Lizard Island hires new execs

By Travel Weekly

North Queensland resort Lizard Island has announced two new key appointments to its onsite executive team.

The resort has welcomed industry veteran Leon Pink (pictured above) as general manager, while executive chef Winston Fong has arrived this month at the helm of Lizard Island’s beachside kitchen.

Together, Pink and Fong bring decades of experience gained from their leadership roles at high-end resorts in both Australia and overseas.

Pink was most recently the resort manager at Four Seasons Mahe in the Seychelles, and previously held the role at One&Only Reethi Rah in The Maldives.

He was also previously the resort manager at Queensland’s One&Only Hayman Island following long stints as general manager at Elements of Byron, Voyages Ayers Rock Resort and Outrigger Koh Samui Resort (now Deva Samui).

“When I first started in hospitality, I really fell in love with the teamwork and camaraderie of the industry,” Pink said.

“I feel I’m well-versed in the challenges of remote living and working, and building a rewarding culture and motivating a live-in employee base over the past two decades has been an opportunity to develop valuable interpersonal and leadership skills.”

Fong was most recently the executive chef at Orpheus Island resort, where he led a team of 10 in the kitchen, established a kitchen garden and developed a love for the diverse range of premium ingredients on offer in Queensland’s tropical north.

Previously, Fong headed up the kitchens at luxury resorts in Fiji, including at Malala Beach Club and on the prestigious Kokomo Private Island in Fiji’s Kadavu.

Winston Fong

“I’m thrilled to be on Lizard Island, with the open-air restaurant looking out over Anchor Bay and an established food and beverage team that’s already made my arrival so seamless and welcoming,” he said.

“I really enjoy working with the small producers who grow premium ingredients in our local food bowl which stretches from the Daintree Rainforest, north to Cairns and west to the Atherton Tablelands.”

Lizard Island is the northernmost island on World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. The resort features 40 suites and villas offering access to 24 white-sand beaches, and is a founding member of the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection.

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leon pink lizard island north queensland resort Winston Fong