Q: What was it that inspired you to join the travel industry?
A: When I joined the Flight Centre Travel Group, it was simply because I had fallen in love with travel.
I saw it as a short-term adventure, a way to see more of the world and fund my own explorations. I never expected to fall in love with the company, the culture, the people, or to build a lifelong career.
Over time, I realised it was so much more than just booking trips. It was about being part of people’s stories, from their very first overseas holiday, to travelling to adopt and meet their daughter for the first time, to reunions of friends or loved ones, or just exploring a destination they had dreamed of for years.
That is the beauty of travel. It surprises you in ways you never see coming.
The idea that you can change someone’s perspective on the world and sometimes even on themselves, simply by helping them experience a new place captivated me and kept me in this industry.. I wanted to be part of that magic.
Q: What is it about the travel industry that you enjoy the most?
A: The people; from the travellers to the advisors to the incredible partners we work with. This industry is full of passionate, curious and generous souls who thrive on creating experiences for others.
These colleagues, who are some of my dearest friends, keep me grounded. You are surrounded by like-minded individuals who are genuine, love life and enjoy a good time.
Some days can be incredibly long and some days impact you so deeply they change you forever. There is something truly special about opening up the world to those who want to see it, in creating moments they will carry for a lifetime.
I love that no two days are ever the same and that behind every itinerary there is a story waiting to unfold, a personal journey, a special occasion, or a lifelong dream coming to life.
Q: If you hadn’t gone into travel, what other career path might you have taken?
A: I actually started my pathway to medicine, then quickly pivoted to engineering because maths was my first academic love. I didn’t last long in the profession itself.
Passion is everything, but I adored the way engineering taught me to think. It sharpened my strategic mind, gave me a love for problem-solving and enabled me to become a more rounded leader.
I’m grateful my path led me here, because I can’t imagine a more fulfilling career than the one I’m in right now.
Q: What advice would you give someone wanting to start a career in travel now?
A: Be curious. Be adaptable. And remember that while technology has changed how people book, it has not changed why they travel.
In this hyperinformation and AI-driven age, your role is to stay curious and use your expertise, or the expertise of the network around you, to help clients filter the noise and co-create something that is truly bespoke.
There is so much more to the role than most people realise; long nights, information overload, learning new systems and even a whole new language. Hang in there. It is worth it.
We are not just selling trips; we are crafting and curating experiences with our clients, built around their own “why.” And there is nothing more rewarding than getting that right and hearing their travel stories when they return.
Q: How do you think the travel industry is looking at this moment in time?
A: The travel industry is in one of the most exciting and transformative chapters we’ve ever seen. We’ve moved beyond simply “recovering” from global challenges.
Travellers today are seeking depth, authenticity and meaning in ways we haven’t experienced before. We are living in the hyperinformation age, where clients are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of content, opinions and “top ten” lists at their fingertips.
Our role as advisors has never been more valuable. Our goal is to listen deeply, filter out the noise and co-create itineraries that feel effortless, intentional and perfectly matched to each traveller’s unique dreams. That is where great advisors truly shine.
Q: Who would you most like to sit next to on a plane, living or dead?
A: I think I’d be happy sitting in the middle seat on this flight! If I had to choose, I’d choose Robin Williams and my late grandma.
Robin Williams for his incredible humour, but also for the complexity and depth he carried beneath that laughter and quick wit.
I’d love to hear his stories and insights that went beyond the jokes, making even a long flight feel alive and thought-provoking.
And my grandma would bring a quiet and familiar warmth. Sitting next to her, I’d want to hear stories from long ago and understand the world through her eyes as she grew up, the challenges, the joys. All of it. I think they’d represent a beautiful mix of joy and wisdom.
Q: What are some of your favourite spots around the world and why?
A: This is such a difficult question to answer. Every place I’ve visited has left its mark on me in some way. When you allow yourself to be fully immersed, travel changes you.
If I had to choose one region, it would have to be Europe. It has always captured my heart. From the romance of the Mediterranean coastline at sunset, to the food, the wine and the art of slow living.
The way I travel has also evolved: from budget backpacking to pure opulence to now seeking relaxed luxury where your every desire is anticipated, service is intimate and the destination itself takes your breath away.
And anywhere with a wild coastline or rugged, raw beauty will always draw me in. There’s something grounding about standing at the edge of the world with the ocean stretching endlessly before you or mountain ranges as far as the eye can see.
Q: What is your best travel story?
A: There are so many stories to choose from, but I’ll share one from my very first round-the-world trip with my best friend when I was 22. We were carefree, blissfully ignorant, and bursting with excitement and hope.
When we arrived in Venice, we had no place to stay and quickly discovered it was Carnivale. The entire city was packed, with every hotel and guesthouse booked solid.
Desperate, my friend Lisa called a nunnery on the island and crafted an elaborate story about how we were two young Catholic girls in need of shelter.
To our relief, they let us stay in the dormitory, but with a very, very strict curfew. On our first night, we got swept up in the magic of Carnivale, stumbled into a tiny theatre with an opera singer performing to an intimate crowd, lost track of time and missed our curfew entirely.
We tried to climb gates, get over walls but nothing was getting us back in discreetly. We had to beg to be let back in. Thankfully, they saw the humour in it.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about working with Travel Associates?
A: I’m excited to be surrounded by people who treat travel like an art form. Travel Associates has this wonderful blend of deep expertise, exceptional service and genuine care for clients.
I can’t wait to work alongside a team that shares my belief that travel isn’t just about going somewhere, it’s about how you experience it and the mark it leaves on you and the world.
I’m also incredibly fortunate to be working alongside an executive team who are deeply passionate about the brand, its DNA and the future of luxury travel.
I’m eager to learn as much as I can from them as we continue to grow and evolve the future of luxury travel with heart, ambition and bold intention.
