Our staff

Melanie Sensicle, Chief Executive

Melanie started her working life as a dancer working in summer season and panto in Skegness and Exeter, before pursuing a degree at London University. Stints in book publishing and higher education followed before she entered the world of destination management.

During 7-years at VisitBrighton Melanie built up substantial experience in tourism and partnership working. She brings enthusiasm and ambition to County Durham and believes the county is England's hidden jewel.

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Craig Wilson, Destination Development & Marketing Manager

Originally from Sunderland and a time served shipyard welder, Craig returned to education to graduate from universities in Sheffield, Leicester and Nottingham.

Craig spent 6 years with Visit Britain based in Germany and London covering the German, Austrian, Swiss, Japanese and Asian markets. He led the destination marketing and branding of York with York Tourism Bureau, introducing the York Pass, York - Live the History branding, "Stay, just a little bit longer" short break campaign, and the "5 Routes to shopping heaven" and First Stop York by Ferry promotions.

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David McKnight, Business Relationship Manager

Born and brought up in Sunderland, David returned to the county six years ago to work in rural regeneration in Teesdale where he managed the Market Towns Initiative regeneration programme, winning a range of awards for tourism projects during his tenure. He joined CDTP as Business Relationship Manager in July 2007.

Trained as an agri-environmental chemist and soil scientist at Leeds University and a graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, David has worked in a variety of industries and brings expertise in business development, training, project management and enterprise to CDTP coupled with personal knowledge of successful new business start-ups and third sector board level experience.

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Michelle Gorman, Office Manager

Michelle Gorman moved back to the North East in 2006 after living for many years in Hertfordshire. She has worked in a wide range of industries and in businesses large and small. She has been involved in the start up of several small companies which makes her perfect for her central role in the company ensuring smooth running day to day. Michelle is responsible for CDTP's Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

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Margaret Statham, Business Relationship Executive

Originating from North West Durham, Margaret returned to the County after attending Leicester and Sheffield Universities. She started her working career as a Design and Conservation planner with Durham County Council and joined the County Council's Tourism Team over 20 years ago.

Since then she has gained wide experience in all aspects of Tourism in County Durham. For many years she was responsible for the County Council's tourism publications, including the Holiday Guide, and working with attractions and accommodation has built up an extensive knowledge of the County Durham tourism product.

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Louise Elliott - Product Development Executive

Louise completed an HND and BA (Hons) degree in Tourism Management at Leeds Metropolitan University, and graduated in 2003. The course included a one year work placement as a Trainee Manager at the Swallow Hotel in Gateshead.

After completing her degree Louise spent three and a half years at Destination Durham, a project which involved working with business tourism providers across County Durham.

Louise has a good knowledge of the tourism product within the County, which she puts good use working tourism providers to make Durham a leading tourism destination.

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Sarah Burn - Senior Marketing Executive

Sarah graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 1999 with a BA (Hons) in Art and Design, which has allowed her to have a creative approach throughout her career. With nearly 10 years experience in marketing, she has worked for a number of leading regional and national brands, including Trinity Mirror and SCS, where she gained valuable experience in all aspects of marketing. Having worked predominantly in retail, Sarah is enjoying the opportunity to utilize her skills and experience in a new and challenging industry.

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Matthew Moore, Senior PR Executive

Matthew Moore is a former news and travel journalist with more than six-years experience in journalism and PR and was formerly news editor of Golf Monthly, Britain’s best-selling golf magazine.

Originally from Durham City, Matthew is a Medieval History graduate from the University of St Andrews and trained as a journalist while on the Robert T. Jones Memorial scholarship program to Emory University Atlanta, USA, where he worked at CNN as a broadcast production journalist for six months.

His tourism experience includes authoring a 100-page research study into the economic and cultural impact of golf tourism in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, for the Highland Year of Culture 2007, and managing PR accounts for hotels, golf resorts and destination clients.

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Hazel Gallagher, Database Administrator

Having just relocated to County Durham from Lancashire, Hazel is new to tourism.  She has spent most of her working life in the Motor Industry, for many years being a Data Manager at CAP Motor Research in Leeds and then as PA to the directors of a vehicle remarketing company.  She has gained wide experience in managing and creating bespoke databases containing huge volumes of information.