I first joined YHA as a backpacker in 1994, and my passion for travel and the YHA ethos continues to this day. With a strong corporate background, qualifications in business, marketing and HR, and education, tourism and hospitality knowledge, I also have extensive board and senior executive experience. I served as Chair of YHA SA from 2011, and was elected to the Board of YHA Australia in 2013 including being elected Vice Chair in 2014 and 2015. I have been on the YHA Ltd Board since Jan 2014, was formerly Chair of the Nominations & Remuneration Committee, and Election Committee. I am committed to ensuring YHA has the financial health and strategic vision to successfully navigate the changing tourism landscape and benefit future generations of YHA customers.
I first joined YHA at twenty-one, to travel independently and safely around the world, and meet other young people. Re-joining YHA in 2012 has re-ignited my passion. I offer extensive experience in hospitality/tourism, membership organisations, Not-for-Profit and commercial services in senior executive roles, with AICD governance training and a Master of International Management. I believe I can make a significant contribution to addressing the challenges of a membership-based organisation staying relevant to young people in a fast changing, technology connected global market. YHA’s strategies for providing the unique traveller experience Australia can offer excites me to contribute to YHA for its current and future members.
My first experience of YHA was when I stayed in a YHA hostel at Byron Bay while doing a dive course at the end of my Economics degree. Since then I have been fortunate to have travelled around Australia, Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific. I am a chartered accountant, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and have worked in senior executive roles in three continents across a range of businesses and industries over the last 35 years. In addition to my broad, commercial, financial and strategic experience, I also have specific expertise in property, business and digital transformation and governance, including for not-for-profit, member-based organisations. I embrace YHA’s mission and continue to be amazed at the incredible people you meet everywhere.
Tammy has been a Non-Executive Director of YHA since 2018, where she not only holds the position of Director but also serves as Chair for the Nominations, Remuneration, Human Resource Committee, and the Strategy and Innovation Working Group. Her extensive boardroom influence extends beyond YHA, as she concurrently holds the role of Non-Executive Director at Railbookers Worldwide and contributes to the Advisory Board of Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School. With a career spanning over 30 years, Tammy has a wealth of leadership experience. Her executive journey includes notable roles such as CEO of Contiki Holidays and Resorts, Chief Operating Officer at TFE Hotels, Global CEO of AAT Kings and Senior Vice President Commercial at Carnival Corporation. Tammy is a certified director through the Australian Institute of Directors and holds a master’s in business. She has a passion for social purpose businesses and has been a strong advocacy and supporter for YHA for over twenty years.
I am seasoned traveller who is passionate about learning and advancing the understanding of other cultures through travel. I am an experienced company director and senior legal executive with global corporate experience and qualifications in law and marketing. My capabilities include corporate governance, risk management and strong analytical skills developed from over 25 years’ experience in investing, property financing, private equity, private credit, funds management and mergers & acquisitions. I have worked across the world in diverse industries including property and hotels, telecommunications, healthcare and technology. I believe my deep experience and broad perspective will help YHA navigate the challenges it faces with the COVID-19 pandemic and maximise this opportunity to refresh the brand and YHA offering.
My career has revolved around the aviation and hospitality industries in Australia, NZ the United Kingdom and Asia. I joined YHA in 1988 in London and have spent time in operational roles with Ansett, Air New Zealand and Qantas. More recently I led the Commercial team at Qantas Loyalty and later as Executive Manager Sustainability for Qantas Group. I’m passionate about building strategic partnerships with likeminded organisations and developing strategies to grow revenues and customer engagement. A Chartered Accountant, I am also GAICD. My Board experience includes roles with Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, Golden Stave Foundation and oneworld Sustainability Group. I’m excited to be bringing my broad commercial experience to the YHA Board in a post-COVID world and to start travelling the world again.
I am passionate about the importance of community and growth experiences that are broadly accessible and therefore the YHA purpose resonates well with me. I have achieved much of my personal growth through travel experiences as both a child and an adult, and have worked, lived and adventured around the globe. I graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2016 and have worked on boards since 2017. My career in technology spans over 30 years, and my experience ranges from hands-on application development, IT project management of significant transformation programs and several years of ICT executive leadership. My executive experience includes IT Service Delivery, Strategy Development and Execution, Business Development, Commercial management and Corporate Governance. My other formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Computer Science and a Masters of General Management.
I first joined YHA in 1998, and its ability to connect curious, diverse travellers throughout my life remains unique to the organisation and important to foster. With long tenured senior management experience within financial services complemented by board experience with large corporates and charity NFPs, I bring strong skillsets in investments, strategy, commercial, distribution, compliance and directing successful international businesses to the YHA board. I am committed to supporting the long-term growth and sustainability of the YHA movement for others to experience and enjoy.
