 Mr Foord was awarded a Centenary Medal for Services to Tourism.

He lives in Adelaide with his wife Sheryn and they have 5 daughters.