In Travel Weekly’s second feature to celebrate International Women’s Day, on 8 March, we recognise some of the awesome women at AAT Kings who talks about their careers in travel, what has impacted them most, top tips for women starting out, and Mum guilt!
Dianne Morgan – GM Group Marketing
What inspired you to join AAT Kings, and how long have you been with the business?
I joined AAT Kings in 2021, in the midst of COVID. My previous tourism experience was entirely within hotels, and moving to AAT Kings has allowed me to broaden my perspective and truly understand the depth and diversity of our tourism industry. I’ve gained a much deeper appreciation for the scale of what we do and the impact we have. I have now been with the business for several years, and it has been incredibly rewarding to contribute to rebuilding, evolving and strengthening our brands during such a pivotal period.
In your experience, how can travel help elevate and highlight women’s stories?
Travel, at its core, is about people and storytelling. It creates powerful opportunities for women’s voices to be heard — across cultures, communities and generations. Through travel, we meet other female travellers, female guides, community leaders, artisans, business owners and storytellers who may not otherwise have a global platform. When travellers listen to their stories, engage with their perspectives and support their businesses, they are actively contributing to greater visibility and empowerment.
Throughout your journey, who has been a mentor or role model to you, and how has their guidance shaped your path?
Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have both formal and informal mentors. Each has challenged me, offered wisdom, and influenced important decisions along the way. One piece of advice that has stayed with me came from a former Hotel General Manager early in my career, who told me that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. At the time, it was a simple statement — but it fundamentally shaped how I approach leadership. It gave me permission to be collaborative and to seek diverse perspectives.
What message would you share with young women who are just starting their careers?
Be open to opportunities — you never know where they may lead. Some of the most defining moments in my career have come from saying yes to roles or projects that felt outside my comfort zone. Growth rarely happens in the familiar.
Elisa Milazzo – Operations Administration Manager
What inspired you to join AAT Kings, and how long have you been with the business?
I joined AAT Kings back in 2011 and have been with the business for 15 years. Over that time, I’ve held a variety of roles across Operations, On Road and Systems, which has given me a really broad view of how our business comes together behind the scenes and out on tour. What has always inspired me to stay is the people. I’m incredibly passionate about the teams I work with day in and day out – both our office teams and our on-road Tour Directors and drivers proudly showcasing their passion for Australia and NZ to our guests. One of my most memorable moments with the TDs was a few years ago in Queenstown NZ. They had a surprise in store for me, which ended up at AJ Hackett Bungy. Before I knew it, I was strapped into a bungy cord – very unwillingly! Let’s just say it’s a day I’ll never forget. (photo attached)
In your experience, how can travel help elevate and highlight women’s stories?
In my experience, travel is a powerful platform for elevating and celebrating women’s stories. The industry is incredibly supportive, with events and initiatives creating space for women to share their experiences, champion one another and offer genuine advice. I was fortunate to speak at the International Women’s Day CATO Luncheon in 2024 (photo attached) – despite feeling immediate imposter syndrome, the experience was incredibly rewarding, and the connections and conversations afterwards reinforced just how powerful it is for women to have platforms to be heard and championed.
Throughout your journey, who has been a mentor or role model to you, and how has their guidance shaped your path?
I am a full-time working mum with two young girls, my manager Jody (photo attached) has been a true role model. As a mother of four who has built a successful career, she embodies the balance of strong leadership with genuine presence and care. Through both her example and her guidance, I’ve learned to prioritise what truly matters, set clear boundaries between home and work, remain flexible, and share the load by empowering those around me. Watching how she navigates resilience, adaptability and the inevitable ‘mum guilt’ with honesty and confidence has been incredibly inspiring. Jody has profoundly shaped my leadership style and the kind of working mother I strive to be.
What message would you share with young women who are just starting their careers?
I would encourage young women starting their careers to :
Say yes to opportunities – even if it’s outside your comfort zone – because that’s often where the greatest growth can happen.
Don’t just focus on climbing upward; sometimes sideways moves can broaden your experience and position you for the next big step.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or respectfully challenge ideas – curiosity and confidence are strengths, and they show you’re engaged and looking for alternative outcomes.
Audrey Peltier – Contact Centre Sales Agent
What inspired you to join AAT Kings, and how long have you been with the business?
In April 2026, it will mark two years since I joined AAT Kings as a Reservations Sales Consultant. From a young age, I’ve always dreamed of working in the tourism industry. When I decided to move to Australia, my goal was to find a job in this field to develop my skills further. Before arriving, I didn’t know much about Australia or New Zealand. AAT Kings has provided the perfect opportunity for me to pursue my dream job—offering incredible tours to our customers in the country I’ve just arrived in, while also immersing myself in the experience and gaining a deeper understanding of both Australia and New Zealand.
In your experience, how can travel help elevate and highlight women’s stories?
Travel is, for me, one of the most beautiful things a person can experience in their life. In my case, travel has been life changing. As a young woman who was shy, lacked confidence, and often felt lost, traveling allowed me to step into my own power, assert myself, and become the fulfilled woman I am today. I’ve often travelled solo, mostly in South Africa and Asia. Far from my home, family, friends, familiar places, and the culture I knew, these experiences pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. I learned to take care of myself, which has brought me inner peace, happiness, and a greater sense of purpose. Along the way, I’ve met incredible people from all over the world who have profoundly impacted my life. I’ve learned so much from their stories and perspectives. Each adventure has helped me grow and broaden my mind. In a world where women are often underestimated, travel has given me the confidence to achieve more than I ever imagined.
Throughout your journey, who has been a mentor or role model to you, and how has their guidance shaped your path?
Throughout my journey, my role model has been François, a Frenchman I met during my first trip to South Africa. He comes from the same rural area in France as I do, and he, too, decided to leave France to explore the world. Travel is his passion; he’s explored many countries and gained invaluable experiences overseas. Eventually, he and his husband, JD, decided to create their own travel agency in Cape Town – The Travel Café. I worked with them for about a year, and during that time, I learned so much, both professionally and personally. More than just bosses, they became close friends and incredibly important people in my life.
François has been, and continues to be, a role model for me because I am inspired by his life journey, the challenges he’s overcome, and his ability to stay enterprising, positive, attentive, and helpful. He has a genuine desire to share his knowledge with those he cares about. Both François and JD have shared so much from their own experiences, and they helped me realize that anything is possible when you pursue things with passion and heart.
My role model isn’t a woman, but I believe it’s important to show that good men can also be role models for women. They can offer support, encourage confidence, and help women grow, just as François and JD did for me.
What message would you share with young women who are just starting their careers?
Dare: Dare to dream, dare to believe in yourself, and dare to take opportunities. Dare to trust in your abilities while staying true to your personal values. I also encourage patience – nothing worth achieving comes easily or quickly. The journey may be long, but it will be both enriching and worthwhile.
The most important thing is to always take actions within our control to improve, grow, and keep moving forward toward our goals. Surround yourself with people who share your ambitions or inspire you to be the best version of yourself.
When all of this comes together, doors will open naturally, new opportunities will arise, and with them, more confidence, strength, and courage to face whatever challenges come your way. Remember, everything happens for a reason. If things don’t go as planned, trust that something better is waiting for you.
Mylinda Joyce – TTC Global Director of Talent & Capability
What inspired you to join AAT Kings / TTC, and how long have you been with the business?
I had been working in L&D in the Consumer Brands like Swarovski & Sephora and was looking to diversify industries, so as not to end up pigeon-holed within the L&D space. Travel had always been on my wish list of industries to work in, for all of the same reasons as everyone else – what’s not to love? For me it’s incredibly important to work with people who are dynamic, passionate and FUN! I had a hunch that this would be an industry full of people like this and 4 years on, I have not been disappointed.
In your experience, how can travel help elevate and highlight women’s stories?
I think fundamentally, diversity of experience drives storytelling. When we experience something outside of our own realm it challenges us and (hopefully) sparks our curiosity. It’s one thing to have more stories to tell, but quite another to be on the edge of your seat, hanging on every word of someone else’s story. Travel opens our eyes to the scale of diversity of lives, communities and stories out there – it can’t help but encourage us to consider our own ways of doing things.
Throughout your journey, who has been a mentor or role model to you, and how has their guidance shaped your path?
Most people know that I’ve had a career change in the last decade. The most impactful mentor in my life was my Opera Coach, Patsy Sage. She helped me find strength within myself to own my own voice. Instead of allowing the world, the critics, the academics, the conductors, the directors to tell me how they believed I should sound – she empowered me to own every aspect of my sound as my product, my identity and my source of power and expression. But that wasn’t a free pass. It didn’t make life any easier for me. Once I knew that, I had to work twice as hard to deliver on my potential and maintain that ownership. But it was a far more satisfying journey. Her teachings are still with me on this career path. I try to be driven by my own personal standards and to bring my unique perspective and voice to what I do.
What message would you share with young women who are just starting their careers?
I realise this will sound contradictory to say … but… get out there and make things happen. But be patient with yourself at the same time. The reality is, you can be doing everything right. You can be making the most of every step and that promotion, that next opportunity, that pay rise may still not present itself when you think it should. That’s life! But you should keep driving forward by your own sense of growth and development, anyway!
Be someone people want to work with. Careers are a team sport. You cannot achieve everything you want, on your own, with only your skillset and your energy. We all need people to challenge us, rely on us, to amplify our brilliance and support us while we work out the hard stuff. So be someone that people want to collaborate with, want to spend time with, want to trust and be trusted by.
Rachel Hall – Driver Guide
What inspired you to join AAT Kings, and how long have you been with the business?
I was working in the tip of Queensland in a very different industry when I stumbled across the SEEK ad for a Driver Guide role in Yulara. Having worked in Yulara 11 years prior as a cleaner and always meeting tour guides back then I dreamed of the role for a few years but didn’t really know how to go about getting into the Tourism Industry. I thought seeing the ad must have been a sign. I applied straight away and was wrapped to accept a position with AAT Kings. I’ve been here now for just over 4 months but plan on staying for a few years yet.
In your experience, how can travel help elevate and highlight women’s stories?
Travel is a great way for connection and networking to take place. Women that travel solo or in groups, meeting and connecting with other strong, inspiring women that are having similar experiences is something I find empowering and exciting. Travelling and experiencing other cultures than the ones in which we are familiar is also a strengthening process for women, witnessing the female way of life and role in other cultures often inspires; and can be reflected on for a lifetime.
Throughout your journey, who has been a mentor or role model to you, and how has their guidance shaped your path?
I’ve been super lucky in the wealth of knowledge and support of my fellow female colleagues out here at AYQ. We have a beautiful group of both men and women in our workplace at the moment, and we enjoy hyping each other up and supporting each other. It’s also really inspiring to meet women in tourism roles out here in Yulara and hear their stories about where the industry has taken them and the opportunities that can become available for us. Back home on the East Coast of NSW I also have a fierce support network that backs me on every wild decision I make, like this career change and choice, and I feel very lucky for them!
What message would you share with young women who are just starting their careers?
Ask lots of questions & have fun! We can learn a lot from each other when it comes to the tourism industry and with time and experience you will find your own way of thriving within it. Be curious 🙂
