Q: What was your first job and what did you learn from it that you still use today?
A: My first job was at 15 as a waitress in a café as I knew I wanted a career in hospitality. So, working in a fast paced environment at a young age certainly taught me a strong work ethic and how important team work is.
Q: What’s the first thing you do when you start a new position?
A: I like to organise a casual chat with each of my team members so I can get to know them better, not only from a professional perspective but also from a personal perspective. Relating to people and building relationships is so valuable.
Q: What advice would you give someone wanting to start a career in travel now?
A: The travel industry is so diverse, so if you’re passionate about travel and thrive in a fast paced environment – go for it! No two days are the same, whether you have a specialty in sales, graphic design or accounting.
Q: What did the pandemic teach you about yourself?
A: That I am not cut out to be a teacher – homeschooling children is the worst!
Q: How do you think the travel industry is looking at this moment in time?
A: The strong recovery and incredible growth that I have watched unfold post-COVID has been amazing. I feel as though it has brought about a greater appreciation of our industry and also showed travellers how valuable travel agents are.
Q: If you hadn’t gone into travel, what job might you have pursued?
A: Prior to joining the travel industry, I worked as a chef for 10 years. I became a chef because I wanted to be able to travel and work, which I accomplished.
However, I discovered in my travels that my passion for travelling was greater than my passion for hospitality and that I had a knack for sales, so I followed that and ended up here.
Q: Who would you most like to sit next to on a plane, living or dead?
A: Tina Turner – she was and still is such an inspirational and powerful woman. I love the fact that she decided to reset her whole life and career and really took control of her life and stepped into her own in her 40s. I would just want to listen to everything she had to say, so hopefully it’s a long haul flight.
Q: What are some of your favourite spots around the world?
A: Africa. You can see famous buildings and architectural structures all over the world, but to be on safari and physically standing in an animal’s backyard, witnessing them in their natural habitat is something so unique and special.
Renmark in South Australia. That’s where I spent all my childhood holidays and there’s something deeply nostalgic about being there. Plus, being close to the water just resets and grounds me.
The Red Centre. When international guests ask me the one place they should visit in Australia, for me it’s the Red Centre. With the vast landscapes, millions of stars and the red dirt it’s uniquely and authentically Australian.
Q: What is your best travel story?
A: I was on safari in Chobe National Park in Botswana. It was sunset and our leader took us to the edge of the Chobe River for us to see a herd of elephants having a drink before they wandered off to bed.
Our leader let us get out of the vehicle to take in the experience and take photos, when suddenly a fisherman that was nearby did something that spooked them (so naughty of him).
Naturally, the herd got angry, so when they turned around and saw a group of tourists nearby, they started stamping their feet with their trunks up in the air, before they started charging us.
Our leader then told us to slowly get back into the vehicle (easier said than done when you have angry elephants chasing you!). Thankfully we all made it back on the vehicle safely, but needless to say we were all terrified.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about working with Journey Beyond?
A: I’m thrilled to be back working for an operator, promoting the unique and iconic experiences we have right here in our own backyard.
Witnessing people’s excitement to travel is truly inspiring. The wealth of industry knowledge and experience at Journey Beyond is incredible and working alongside such inspirational professionals is amazing.
