1) How long have you been in your current role?

I joined SCTI in August 2024 and haven't looked back. It's an award-winning Australasian company with a clear ambition to be the most customer-dedicated travel insurer in the region.

I was excited to be part of a team that supports hundreds of thousands of New Zealand and Australian travellers to explore the world with confidence.

2) How long have you been in the travel industry?

I'm new to the travel industry professionally, but travel has always been a big part of my life—both for work and personally.

I commute weekly between Christchurch and Auckland, and I'm in Australia about once a month. This year alone we've squeezed in some R&R in Fiji and a trip to the US to support my husband in an ultra-marathon.

3) In your past professional life, you were …

Before joining SCTI, I spent 13 years at Farmlands, one of New Zealand's largest farming co-operatives. I held a range of leadership roles across customer, marketing, and retail, and led major transformation programs that reshaped how we connected with our members. It was a big, complex business with a strong purpose—and I loved being part of it. Tourism and farming are both cornerstones of New Zealand's economy, so it's exciting to now be contributing to another industry that's all about people.

4) What is something you love about working with travel media?

You've got one of the best jobs—full of adventure, possibilities, and some of the best stories I've heard. I love hearing where you've been and what you've seen. My team and I really enjoy working with you to help travellers feel confident and supported wherever they're headed.

5) What are your professional pet peeves?

I'm not big on unnecessary complexity—whether it's in systems, processes, or communication. I really value clarity and simplicity, especially when it helps our customers or team get things done more easily.

If something feels harder than it needs to be, I'm usually the one asking, “Can we make this simpler?”

6) What has been your most memorable press trip?

 Anywhere in America is my happy place. I've made it a personal mission to visit every state—20 down, many to go!

One of my favourite memories is a road trip from Washington DC to the Florida Keys. We went from cobbled streets in Charleston to paddling alongside manatees in the Everglades. That kind of contrast is what I love most about travel.

7) What is your favourite place to travel?

Hands down, Hawaii. I've been going since I was a kid on family holidays, and now my husband and I take our daughter there regularly.

The moment you step off the plane—the smell, the warmth, the air—it's unbeatable. It's got the perfect mix of shopping, food, adventure and relaxation, and it always feels like a reset.