Our Staff
Lois, Travel Centre Manager / Product Development Manager - Travel Centres
After completing a TAFE course in Travel and Tourism in 1991, I joined a travel agency in Auckland City as a domestic travel consultant and havent looked back. I love travelling and in particular I developed a passion for travel to our closest neighbour, Australia. In 1997 I became the Travel Centre Manager of the South Australian Travel Centre in Auckland and two years later moved to South Australia to manage all the South Australian Travel Centres in Australia and New Zealand. In 2000 I moved to Sydney to continue selling Australia and a husband, 2 kids and 10 years later I am still as passionate about this beautiful country as ever. My favourite Australian travel experience was cruising up the Murray River on a houseboat with a group of 10 friends.
Highly Commended: Travel Agency Manager of the Year at the 2011 Australian Travel Awards
Finalist: Travel Agency Manager of hte Year at the 2009 Australian Travel Awards
Wendy Brassil, Assistant Manager
My sister and I were always brought up to travel around Australia and the world from a young age, thanks to my wonderful parents. During my HSC year, I had the opportunity to complete a Travel and Tourism course through Tafe. I had a real passion for travel and loved the course and decided that travel was the career path for me. I then attended AFTA travel college to further my studies. After studying, I undertook work experience at Traveland Flemington Markets and was fortunate to be offered a job and my career began. I stayed there for two years before moving on to Australian Tourism and Promotions, now known as Australian Holiday Centre. I love working at the Australian Holiday Centre and enjoy working with wonderful colleages and with a company that look after their staff. This fantastic environment has led me to explore so much of our wonderful country. It is difficult to choose a favourite however a trip to Cape York, a Kimberley Cruise, touring on Kangaroo Island and travelling between Perth and Broome all rate VERY highly. I got married in 2008 and gave birth to my son in 2009.
Nominee: Best Travel Consultant - Domestic at the 2011 Australian Travel Awards
Finalist: Best Travel Consultant - Rail at the 2011 Australian Travel Awards
AAT Kings Top 40 Achiever - 2008, 2007, 2006
Ashlee Simpson, Travel Specialist
I studied at the Australian Business Academy were I was awarded Travel & Tourism Student of the Year in 2005 and I was offered my job at the Australian Holiday Centre on my third day of work experience. I worked on developing my knowledge of Domestic Travel & selling Australia for 18 months. I moved to another agency selling Corporate & International Travel for 2 years before being encouraged to return to the Australian Holiday Centre. I made the decision to come back and I’ve now been back selling Australia and loving it! I live on the Central Coast & travel 4 hours a day to and from work, but do it because domestic travel is my passion, and I love selling the country to fellow Australian & International visitors.
Winner: Jetset Travelworld NSW Affiliate Award for Outstanding Contribution 2011
Finalist: Best Travel Consultant - Domestic at the 2011 Australian Travel Awards
Highly Commended: Best Travel Consultant - Rail at the 2011 Australian Travel Awards
Highly Commended: Best Travel Consultant - Domestic at the 2010 Australian Travel Awards
Highly Commended Best Travel Consultant - Domestic at the 2009 Australian Travel Awards
AAT Kings Top 40 Achiever - 2010, 2009
Michael Byrne, Travel Specialist
I began my travel career in 1987 when I joined the Queensland Tourist Commission. After finishing my contract with them, I then gained employment with the Northern Territory Tourist Commission. I had grown to love the Northern Territory and joined their retail travel store in Sydney. Between these times, I have also worked for Qantas in their corporate sector and also in various Hotels, in Food and Beverage Management. However, I always end up coming back to the Travel and Tourism Industry and realise it is this industry that I enjoy working in the most, and know that travel is my passion, along with selling this wonderful and amazing country of ours.
AAT Kings Top 40 Achiever - 2010
Lauren Mansell, Travel Centre Manager
From a young age, I had the passion to work within the Travel Industry and was fortunate to be offered a position with the Australian Holiday Centre/South Australian Travel Centre in Sydney 13 years ago. I then branched out to work for an Australian based Hotel Group in various positions, the conference and events industry and a regional tourism organisation. Following a short break to welcome my first child, I returned working for the Australian Holiday Centre in Sydney and most recently stepped into the role of Travel Centre Manager in Melbourne. I am proud to work for an Australian owned company which strives on offering clients with unique travel experiences with ever lasting memories. I have travelled extensively overseas and throughout Australia so it is hard to pinpoint my favourite holiday experience but some include Monkey Mia, cruising on the QE2 from Sydney to Melbourne, the spectacular wine regions of South Australia and the natural wonders of Kangaroo Island.
Myra Doyle, Travel Specialist
My passion for travel began at the age of 11, when we took a family holiday to the UK and America. Since then I have enjoyed an exciting and rewarding career in the travel industry, as well as 4 years working and travelling around the globe. I spent over 2 years working in London and Canada and have been lucky enough to visit the Gorillas in Rwanda, cruise the Galapagos Islands and trek the incredible Inca Trail. But I still call Australia home and in 2008 I settled back in my home town of Melbourne. I joined the Australian Holiday Centre in 2009 and haven't looked back. Hearing our clients stories and adventures, when they return from places like the Kimberleys, Lake Eyre and Kangaroo Island is the best part of this job!
AAT Kings Top 40 Achiever - 2010
Sarah Howarth, Travel Specialist
Since I was in high school I had always wanted to be in the travel industry.,So when I finished high school I joined a TAFE course for a Certificate IV in Tourism. After completing my course, I applied for a job at the Australian Holiday Centre, which was my first job interview....and i got the job! Since joining I have travelled to Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Sydney and on the Indian Pacific. I am excited about all the awesome adventures i have ahead of me.
Sonya Mewett, Travel Centre Manager
I studied Travel & Tourism at AFTA Travel College and on completion I won a shcolarship with the South Australian Travel Centre in Auckland and moved to New Zealand for 1 year. The company I worked for had offices throughout Australia and at the end of my tenure, they offered me a position in Brisbane running The South Australian Travel Centre there, which I did for 7 years. I then left the travel industry for a short time, until I realised creating peoples dreams was really what i was made to do. So in 2005, I moved back to my home town of Adelaide and joined City Centre Travel.
AAT Kings Top 40 Achiever - 2008
Olivia Wagner, Travel Specialist (On Maternity Leave until November 2012)
In 2008, I moved from Tasmania to South Australia where I studied Tourism Retail Sales at TAFESA, completing the course in June 2009. In August 2009, I joined the team at City Centre Travel as a Travel Specialist. I have travelled Overseas (America, Europe and South-east Asia) and extensively within Australia and I look forward to discovering more of the beauty of the world around us. I have a passion for travel and serving others. I got married in November 2010, to the man of my dreams and I am looking forward to what the future holds, both personally and professionally.
Winner: Jetset Travelworld SA Affiliate Award for Outstanding Contribution 2011
Finalist: Rookie of the Year in the AFTA National Travel Industry Awards in 2010
Nominee: Rising Star Consultant Awards in the Jetset Travelworld Group Awards in 2010
AAT Kings Top 40 Achiever - 2010
Eve Marsh, Travel Specialist
After completing a degree as a Bachelor of Biological Science, I discovered this was not my area of love. I started my career in the Travel industry in 2005, with Great Southern Rail, where I worked in various areas of the business including call centre, wholesale sales and retail sales and my passion for Travel and Tourism grew. After 5 years, I was given the opportunity to broaden my skills and work face to face with clients and joined the team at City Centre Travel in May 2010. I have travelled extensively overseas throughout Europe and Asia, however I have a real interest in our own “backyard’. Australia has beautiful destinations and makes me proud to be able to ‘brag’ about our amazing country we live in and it gives me great joy to assist my clients to discover Australia’s real beauty.
Cathy Wang, Travel Specialist
Shirley Tamm, Groups Sales Manager / Tour Host
Shirley Tamm is a well known travel identity and tour host who has been working in the travel industry for over 30 years. Most recently Shirley has worked for Great Southern Rail (The Ghan, Indian Pacific and the Overland) promoting the romance and enjoyment of rail travel Prior to this, she was State Manager for 14 years, with well known international coach company, Trafalgar Tours. Shirley easily develops relationships with people of all ages and has enjoyed escorting numerous groups of travelers both within Australia and overseas. With her passion for travel and wealth of knowledge you can be assured of a worry free and truly memorable holiday experience.