Do you have to choose between parenthood and professional success? Or can you do both? At the upcoming Women in Tourism Leadership Lunch we speak to three leading tourism professionals about the way they balance motherhood with work, the ups and downs and the realities of life with children.

This isn't just for parents but managers, leaders or maybe your future self? The discussion over lunch is sure to be open and honest with a fun vibe. 

Bronwyn White, Co-Founder of MyTravelResearch.com had one child when she fell pregnant - quite quickly - with twins. She will share her journey and speak frankly about the difficulties of having three very young children while trying to run a business.

Kate Sorensen, Manager, Commercial Effectiveness Australasia and Japan at IHG was already in a very senior position when she fell pregnant. The issue was that her husband was also in a very senior and demanding role - so who was going to give up their job to take care of the baby? It turns out neither of them - they worked it out. Come along and hear how they do it.

Walkley award-winning photo journalist and Australian Society of Travel Writers President Danielle Lancaster was already the single mother of three children when she made the radical decision to adopt four Cambodian orphans, thus rescuing them from a sex trafficking ring. She will share her story and explain how she raised seven children on a single freelance income.

Details:

12pm - 2.45pm, Friday 6 July, 2018

Cafe del Mar

35 Wheat Rd, Sydney

Tickets $79

To book, click here https://www.stickytickets.com.au/70389/women_in_tourism_leadership_lunch.aspx

All Women in Tourism events are fully inclusive and accessible. Everyone is welcome.

Media contacts:

Emma Castle - 0419 276 446 / emmacastlewriter@gmail.com

Holly Galbraith - 0432 274 846 / holly@hollyg.com.au 

About the panel

Danielle Lancaster

Dedicated to the promotion of photography and travel writing and passionate about passing on her skills so everyone can enjoy, Danielle Lancaster is one of the most devoted people in this arena you are likely to come across. Her enthusiasm is infectious, her 'photo talk' plain and simple and her fervour unrelentless.

Since studying at the Queensland College of Art, Brisbane, she has had an exciting and varied career as a professional photographer for over 30 years earning her bread and butter by the click of a shutter.

From sports (the first official female photographer at a Bathurst Hardie 1000) to newspapers and chasing the stories of murder, corruption and theft to portraiture, fashion and weddings, Danielle also has written and taught many photography modules for TAFE New South Wales.

Danielle now specialises in two areas: social documentation and tourism photo journalism and running the Bluedog Photography workshops, retreats and tours. Images are supplied to numerous corporate, government and private sectors both nationally and internationally. Some of her current clients include: Tourism Queensland, 4×4 Australia, News Ltd, ACP, Vacations and Travel,  RACQ Road Ahead and others.

Danielle holds a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, has lectured in photography (digital and film), art history and design and delivered workshops and spoken at conferences for the Queensland Government, Queensland RADF, Shire Councils and other authorities in Australia and New Zealand.

Runner up in the international Rough Photo Guides competition in 2016, she has also been part of solo and group exhibitions. Danielle won Best Travel Book in 2014 with '4WD Treks Close to Brisbane', a two year enormous effort of mapping, writing and photographing.

In 2004 'Out around the Bulloo' a pictorial essay of the remote Bulloo Shire in western Queensland was published which received rave reviews in Australia and overseas as “capturing the pure essence of the area”. 

Kate Sorensen

Kate Sorensen currently works full time for IHG as their Commercial Effectiveness Manager Australasia & Japan. Her tourism career spanning over 20 years, has taken her to all corners of the globe working for Hamilton Island and Mantra Group in inbound sales roles. 

Kate started her family when she was working for the Mantra Group and took nine months maternity leave. Her husband then took three months paid paternity leave from his role before they needed to arrange alternate care for their son. Three years later when Kate and her husband wanted to grow their family, she decided to find ways to have a more flexible working situation. 3 Degrees Tourism Marketing, her own business was established.  

During her time in tourism representation she was able to work with a varied portfolio of clients including the Broadway shows in New York. A high end Australian air cruising company and guest house in Rome were amongst other projects. During these four years, she also stepped away from her business for six months, after giving birth to her second child.

When her youngest was three, Kate was ready to return to the corporate world and she joined IHG two years ago on a maternity cover contract as Director of Global Sales. She remains working in IHG's corporate head office today. Kate's husband also works in the tourism industry so there is no surprise that outside of work, Kate loves to travel with her family.

Bronwyn White

Bronwyn has 28 years experience in the travel and tourism industry in the areas of market research, sales and marketing. Her extensive career began with Qantas Airways, where she worked her way through many facets of the most recognised and respected brand in Australia, in areas such as market research and consumer insights, wholesale, retail, group sales, freight and marketing. She has also worked at Tourism NSW as a Regional Marketing Manager.

In her consultancy life, Bronwyn has experience in a wide range of travel and tourism services, including: Market research / insights, strategic and tactical marketing consultancy and executive officer services for regional tourism organisations. Bronwyn has had a wide range of clientele from the Qantas Board, Regional Tourism Organisations to small bed and breakfasts.

In addition to market research and marketing services, Bronwyn currently focuses on helping the tourism and small business sectors make the most of the online and digital resources. She does this by showing small to medium businesses the power of having an online presence. She also runs a well respected seniors travel blog, http://www.newyoungtravel.com.au. Bronwyn is also the published author of Seniors Travel Tips, a global travel guide for seniors.

About Women in Tourism

Women In Tourism Leadership Lunch held their first event in Sydney in March 2015. Three events were run in 2015, three in 2016, four in 2017 and this will be the second lunch event for 2018.

Our events run to time (so you can go back to work) and include a two-course lunch with a welcome glass of bubbles and a lively panel discussion with three fab guests.