The challenge for the industry is… online. The perception of price beating is one thing but travellers also underestimate the wealth of experience and the traveller support that accompanies booking through an agent.
The things I like about my job are… Quite literally everything. Too broad? Ok. Working with terrific agents who themselves thrive on working in such a dynamic industry, G Adventures with the most extraordinary and inspirational people, the ever evolving product, the culture, changing people's lives….just all in a day's work really!
And the frustrations… adding substantially to my bucket list each day. The never ending MUST TRAVEL TO list!
If I didn’t work in travel I would be a… Head Chocolate Taster at Haigh’s.
Qantas or Virgin? Tough call, but I would have to say Virgin with the opportunity to actually visit space through Virgin Galactic!
My proudest moment was… marrying my wonderful fella Benedict on a secluded beach in Bali, one of the most remote parts of the island.
The naughtiest thing I ever did was… graze upon the trail mix tubs, cherries and grapes at the supermarket. THE GUILT.
I try to relax by… having lavender scented baths whilst cranking Nine Inch Nails.
The last time I feared for my life… ingesting an entire train meal in India.
If I can, I always try to avoid… clich√©s like the plague.
I really wish I had… invented and patented the zipper. Or denim jeans.
The best advice I’ve ever received was… go gorilla trekking in Rwanda and be amongst the most incredible creatures you will ever encounter.
I don’t understand why… when Coldplay bust out a tune and draw a crowd in Newtown, it’s news, and time to dance wildly in the street, but when I do it it’s causing a scene…
My greatest weakness is… scrolling through our trips online and expanding that bucket list when I should be doing my taxes.
And my greatest strength… to see the positive. I refuse to let negativity get me down.
If I was prime minister I would… extend annual leave days across all industries for all Australians. More travel time to see the world!
If I won $1 million on the lottery I would… book a spot on Virgin Galactic (decadent, I know, but it’s space travel!), blindfolded throw a dart at the map and take the entire family to wherever it lands, support as many of our G Adventures Planeterra community based projects worldwide as possible: http://www.planeterra.org.
If I could be someone else for one day I would be… Layne Beachley. I long to be a strong surf swimmer and I am in awe of her ability to take on such a physically and mentally challenging sport that is professional big wave surfing, and win the World Championship seven times no less!
I’ve always wanted to travel to… Antarctica.
My favourite holiday was… both Tibet and Xinjiang in North West China were standout. In the Xinjiang region specifically, I overlanded from Kashgar along the Karakoram Highway (a legacy of the Silk Road) through the Khunjerab Pass, up into Tashkurgan then right up to the Pakistan border.
One of the most remote and spectacular journeys, interacting with such a variety of cultures and ethnic groups – Uighur, Tajik, Kyrgyz – was incredible. I was so excited when we at G Adventures launched a trip to explore this remarkable and unique portion of the world: Central Asia on the Silk Road.
