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Tourism Matters explores tourism through the people who make it happen. Host Carmen Bold talks with professionals about their journeys — the choices, lessons, and moments that have shaped their careers and how they see the industry today.
11 Episodes
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This week Carmen is joined by Emma Rhoades, Tourism Industry Workforce Advisor at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC). Emma is open and honest about her career journey — navigating motherhood, overwhelming networking events, and revealing she has NEVER landed a job through SEEK. Wild. We both climb up on the soapbox to vent about the traditional recruitment process and why it’s broken for both recruiters and job seekers. We also unpack Emma’s role with QTIC and how she works direct...
This week Carmen is joined by Sarah-Jane Tilbury, General Manager Wellness at Belgravia Leisure. From growing up in the UK to running an aquarium in Australia and now General Manager of Wellness at Belgravia Leisure, SJ’s path is anything but linear. We talk about leadership, empowering strong teams, cultivating commercial smarts (yes, actually understanding the numbers), and how life experience often matters more than formal education. We also delve into team dynamics, navigating COVID, inno...
In the first Tourism Matters episode for 2026, Carmen is joined by Kate Gibson, founder of The Hike Collective, a Perth-based, award-winning experience business designing nature-led experiences that help people think better, connect better and feel more human. From horse business management and international dressage, to hotel events in Germany, personal training and eventually tourism, Kate's path highlights how diverse experiences can shape meaningful work. In this episode, Kate shares: &nb...
Join Carmen as she chats with Penny Brand, Director of Tourism Development at Gate 7. Penny has seen some things! Bribing her way across borders as a tour guide in Europe, strapping ice packs to her chest as a mascot at Sea World, getting her solo skydiving ticket and opening a 280 room hostel. Penny is a delight and an open book, breaking down what destination marketing actually is, her role as Director of Tourism Development, rounded out with a sprinkling of career advice. Connect with Penn...
Join Carmen as she chats with Nic Cooper - Founder of Wild Adventures Melbourne and 7 Generations Tourism — a passionate operator, guide, and advocate who’s on a genuine mission to change tourism for good. Nic’s tourism career started in a completely unexpected way: when he was 11 years old, living in a family home that suddenly became a guesthouse. From tour guiding across Europe, to business development roles, destination marketing, and finally launching both an eco-adventure company and a...
Join Carmen as she chats with Ged Brown, founder and CEO of the Low Season Traveller. Hear about Ged’s career of more than 20 years across almost every corner of the industry: retail travel, tour operations, aviation, events, data, and destination development. We discuss unexpected turns, instincts, mistakes, redundancies, opportunities and insights that ultimately led him to identify a untapped niche in global tourism: low-season travel. Connect with Ged on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com...
Join Carmen as she chats with Giselle Whiteaker. Giselle has built a career that’s anything but ordinary - spanning six countries and roles in events, marketing, journalism, and travel writing. In this episode, we talk about curiosity, courage, and the power of saying yes, even when you don’t know what’s next. Giselle shares stories of adventure, career twists, and lessons in letting go of “the plan” to follow what feels right. Connect with Giselle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/...
Join Carmen as she speaks to Zac Watson, General Manager, Maverick Tourism in Auckland, New Zealand. Zac Watson’s career in tourism is the definition of momentum. From Merlin Entertainments to the Haka Tourism Group and now as General Manager of Maverick Tourism, he’s built a reputation for action, connection, and people-first leadership. We talk about career progression, mentoring, and how sport has shaped his approach to leading teams in tourism. Connect with Zac on Linkedin: https://www.li...
Join Carmen as she speaks to Claire Baxter, Senior Data Operations Manager for Rome2Rio in Melbourne Australia. This episode covers Claire's career and life journey, from studying archaeology to working in sports, government and for some the tourism industry heavyweights. Claire offers advice, shares stories and thoughts on the future, it's a good time. Connect with Claire on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairelbaxter/ Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carm...
Join Carmen as she speaks to Edward Kwek, Senior Business Events Manager for South/South East Asia at Tourism Australia in Singapore. In this episode they will cover Edwards career journey across Australia and Asia, valuable career advice and a deep dive into the Business Events Industry. Connect with Edward on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-kwek-4b6b2a51/ Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-bold/
Join Carmen and she speaks to Cecil Potatau, Sales Manager for the All Black Experience in Auckland, New Zealand. Cecil is a longstanding figure in the New Zealand tourism industry with a career spanning 30 years. We talk career journey, the importance of networking and putting yourself out there, what a week looks like for Cecil, and hear about the famous All Blacks Experience. Connect with Cecil on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecil-potatau-b7075063/ Connect with Carmen on Li...
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