Insight Australia Travel Pty Ltd (IAT) has appointed Kathy Turner as chief operating officer, effective from 4 May.
Turner joins IAT at a pivotal time as the business continues its strong growth trajectory across both of its core brands: Insight Australia Travel, specialising in international inbound group travel, and Australian Geographic Travel, which delivers small group, set-departure journeys focused on nature, wildlife and conservation. Both brands have experienced significant expansion over the past three years and are well positioned for sustained growth in the years ahead.
Turner is a highly accomplished travel industry executive with extensive leadership experience across Australia and New Zealand. She joins IAT from Across Australia, where she served as general manager for six years and most recently as managing director. Prior to this, Turner held senior roles including general manager New Zealand for AOT Group, country manager New Zealand and associate director – Australia at Agoda.
Widely respected across the tourism sector, Turner has also served as a Board Member of the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) for the past five years.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Kathy to the team,” Insight Australia Travel/Australian Geographic Travel founder and managing director Birgit Bourne said. “Her depth of experience, strategic capability and leadership style make her an outstanding fit for our business. As we continue to scale both the IAT and Australian Geographic Travel brands, Kathy’s appointment will be instrumental in strengthening our operational platform and supporting our next phase of growth.
Turner brings a strong passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences, along with a deep understanding of the systems, processes and culture required to deliver service excellence consistently and at scale.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Insight Australia Travel at such an exciting time in its journey,” Turner said. “The strength of the brands, the clarity of vision, and the commitment to high-quality, experience-led travel really resonate with me. I’m looking forward to working with Birgit and the team to build on the strong foundations already in place and help drive the next stage of growth.”
In her role as COO, Turner will report to and work closely with Bourne and the broader leadership team to enhance operational performance, support continued growth, and further strengthen IAT’s position in the premium experience travel sector.
