Q: What was your first job and what did you learn from it that you still use today?
A: My first job was as a waitress at the Subi Hotel in the mid ’90s. It’s a role that taught me the importance of hard work, customer service and team collaboration – skills that I still use today. I quickly learned how to multitask and think on my feet.
Even though I started in hospitality at the ground level, I always had a passion for travel and tourism. Growing up, my family travelled frequently and I was always fascinated by the idea of working in the travel and hospitality sector.
Q: What’s the first thing you do when you start a new position?
A: When I step into a new role, the first thing I do is observe. For the first three months, I focus on understanding why things are done a particular way, taking the time to listen, learn and absorb the dynamics of the team and the organisation.
I find myself constantly taking notes, jotting down potential gaps or ideas for improvement, but I hold off on making any changes until I’ve had the chance to fully grasp the bigger picture.
It’s about respecting what’s already in place, building trust and ensuring any changes I introduce are thoughtful, informed and meaningful.
Q: What advice would you give someone wanting to start a career in travel now?
A: If you’re passionate about the industry, there’s limitless potential to grow and stay in it for life. My advice is to grab every opportunity that inspires you: apply for the role or take the interview, because every step is invaluable experience.
Start by embracing entry-level roles in hospitality, whether it’s on reception, in sales, making beds, or cooking eggs. These roles equip you with skills that are 100 per cent transferable across Australia and globally.
More than that, they can be your springboard to an incredible career in tourism, opening doors to executive roles in areas like resort development, marketing and global acquisition management.
Most importantly, happiness matters. Love what you do, even when it’s not all fun and games. Stay grounded in your purpose and you’ll find fulfilment in every challenge.
The largest fish in the ocean, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), in the Ningaloo Marine Park.
Q: What did the pandemic teach you about yourself?
A: The pandemic really opened my eyes to how lucky we are to call WA home. With its wide-open spaces and pristine natural beauty, it felt like we had everything we needed right on our doorstep.
Without the option to travel overseas, my family and I took that chance to really explore our own backyard and those moments became some of the most precious memories we’ve made.
It also made me incredibly proud of WA’s tourism industry. Seeing how businesses dug deep, came up with creative ideas and found new ways to connect with visitors was inspiring.
It reminded me how powerful flexibility, optimism and collaboration can be, especially in tough times and those lessons really stuck with me.
Q: If you hadn’t gone into travel, what career path might you have taken?
A: I’ve always known I wanted to be in this industry, and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Travel and tourism is my passion and it always will be.
A vivid memory from my childhood is sitting on a beach in Bali, sketching out a holiday resort layout when I was about 12. From there, my ambition to be a hotelier took shape.
After working in hospitality during my university years, I then took on a travel agent role and the technical skills learnt in that role were invaluable. It helped me build a solid foundation for the work I did later and led me to where I am today, helping to market our Dream State as a holiday destination to the world.
Busselton Jetty, Busselton
Q: How do you think the travel industry is looking at this moment in time?
A: The travel industry is in an exciting period of recovery and reinvention. WA stands out as an incredible holiday and events destination, offering unique experiences that inspire travellers from around Australia and the world.
People are more eager than ever to explore, connect and seek out authentic, memorable experiences. This presents an amazing opportunity for us to showcase WA’s stunning landscapes, vibrant culture and world-class events to a global audience.
With last year’s launch of our Western Australia Visitor Economy Strategy 2033 (WAVES 2033), we’re knee deep in setting and achieving ambitious goals that position WA as a world-class destination.
Our aim is to grow our visitor numbers and eventually achieve $25 billion in annual visitor spend by 2033. We will do this by focusing on enhancing visitor access, developing a diverse calendar of events and promoting sustainable tourism practices.
The future feels full of possibility and WA is well-positioned to be at the forefront of this new era in travel.
Q: Who would you most like to sit next to on a plane, living or dead?
A: I would choose my father. He passed away when I was 21 and I’d love to have an adult conversation with him about my career. He was the one who guided me, ensuring I chose a university degree that would lay the foundation for a successful career.
At the time, there was no higher education for hospitality in Perth and he advised me to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce to build a strong business foundation. His guidance shaped my career and I’d love to share how it all turned out.
He didn’t have the chance to go to university, but he made sure I had every opportunity to succeed.
Aerial view of D’Guy Charters, Kalbarri
Q: What are some of your favourite spots around the world?
A: One of my absolute favourite holidays was spending three weeks exploring the Kimberley. We hired a 4×4 car and took on the Gibb River Road, winding our way through breathtaking gorges and soaking up the beauty of the region.
It was such a special experience to be completely off the grid, surrounded by nature and reconnecting with both my family and myself. Being away from the usual hustle of life gave us the rare chance to slow down, embrace the moment and was the kind of trip that stays with you long after you’ve unpacked.
Q: What is your best travel story?
A: One of my most memorable experiences was opening a luxury tented camp in India in 2004, on the edge of a national park and tiger reserve. It was incredibly remote, offering an exclusive, ultra-luxe safari experience unlike anything else in the region.
As head of training, my job was to recruit 30 team members from the local community. Many had no hotel experience, so we trained them from scratch to deliver top-tier service to well-travelled, discerning guests.
After the hotel opened, I returned six months later to find that the staff had grown incredibly in both skill and confidence. It was amazing to see their personal passion for the industry blossom.
Half of them are still working at that same resort 20 years later and the ones who’ve moved on have gone on to incredible roles in the industry. Watching their careers flourish has been one of my proudest achievements.
Sunset at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, near Exmouth
Q: What are you most looking forward to about working with Tourism WA?
A: What an incredible opportunity – this is the pinnacle role in the WA tourism industry, and I feel privileged to be in this seat.
Two months in, I’ve already had the chance to see firsthand how passionate the team is about sharing the beauty and uniqueness of WA with the world.
What I’m most looking forward to is continuing to work closely with operators, our trade partners, that national travel sector and local communities to make WA an even more desirable destination for travellers.
WA is a very special destination that must be on every global traveller’s list. There is so much to do and explore – the diversity of experiences we offer is incredible and truly makes us the Dream State.
To be able to work with such passionate people to support our industry is a dream for me too.
