Industry and Academia: ICMS welcomes Dr Nicole Hay as Postgraduate Program Manager for Hospitality, Tourism and Events

The International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) welcomes Dr Nicole Hay as the new Postgraduate Program Manager for Hospitality, Tourism, and Events.  

This appointment underlines ICMS’ ongoing commitment to providing industry-relevant education to students, focusing on high academic standards and real-world experience. 

“I’ve always wanted to work with an institution that was as passionate about getting students as industry ready as I am,” Dr Hay said, adding that ICMS’ values and overall strategic direction aligned with her own. 

“I completed my bachelor’s degree at an institution similar to ICMS in my home country. All my lecturers were either actively working in industry or used to work in industry and the knowledge and experience they passed on to me was invaluable.  

“They prepared me quite well and realistically for what to expect in the real world and I’ve always wanted to do the same for future industry leaders. 

“This is the perfect opportunity to not only interact with and mentor students who are passionate and committed but also to ensure that what we teach remains relevant and keeps our industry (Hospitality, Tourism and Events) competitive.” 

Bridging Industry Expertise with Academic Excellence

Dr Hay brings to ICMS a rich background in the tourism, hospitality and events industries.  

She has previously served as the Conference & Events Executive at Brisbane Marriott Hotel, Customer Service Supervisor at UniLodge Australia – St Lucia, and the Sales & Marketing Manager at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. 

In terms of academia, Dr Hay graduated from the University of Technology in Jamaica with a BSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management in 2006, where she majored in Hotel and Resort Management. 

In 2014, she completed an MSc in Tourism Destination Development at Dalarna University in Sweden.  

Dr Hay completed the Doctor of Philosophy course in Tourism at the University of Queensland in 2023 with a thesis title: Destination branding in the eyes of residents: Investigating residents’ participation in destination branding. 

“I plan to use my expertise in both research and practice to ensure that the postgraduate programs, specifically, THE, remain relevant.  

“To do this, we have to ensure that we keep on top of trends and, to some extent, predict what may become important to the industry in the future.  

“If we can predict certain changes in behaviours and expectations; stay on top and ahead of industry trends and also keep a close eye on our competitors internationally, then we are able to design lectures, assessments and activities that better prepare our students for the real world and also, make our students more resilient and adaptable to change.” 

Mentoring and Graduate Employability a Goal

“My goal is to ensure that all students who complete the MEM or GCEM program with ICMS are employed in a related position as soon as they have passed their last subject,” said Dr Hay. 

“I love getting to know people and understanding their strengths and weaknesses. I think once you understand someone then you are better able to guide them to their ultimate goal.  

“For these students, particularly  for the Master of Event Management and Graduate Certificate in Event Management courses, I understand everything that they may be going through.  

“I have been an international student for both my Masters and PhD; I am from a small developing country; I’ve been away from my family and loved ones; I’ve had to work full time while studying; I’ve done internship, so I get it, it’s not easy.  

“I hope to bring a sense of empathy to this role but also use my past experiences to motivate the students, showing them that with hard work, anything can be achieved.” 

For an overview of Dr Hay’s academic publications and memberships, click here.  

• ICMS, located in Northern Beaches, NSW, and in the city of Sydney, offers a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.  

Postgraduate degrees specializing in Tourism, Events and Hospitality include:  

Master of Event Management  

Master of Management (Tourism and Hospitality) 

Graduate Certificate in Event Management 

Graduate Certificate of Business (Tourism and Hospitality Marketing)  

For the full range of ICMS degrees available, click here.