Q: What was your first job and what did you learn from it that you still use today?
A: My first job was as an apprentice chef and I learned a ton from that experience. One key lesson that stands out is the importance of teamwork and communication.
In a commercial kitchen, even though you may have your own station, working closely with your team and staying in constant communication is crucial to success.
I still believe that teamwork is essential in any role and that’s one of the things I really love about the teams at Intrepid Partnerships – they’re fantastic at collaborating and staying connected.
Q: What’s the first thing you do when you start a new position?
A: The first thing I like to do is get to know my team. Thankfully, my new team are amazing and a lot of fun!
Q: What advice would you give someone wanting to start a career in travel now?
A: Focus on having great conversations. There’s so much to learn in the travel industry and you won’t pick it all up at once. But if you’re good at connecting with people, you’re already halfway there.
Also, travel as much as you can. The more you experience, the more passionate you’ll become about it.
Q: What did the pandemic teach you about yourself?
A: It taught me that I get bored quickly when I’m stuck at home! I love being out and about, meeting new people and experiencing new things.
That said, I also discovered that there are plenty of adventures to be had close to home, I got to know Queensland very well!
Q: If you hadn’t gone into travel, what career path might you have taken?
A: Before I got into travel, I was working in hospitality. While being a chef wasn’t the right fit for me, I always felt that I would have ended up in some other role within the hospitality industry if I hadn’t moved into travel.
Q: How do you think the travel industry is looking at this moment in time?
A: I think it’s an exciting time for the travel industry right now. Travel has come back strong and people are eager to get out there again. But it’s not just about traveling anymore – they’re also focused on ticking off those bucket list experiences.
That’s where Intrepid really shines, as we offer so many of those incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities
Q: Who would you most like to sit next to on a plane, living or dead?
A: When this is a “dinner with” question I always say Amelia Earhart, though that feels like it might be a bad answer if we are sitting on a plane?
Q: What are some of your favourite spots around the world?
A: I’ve always had a soft spot for Southeast Asia, as I was lucky enough to visit there a lot when I was younger.
I also absolutely love the Middle East – the food, the people, and the scenery are all just incredible. It’s an experience that really sticks with you.
Q: What’s your best travel story?
A: Road trips with mum! Years ago in Greece we rented a car in Naxos thinking we’d casually explore the island, without realising the roads were narrow enough to make a bicycle nervous and steep enough to make a mountain goat stress.
We were heading to a lookout when we met a truck driver coming the other way. No room to pass. He starts waving his arms and yelling at us to reverse.
Neither mum nor I are exactly stellar drivers so we just stared at each other, shaking our heads like we’d been asked to do a backflip. Tears were streaming down our faces, stressed out and convinced this would end in a Greek tragedy.
Then this truck driver – bless him – jumps out of his cab, sees us crying like we’re auditioning for a soap opera, and without missing a beat, climbs back in, shakes his head and reverses the entire truck up the mountain.
I’m pretty sure he was thinking, “Silly tourists,” but honestly, I’m just grateful he didn’t drive us off the mountain!
Q: What are you most looking forward to about working with Intrepid Travel?
A: I’m really excited to represent a brand that I’m so passionate about. Intrepid does so many incredible things in the travel industry, from its focus on making travel a force for good, to the amazing destinations and unique experiences it offers, I’m so thrilled to be a part of it.
