LET’S START PLANNING

TASH PORTER (THE REAL BOSS)
OPERATIONS MANAGER

Tash’s extensive experience in the travel and tourism industry, a passion for living a healthy lifestyle and her eye for detail makes her the perfect fit for Operations Manager at Auswalk. Tash leads the team of Destination Consultants, overseeing the entire process from enquiry to delivery. She works out the logistics of new walks and creates and maintains processes to ensure that everything runs smoothly in the office and out on the tracks for our walkers. Tash’s favourite walk is the Nakasendo in Japan, due to the beauty and simplicity of the countryside and the incredible cuisine. When not at Auswalk, travelling or cooking up a storm at home, you’ll often find Tash at hot pilates, seeing live music, watching a foreign film, or visiting the theatre.

ANNE BLOCKLEY
DELIVERY TEAM MANAGER

Anne provides invaluable training and support to our Destination Consultants to help them reach their full potential, as well as supporting the ongoing development of the business. She has owned businesses, has a couple of grown-up kids and has a real passion for customer care. A great lover of walking and being out in nature, the Auswalk Mont Blanc, Japan and the UK walks are all on her bucket list. With 10 trail marathons and numerous half marathons under her belt, alongside weekends spent mostly training, she's likely to conquer them in record breaking time and barely break into a sweat!

DAN GREEN
GROUP GUIDED MANAGER

Dan is a man of many talents having been a paramedic for most of his life, and over the last 15 years or so he has combined that with guiding. For the last few years he has taken on the full time role as Groups manager. His experience as a guide and attention to safety are second to none. He has also travelled the world and found his home in Australia more than 20 years ago, having been born in England.

BRETT NEAGLE
CEO

Brett has always taken the path less travelled, having lived and worked overseas in Africa, India, Brazil and Europe. He had his first taste of walking in the Himalayas and the Andes on the Inca trail in the 80s and hasn’t stopped since. Prior to Auswalk, Brett worked as a counsellor for youth in the justice system. His love of exploring brought him back into the tourism industry where Brett grew Auswalk from offering a handful of Australian walks to now offering hundreds of walks all over the world. Brett’s favourite walk is always the last one he walked – recently he returned to Nepal and researching new trips in Japan, Croatia and Turkey.

JACKIE SEARS
GROUP-GUIDED COORDINATOR

Jackie is one of Auswalk’s Group Guided coordinators. In 2017 Jackie joined Auswalk swapping a 15 year career in the corporate finance world for her dynamic role organising all of the logistics and back of house arrangements for our Group Guided trips. Jackie has travelled extensively overseas, including working and living in the UK for many years. Equipped with her caravan, 2 kids and her husband, Jackie is now ticking off wild and wonderful destinations in Australia - her favourite being Kings Canyon Rim Walk in the NT. If you ever need an extra person for music trivia Jackie is your girl with an amazing ability to remember any and all song lyrics!

SANYANA PETHES
DESTINATION CONSULTANT

Sanyana spent 6 years as a Destination Consultant before moving over to Marketing, where she loves to interact with our walkers through social media, and spread the word (and awe inspiring photos) about how 'truly amazing' our walking holidays are! Her favourites include Blue Mountains, for the villages, views and spectacular food and accommodation, and the Great Ocean Walk for, in her eyes, the greatest ocean views in the world! When not hiking, Sanyana can be found taking photos, reading, eating something delicious or spending time with her many and much loved pets.

BELLA NOLAN
DESTINATION CONSULTANT

A customer service pro, Bella's worked in the specialty for 11 years, across hospitality, local government and travel/tourism. Working on both Domestic and International walks at Auswalk, Bella loves the challenge of creating a customer's perfect trip - and says it's like putting together pieces of a puzzle. Being born and bred on the Mornington Peninsula, its walk is very close to her heart with its nostalgic and homely feel - a spot you'll often find her enjoying beach walks with her pampered pooch Yuki, burning off all the calories from her baking! Bella's our guru for the Bibbulmun, Cape to Cape, Great Ocean Walk, Abel Tasman, Bay of Islands and Provence holidays amongst others!

IAN LANDY
DESTINATION CONSULTANT

Ian has spent his life encouraging people to enjoy exercise and the great outdoors, having previously worked as an Outdoor Education Teacher and in Sports Administration. As an Auswalk Destination Consultant, he thrives by helping people to live out their walking dreams. He loves the Flinders Ranges walk with landscape like no other - amazing sunrises, geography and scenery. In his words, a true nature experience with little human impact. Ian's your man to talk about Flinders Island, the Great Alpine Walk, Mornington Peninsula, the Caminos, Coast to Coast, Mont Blanc and Queen Charlotte. Being an avid sports fan he will happily talk about that too!

ISSY MACHEDA
DELIVERY TEAM

Issy lives and breathes travel, having studied tourism and events and from working in the travel industry. Issy took a rewarding career change into allied and mental health as a Support Coordinator before making her way back into travel at Auswalk. With a particular love of mountains and waterfalls, Issy specialises in our Blue Mountains and Grampians walking holidays in addition to building and delivering the Auswalk App. A passionate traveller, Issy is one of those people who enjoys organising every little detail of a trip and has travelled extensively in Asia, South America and around Australia in her van. When not adventuring you’ll find Issy at home playing the piano or drawing.

JESSIE BURLEY
ACCOUNTS & DELIVERY TEAM

Jessie B (the other half of the 2 Jessies in our team!) found her way to Auswalk in 2022, bringing her exceptional customer service skills. Currently completing her Cert 4 in accounting and bookkeeping, Jessie works in our Accounts Department and our Delivery Team. If you’re an Auswalker you’ve probably heard from Jessie B as she ensures all logistics are confirmed and that each walker has a perfect and complete information pack. As a lover of travel, Jessie has recently returned from exploring South America and looks forward to getting over to New Zealand to do the Abel Tasman and Queen Charlotte Track! Outside of work, travel and study you’ll find Jessie at a hot pilates class or cooking dinner with her friends. If you ever need a restaurant recommendation Jessie has you covered!

JESSIE INGERSON
DESTINATION CONSULTANT & DELIVERY TEAM

Jessie’s role at Auswalk includes managing and helping develop our ever-growing catalogue of walks, as well as managing logistics for our trips and delivering the final product to our walkers. If you’ve booked a walk with us there’s a good chance you’ve spoken to Jessie! She’s one of our Nepalese Walk experts having recently undertaken several multi day treks in the area – with the Everest & Kongde 12-day guided walk being her favourite. Jessie looks forward to going back to Nepal to further explore and connect with the local people, and is currently completing her business degree. When not working or studying you’ll find Jessie travelling to unique destinations, hiking, exercising, and balancing it all out with baking healthy and delicious cakes (@bellyfullofcake)!

MAIKA HARRIS
DESTINATION CONSULTANT

Maika grew up in the shadow of Mt Fuji and despite having lived in Australia for the past 10 years, still enjoys exploring Japan on a regular basis. With a background in tourism and finance, we're lucky to now have her applying her knowledge of Japan and its culture to our destinations. - naturally, she's the first point of contact when planning your Japanese adventure! She enjoys exploring old Japan with her favourite walk being the Nakasendo, describing it as showcasing the amazing serenity of Japan while exposing walkers to the stunning architecture of Japan's historic post towns, mixed with traditional temples and shrines. When not at work Maika enjoys cooking Japanese food and exploring Australia.

MONICA BUSCH
DESTINATION CONSULTANT

Born in Scotland, raised on the West Coast of Canada and now a dual Aussie Citizen, Monica was born to travel. With a career in the travel industry she has clocked up visits to a whopping 33 countries and still climbing. There are still so many places on her bucket list but with her time here at Auswalk as a Destination Consultant, she has now added our 3 Capes in Tassie, Dordogne in France and West Highlands Way to the list. With two of her 3 adult children now living in Darwin, a visit to the NT is always on the cards. When Monica is not travelling she is busy keeping herself fit with local walks, pickleball, yoga and pilates!

PAO-LIN CHAN
DESTINATION CONSULTANT

Pao came to Auswalk with a wealth of knowledge about despatch coordination, finance and warehouse management. Her love of plants, animals and all outdoor activities led her to Auswalk's door. Pao is our destination consultant for Tuscany and Amalfi, The Cotswolds and Scotland, as well as Victoria including the Great Ocean Walk and our Alpine region. Pao loves being involved in our overseas and domestic trips as she gets to experience what it would be like to travel the world, via her keyboard, each day! Pao's favourite walk is the Grampians with its grand vistas, varied terrain, and wildlife encounters. When not working you’ll find Pao travelling in her caravan, wearing a pair of comfy boots experiencing good views, company and food.