Tourism Matters
Tourism Matters explores careers, capability, and the people shaping the tourism industry. Host Carmen Bold speaks with professionals, leaders, and educators from across the sector. They discuss how they built their careers, the lessons they learned along the way, and where the industry is heading next. The podcast offers insight for anyone working in tourism, considering a career in the industry, or responsible for developing the next generation of talent.
Episodes
The Business of Tourism - Lisa Pagotto on Shark Tank, Learning to Fly and Building Crooked Compass
Join Carmen as she chats with Lisa Pagotto, founder of Crooked Compass and Crooked Compass by Air, about building a tourism business, backing yourself and finding opportunity in some very unexpected places.Lisa launched Crooked Compass in 2014 after realising she was successfully building brands and revenue streams for other tourism businesses and asking herself why she wasn’t doing it for herself
Jason Gelineau on Luxury Cruise, Guest Experience and the Power of Your Network
Join Carmen as she chats with Jason Gelineau, a cruise and tourism industry leader with more than 30 years of global experience, including 24 years working at sea.Jason shares how a teenage taste of Caribbean resort life sparked a career that would take him through hotels, luxury cruising, residential ships and senior leadership roles with brands including Silversea, Oceania Cruises, Seabourn, MSC
The Business of Tourism - Alex Dykman on building Maverick Tourism, assembling a great team and digital change
Join Carmen as she chats with Alex Dykman, founder of Maverick Tourism and Grow Tourism, about entrepreneurship and the business of tourism.Alex’s tourism career began with a chance conversation over drinks and an entry-level role with Tourism New Zealand. A few years later, several freelance projects completed while travelling through South America planted the seed for Maverick Tourism.After retu
Molly Dobbins: Connecting Classrooms to Tourism Careers
Episode DescriptionJoin Carmen as she speaks with Molly Dobbins, Tourism and Hospitality Gateway to Industry Schools Program Coordinator at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.Molly is passionate about empowering the next generation of tourism and hospitality professionals by connecting students, educators and industry. In her role, she works closely with Queensland schools to help students be
James Coughlan: 25 years in cruise, from galley to gangway and into the world of entrepreneurship
Join Carmen as she speaks with James Coughlan, founder of Shorex Australia, about his 25-year journey through the cruise industry.James began his career as a chef, working in high-pressure kitchens before joining Crystal Cruises and stepping into life at sea. What started in the galley eventually led him into shore excursions, where he discovered a new side of the cruise industry: guest experience
Stephen Ekstrom: Learning, Storytelling and Better Tourism Experiences
EPISODE DESCRIPTIONThis week on Tourism Matters, I sit down with Stephen Ekstrom, CEO, co-founder and self-described nerd whisperer at Learn Tourism.Learn Tourism is a non-profit academy creating smart, immersive learning and promotional experiences for tourism professionals, destination marketers, trade associations and communities around the world.This conversation takes a slightly different pat
Solo Episode: Tourism Careers Have a PR Problem
Episode DescriptionIn this first solo episode of Tourism Matters, prompted by a question asked of her on LinkedIn, Carmen Bold explores one of the biggest challenges facing the tourism industry: how do we attract more people into tourism careers when so many of those careers are still invisible from the outside?Carmen shares her thoughts on why tourism has a PR problem, why the industry needs to d
Professor Judith Mair: Motherhood, Migration and a Career in Tourism
In this episode of Tourism Matters, I’m joined by Professor Judith Mair, Academic Director and Associate Dean (Education) at The Hotel School Australia, Southern Cross University.Judith’s career began in Scotland, where she studied languages before finding her way into tourism through visitor information, VisitScotland, tour operations, marketing and hotel business development. After becoming a mo
Hannah Pearson: Travel, Startups and Building a Business Through Crisis and Consistency
In this episode of Tourism Matters, I’m joined by Hannah Pearson, founder of Pear Anderson and co-host of the Southeast Asia Travel Show.Hannah’s career has taken her from studying languages at Oxford to teaching in France and China, corporate London, Kuala Lumpur, travel startups, market representation and founding Pear Anderson, a tourism sales, marketing and market intelligence business focused
Carmen Bold: From Bungy Jumping to Supporting Entrepreneurs, my Tourism Career, Built One Opportunity at a Time
Episode DescriptionThis one flips the script.For the first time on Tourism Matters, Carmen moves from host to guest, with Sarah Jane Tilbury taking the reins.What unfolds is not a polished career narrative. It’s a real one.From retail floors to reservations desks, bungy platforms to Rugby World Cup operations, entrepreneurship to industry capability work - Carmen’s 25-year career is built on insti
Tabetha Beggs: Building a Tourism Career Through Curiosity, Risk and Storytelling
Tabetha Beggs hasn’t followed a straight path - no, no.In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen sits down with Tabetha Beggs, Tourism Experiences Lead at Destination Perth, to explore a career shaped by curiosity, risk-taking, and a willingness to step into opportunities before feeling fully ready.From early ambitions in the arts to roles across tourism, local government, and destination develop
Birgitta March: Languages, Academia & Why Tour Guides Are More Important Than Ever
Episode DescriptionIn this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen sits down with Birgitta March, a tourism lecturer, PhD researcher, and former international tour guide. Exploring a career that spans continents, sectors, and decades.From guiding high-end clients in the US to interpreting across Australia and now shaping future professionals in higher education, Birgitta shares a grounded and insightfu
Brad Rowe: The Art + Science Behind Memorable Tourism Experiences
In this episode, Carmen is joined by Brad Rowe, a tourism consultant with deep experience across product development, infrastructure, and destination management.We explore his journey from growing up in New Zealand to working on major tourism projects in Queenstown and internationally, including large-scale gondola and chairlift developments.Brad shares practical insights on experience design, wha
Beáta Szablics: From Hungary to Antarctica, and a New Way of Thinking About Tourism
Episode DescriptionIn this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold sits down with Beáta Szablics, whose career has taken her from a small town in Hungary to cruise ships, global product development, launching a luxury expedition brand, and ultimately Antarctica.Beáta shares how a non-linear career — starting in animal husbandry and moving through tourism operations and wellbeing — has shaped the w
Thomas Worry: From Seasonal Work to a Sustainable Tourism Career
Episode DescriptionIn this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold speaks with Thomas Worry, a Canadian tourism professional whose career has been built across seasonal roles, international experience, and corporate tourism operations.Thomas shares how he navigated working across Canada’s Yukon — from guest services and RV rentals to guiding Northern Lights tours — and what it really takes to buil
Linda Tillman: Why Regional Events Are Struggling (And What Needs to Change)
Episode DescriptionIn this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold speaks with Linda Tillman - Managing Director of Tilma Group and co-founder of the Australian Centre for Regional Events - about the realities of building tourism and events capability in regional Australia.Linda shares how a university assignment on rural tourism resulted in a 20-year career working alongside regional communities,
Professor Anne Hardy: Why Tourism Research Matters - Behaviour, Data and Antarctica
In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold speaks with Professor Anne Hardy — tourism researcher, consultant, academic, and Chair of Destination Southern Tasmania — about how research can shape tourism decisions.Anne shares the story of her career in tourism academia, from studying tourism’s impacts on communities to leading innovative projects like Tourism Tracer, which used smartphone techn
Matt Scott: Tour Guiding, Product Development and Building a Global Tourism Career
In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Matt Scott about his journey through international tourism, tour guiding and product development.Matt shares how early travel experiences and cultural exposure led him into the tourism industry, including years guiding tours across Europe and developing high-end travel experiences. The conversation explores the importance of tr
Emma Rhoades: Tourism Careers, Networking and Navigating Workforce Challenges
In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Emma Rhoades about her career journey and her current work supporting tourism businesses through workforce development at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC).Emma reflects on returning to university later in life, re-entering the workforce after raising children, and finding her place in the tourism industry. The con
Sarah-Jane Tilbury, Leadership, Commercial Accumen and do penguins have knees?
In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Sarah-Jane Tilbury about building a career in tourism that spans international travel, operational leadership and general management.Sarah-Jane shares her journey from growing up in the UK and entering the tourism industry through travel and car rental, to moving to Australia and stepping into senior leadership roles. The conve
Kate Gibson: Hike Collective, Human Connection and Purpose-Driven Tourism
In the first episode of Tourism Matters for 2026, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Kate Gibson about her journey from horse riding and personal training to founding Hike Collective, a tourism business focused on meaningful outdoor experiences.Kate shares how Hike Collective began as a mental health initiative built around hiking and connection with nature, and how it evolved into a successful ad
Penny Brand: From SeaWorld Mascot & 60+ Skydives to Destination Marketing Leader
In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Penny Brand about building a career in tourism that spans adventure tourism, international tour guiding and destination marketing.Penny shares how her early roles—from performing as a SeaWorld mascot to managing skydiving operations and guiding tours across Europe—helped build the skills that later led her into destination mark
Nic Cooper: From Tour Guide to Eco-Tourism Founder and the Future of Responsible Tourism
In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Nic Cooper about his journey from working in tourism from a young age to founding Wild Adventures Melbourne, an eco-tourism company focused on sustainable travel experiences.Nic reflects on the many stages of his tourism career, from tour guiding and destination marketing to launching his own tourism business during the challen
Ged Brown: Low Season Travel, Overtourism and Rethinking When We Travel
In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Ged Brown about his journey through the global travel industry and the idea that led him to found Low Season Traveler.Ged shares insights from a career that spans tour operators, aviation, route development and industry events. The conversation explores how the concept of low season travel could help address overtourism, suppor
Giselle Whitaker: Saying Yes, Global Tourism Careers and Unexpected Opportunities
In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Giselle Whitaker about building a career across multiple countries, industries and unexpected opportunities in the tourism sector.Giselle shares stories from a career that has taken her from tourism and marketing roles in Tasmania to working internationally in Japan and Dubai, including leadership roles in hospitality and touri
Zac Watson: Tourism Careers, Digital Leadership and Building High-Performing Teams
In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Zac Watson about building a career in tourism, from studying tourism management at Lincoln University to working across tourism attractions, regional tourism development and digital marketing.Zac shares insights from roles with organisations including Merlin Entertainments, Haka Tourism Group, Auckland Unlimited and Maverick Di
Claire Baxter: Turtles, Gorillas in Her Inbox and a Career Across Tourism and Travel Tech
In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Claire Baxter about building a career across archaeology, tourism, government and travel technology.Claire’s career journey has taken her through some fascinating spaces – from working in tourism product development with Intrepid Travel, to tourism policy roles in government, and now into travel technology as Senior Data Operat
Edward Kwek: Business Events, Tourism Education and Getting Your Foot in the Door
In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Edward Kwek about careers in the business events and tourism industry, and what it really takes to get your foot in the door.Ed has spent more than two decades working across tourism, business events, and tourism education in Southeast Asia and Australia. In this conversation he shares insights from across his career, including
Cecil Potatau: Leading the All Blacks Experience and a 30-Year Tourism Career
Episode SummaryIn this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold speaks with Cecil Potatau about what a 30-year career in the New Zealand tourism industry actually looks like.Cecil shares how he moved from working as a chef into tourism, the experiences that shaped his career, and what he’s learned along the way about building relationships, staying curious, and finding opportunities in the industry
