Meet the Team

Bex Gilchrist - Director

Countries visited:

Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, Singapore, Bangladesh, Japan, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Guernsey, Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey, South Africa, Morocco, Canada, USA, Mexico.

Where Overseas Have You Lived & For How Long?

I have lived in Sapporo, Japan for 2 and a half years, London, England for 2 years, New York and Connecticut in the USA for 3 years and Vernon, Canada for a winter season.

Favourite places visited:

Japan was the first place I ever went and the culture and people were so different to NZ - incredible. Vietnam for the people and landscape. Morocco and Turkey for their exotic craziness. Greece ? the BEST place for a holiday. New York and Melbourne ? my 2 favourite cities.

Most memorable place visited:

Cambodia, Nepal and South Africa. With the environment some of their people have to survive in, they are AMAZING.

The most valuable lesson you've learnt from living and working overseas?

Different cultures, languages, attitudes, lifestyles and people are what make the world such an amazing place. The local people wherever you go will give you more insight into a place than any monument ever will. So go have a beer or a coffee with a local!

Ross Carrel - Business Manager

Countries visted:

USA, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Greece, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Cook Islands, French Polynesia.

Where Overseas Have You Lived & For How Long?

Fiji for about three months to relieve the manager of a local tour operator.

Favourite places visited:

Any Northern Hemisphere ski resort with plenty of snow. Little villages with character all around Europe. The Greek Islands. Any South Pacific island with swaying coconut palms, blue sea and white sand.

Most memorable place visited:

Rangiroa in French Polynesia cruising for ten days on an 18 metre yacht.

The most valuable lesson you've learnt from living and working overseas?

There is a never ending list of places to visit but after each trip it’s great to return and appreciate all New Zealand has to offer.

Tim Chatfield - Program Coordinator (USA including Summer Camp & Adventure UK)

Countries visted:

USA, Canada, Japan, Australia.

Where Overseas Have You Lived & For How Long?

Australia (if that counts?) for 4 years.
USA, at Camp for 3-4 months at a time.

Favourite places visited:

Paradise and Glenorchy, at the top of Lake Wakatipu in Central Otago.
Bear Island, Lake Winnipesauke, NH, USA. At Summer Camp on an island on a lake.
Boston is by far my favourite city in the world with Las Vegas a close second.
The mangrove rivers where my family have huts and spend the weekends fishing with the crocodiles in North Queensland.

Most memorable place visited:

Camp Lawrence on Bear Island is by far the most important place to me. It's on a lake island in beautiful New Hampshire. Whether I’m hanging out with friends enjoying the tranquillity and views, or trying to entertain and manage a group of energetic campers, my time at camp is always at the forefront of my mind everywhere I go.

The most valuable lesson you've learnt from living and working overseas?

Don’t be afraid to get out there and experience everything on offer no matter what, then you won’t have any regrets later in life. Get out and mingle with the locals, they are what makes a place special!

Read Tim's Summer Camp USA profile

Ever wonder what the Summer Camp USA program is like? Read Tim's blog about his Summer Camp USA experience.

Laura O'Reilly - Program Coordinator (Europe & Volunteering)

Countries visited:

Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii (yes I know that it’s technically part of the US but it is like being on a different planet!), Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, France, Spain, Italy, England, USA, Tahiti.

Where Overseas Have You Lived & For How Long?

I did a gap year between high school and university going to school and travelling around France and managed to survive about 4 months living and working in New York, USA during one of my uni holidays!

Favourite places visited:

The USA was a crazy mixture of all the cultural things I’m so familiar with and the completely exotic. It was fascinating to be in the world’s most dominant country and get such a deep insight into how they really think.

Most memorable place visited:

The countryside around Aquitaine, France. There are more castles than I ever realised existed. Driving through corridors of trees and summer fields full of sunflowers. I’ll always remember it because it was my first real experience of Europe. It was mind blowing for an Antipodean teenager!

The most valuable lesson you've learnt from living and working overseas?

Spend less time texting mates back home and sitting on Facebook chat and spend more time making an effort to charm the locals and you will be rewarded many times over with inside info and invitations to events you can actually attend!

Katie Sleeman - Team Support Administrator

Countries visited:

All over the USA, Canada, Scotland, England, France, Italy, Australia

Where Overseas Have You Lived & For How Long?

I did a study exchange in Scotland, and I’m currently on my working holiday in New Zealand - one year and counting!

Favourite places visited:

I absolutely adore Scotland with the rich culture and history, the bustle of NYC, and beauty of Vancouver.

Most memorable place visited:

I was lucky enough to be in Paris for Bastille Day - so cool! There was free entry to the Louvre that day, and then we had a picnic in the park next to the Eiffel Tower with the baguettes and cheese (ahem, fromage) we purchased from a local market. Everyone played petanque until dark, and then they set off the most beautiful fireworks. It was like a dream!

The most valuable lesson you've learnt from living and working overseas?

Choose your attitude! Every experience you have overseas (good or bad) makes for great stories later. Let life happen and laugh about it when things don’t go the way you expected them to.

Michael McClanaghan - Communications & Web Coordinator

Countries visted:

Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, USA, Bahamas and New Zealand

Where Overseas Have You Lived & For How Long?

I am currently on my first working abroad experience in New Zealand. I plan to be here for one year and so far I am having an amazing time! Kiwis have to be the friendliest people I have ever met.

Favourite places visited:

I loved Barcelona - the food, nightlife and people were great! I spent a month in Switzerland riding my bike in the Swiss Alps. What an amazing playground for an outdoor enthusiast!

Most memorable place visited:

Ireland has a special place in my heart as I got to meet family I didn’t even know I had.

The most valuable lesson you've learnt from living and working overseas?

Never say no to an offer when travelling - you never know where it may lead! Loose the travel guide book, get off the beaten track and explore on your own!

Amy Hokke - Sales & Marketing Coordinator

Countries visted:

Solomon Islands, Australia, Fiji, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, USA, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, Zambia, Singapore.

Where Overseas Have You Lived & For How Long?

I was actually born and raised in the Solomon Islands for 6 years before my family returned to New Zealand. More recently I lived in London for 16 months.

Favourite places visited:

South America as a whole is such a beautiful continent. Rome has so much history. The Jungfrau mountains in Switzerland are so picturesque.

Most memorable place visited:

Taking the trek up to Machu Picchu in Peru was a journey I will never forget.

The most valuable lesson you've learnt from living and working overseas?

Just be ready for anything! Don’t have any expectations and try to embrace the culture and customs of the place that you are in.

Katrina Savage - In-house STA Branch Manager

Countries visted:

Vietnam, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, Egypt, Scotland, England, Ireland, Italy, Monaco, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belguim, Liechtenstein.

Where Overseas Have You Lived & For How Long?

London for 8 months.

Favourite places visited:

Vietnam, Egypt, San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas

Most memorable place visited:

Riding donkeys at daybreak up into the “Valley of the Kings” in Egypt.

The most valuable lesson you've learnt from living and working overseas?

How wonderful it is to travel and experience new places, cultures and people. It is really did broaden my horizons