Q: Congratulations on your major milestone. What was it that attracted you to the travel industry in the first place?
A: Thank you, it’s certainly been an incredible ride, one that I could never have imagined.
Back in Grade 5, I had a Canadian exchange teacher who invited any interested students to visit him and his family in Canada. I shared this news with my parents who advised that if I could save my own airfare, I could go.
Knowing back then (I can’t remember how) that I had to travel prior to turning 12 on a child’s airfare, the next 12 months were devoted to saving every cent possible through a myriad of paid jobs (I was 10 years old!).
Some of these jobs including collecting aluminium cans at Princess Park after the VFL games, working in the milk bar, a paper round and after school yard duties at my mum’s creche.
Once I had saved the airfare, my dad said I couldn’t go on my own, so mum came too, and my first overseas trip not only included Christmas in London Ontario, but along the way Honolulu, Anaheim, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Washington DC, New York and San Francisco.
Q: That’s quite the first trip, no wonder you were hooked! Looking back over the past four decades, what are some of the major changes you’ve experienced?
A: Advancement of technology without a doubt. From Telex, to fax, to shared computers, now working with three screens! It’s quite astonishing.
From handwriting holiday tickets to ticket printers and now E-tickets. I do miss those reveal stickers that allowed us some creativity and complete flexibly that has long since disappeared!
Q: How do you think the travel industry is looking at the moment as we navigate current world events?
A: The industry is in a particularly interesting position now. We’re seeing strong underlying demand, although it continues to be influenced by global uncertainty.
Our clients remain highly resilient, with a clear shift toward more meaningful, experience-led travel.
More than ever, they’re seeking unique and personalised itineraries tailored to their individual interests.
For me, the key focus is staying agile and continuing to understand, and respond to, these evolving expectations.
Q: What are some of the major challenges (or opportunities) facing travel agents and the industry going forward?
A: Aside from one of the biggest challenges – being the ongoing global uncertainty, including geopolitical tensions – we’re also navigating fluctuating air capacity and pricing volatility.
This makes planning more complex and requires agents to remain well-informed and highly adaptable.
At the same time, clients are becoming more value-conscious and expect a higher level of service, responsiveness and expertise.
However, that’s exactly where the opportunity lies. The role of the trusted travel advisor has never been more relevant.
With so much information (and misinformation) available online, clients are increasingly seeking advisors who can provide clarity, reassurance and thoughtfully curated experiences.
While the landscape is more complex, it’s also more rewarding. Advisors who stay agile, build strong relationships and focus on delivering genuine value are very well positioned for the future.
Q: What is it about the travel industry that you love so much and that keeps you motivated?
A: What I love most about the travel industry is that no two days are ever the same and my clients give me the creative freedom to design truly unique journeys. No itinerary is ever duplicated.
What keeps me motivated is the constant drive to deliver the best for my clients. That pushes me to keep learning, to stay curious and travel regularly, as those first hand experiences provide the most valuable insights and inspiration.
Q: Do you have any exciting travel plans for 2026 that you can share with us?
A: Already this year, I’ve been fortunate to travel to Thailand and the Maldives for the very first time. Next trips will include Greece, Bali and escorting a group to Antarctica later in the year.
