Peter Taylor and Ainsley Pope

Carnival Australia has appointed Ainsley Pope as Public Relations Manager to help drive communications in Australia and New Zealand for its cruise lines.

Ainsley has joined Carnival Australia’s Corporate Affairs team as the company prepares for the busiest month of the summer cruise season.

Nineteen Carnival Australia ships will grace Australian waters including the two largest cruise ships to be based in local waters this summer – Cunard’s 151,400-tonne Queen Mary 2 and Princess Cruises’ 116,000-tonne Diamond Princess.

Ainsley has spent the past eight years with Tourism New Zealand working in London, Auckland and Sydney, where she was responsible for raising the profile of New Zealand among external stakeholders and the media.

Her arrival follows the appointment of Peter Taylor as Carnival Australia Director of Corporate Affairs in October after eight years with Telstra. Carnival Australia’s Corporate Affairs team is responsible for public relations, government affairs, events, staff communications, sustainability and community partnerships.

“Ainsley’s appointment to the corporate affairs team reflects the growing popularity of cruising. Australia and New Zealand are the world’s fastest growing and most exciting cruise markets and the expansion of the team will help us to spur on this love affair,” Mr Taylor said.

“Ainsley has been busy telling the world why New Zealand is such a great place to visit, and so we’re delighted to have her on board to help do the same for the cruise industry.

“Having worked on a P&O Cruises’ ship during her university days, Ainsley already knows her stern from her bow,” Mr Taylor added.