Australia’s top individual honor in the caravan and camping industry, presented at the CIAA National Conference Gala Dinner
Erin Stevenson, our VP of Growth and Client Experience at Newbook, was named the winner of the 2026 THL Industry Leadership Award (Under 40) at the Caravan Industry National Conference Gala Dinner on May 15. It’s the top individual honor in Australia’s caravan and camping industry, and a recognition that’s been a long time coming.
The Caravan Industry Association of Australia gives the award annually to one leader under 40 from across the entire sector. Manufacturers, retailers, park operators, suppliers, and platform companies all compete in the same pool, which is part of what makes the recognition so unusual. Six national finalists made the shortlist this year, and after a rigorous application and interview process Erin was this year’s selected recipient.
For anyone who’s worked with Erin over the past decade-plus, the result probably wasn’t a surprise.
Erin joined Newbook over 13 years ago as one of its earliest team members, helping scale the business from a small Australian startup into a global hospitality technology platform. Now VP of Growth and Client Experience, she has played a key role across building operations in international expansion, customer experience, and two major acquisitions. Recognised as a leading voice in the caravan and camping industry, Erin is also passionate about developing future talent through speaking, mentoring, and founding the Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program.
Newbook joined the Storable family of brands two years ago as its new vertical in RV and campground technology division, Erin has played a key role in strengthening the partnership and driving continued growth and alignment across the Asia-Pacific market.
“It’s clear how respected Erin is within the Australian market and the broader caravan and camping industry,” said Simon Smith, GM of Storable Newbook & Marine. ““The leadership Erin has provided to Newbook locally, to the broader industry across APAC, and increasingly on a global scale has been a meaningful driver of the industry’s growth,” Smith added. “In recent years, her presence front and center at major conferences like OHI has further amplified that impact. Seeing her peers in Australia recognize her contributions is the best possible acknowledgment of her body of work.””
This award carries particular weight because it comes from the Caravanning Industry Association of Australia, which represents the manufacturers, retailers, holiday park operators, and tourism bodies that make up the entire Australian caravan and camping economy. Recognition from that group, in a category that spans every segment of the sector, is about as credible a signal as anyone in this industry can earn.
Modern Campground was at the gala and covered the full slate of awards, which included the Eric Hayman OAM Award for Excellence (BDO South Australia), the Gerry Ryan AO Award for Innovation (Jason Filippini), and the inaugural THL Rising Star Award (Alannah Hein).
“This one genuinely caught me off guard,” Erin said. “I care deeply about this industry and the people in it: the operators, the park managers, the teams doing the day-to-day work. To get this kind of acknowledgment from the industry means more than I can really put into words.”
“Erin is one of the leaders who has helped make Storable’s investment in Australia and Newbook’s growth across the region what it is today. This recognition is incredibly well earned,” added Chuck Gordon, CEO of Storable.
The 2026 THL Industry Leadership Award (Under 40) is administered annually by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia in partnership with THL, a global tourism and recreation vehicle company.
Congratulations, Erin. From everyone at Storable and Newbook, this one is well earned.
