TasTAFE Education Manager David Dunn wins the 2025 Launceston ‘Citizen of the Year’ award

Congratulations to David Dunn, TasTAFE Education Manager – Tourism and Hospitality, who has received the ‘Citizen of the Year’ award at the City of Launceston’s 2025 Community Recognition Awards.

These annual awards – held this year at Launceston Town Hall on 22 January – celebrate local community members and event organisers who have made important contributions to Launceston life.

For David, who grew up on a farm 40km from ‘Launnie’, the award is a fitting recognition of his 30-plus years of volunteer work, supporting and delivering major events across northern Tasmania.

Working across multiple organisations, David has clocked-up 33 years of involvement with Rural Youth Tasmania; 28 years as a committee member, chairman and mentor at Agfest; and 18 years with Festivale, including the past 6 years as committee chairman.

David also sat on the board of Launceston’s successful bid to become a UNESCO ‘City of Gastronomy’ in 2021, cementing Launceston’s status as a vibrant, globally significant culinary hub.

City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood presented David with the ‘Citizen of the Year’ award.

“David has been a major contributor to Launceston and northern Tasmanian through his volunteer work,” Mayor Garwood said, noting that David “puts in enormous hours along with his other committee members.”

But for David, the award came as something of surprise.

“I knew that I'd been nominated and was receiving an award – but the notification didn’t actually say which award I was receiving. I thought that Festivale had won ‘Event of the Year’, and I'd be going along as chairman. But it was only on the night that I realised I’d won ‘Citizen of the Year’ – certainly a huge shock!”

David now has a busy year ahead: “I certainly plan to be vocal on issues that are affecting events, tourism and hospitality across the state, where it's appropriate and applicable,” he said, “– purely because if I'm going to do it, now is the time!”

David’s success will also deliver benefits for TasTAFE, our teachers and our learners. Having his voice coming from an educational, events, and now community position means his input will resonate widely across the state.

“I think I've got the runs on the board now, and people will be happy to listen,” he said, “– that's going to be the big benefit for TasTAFE. My contributions won’t just be seen as a one-sided point of view.”

For our teachers and learners, David’s pathway to recognition is a great example of how to navigate a career in the Tasmanian events sector.

“Events is such an attractive area for people to want to go into, but there’s such a limited workforce in Tasmania. You're not going to get a paid job on Day 1: you're going to have to do some volunteer work first and get some experience. Then when a job comes up, you’ll be able to put your name forward and apply. Sharing this pathway with our teachers, so they can on-share it with our learners, is certainly an ongoing benefit.”

Congratulations again David – a well-deserved reward for your tireless work on many major Tasmanian events.