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Joanna Burnet Co-founder
Joanna co-founded VisitOz in 1991 on their farm in SE Queensland with her husband Dan. They moved to Australia after his full career as a British Army officer and Diplomat and after 5 years sheep farming in the highlands of Scotland. Joanna has organised opportunities for young people all her life, particularly with pony clubs and snow skiing. VisitOz started soon after they arrived here and has been growing ever since. Dan died in 2013. Joanna continues to be very active in all aspects of running and marketing VisitOz. Joanna is well known throughout the working holiday industry. She has served on a number of advisory boards and committees including Adventure Queensland and BYTAP - the Backpacker Youth Tourism Advisory Panel. |
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Will Taunton-Burnet General Manager
Will is one of Joanna's four sons. With his wife Jules and two daughters Harriet and Martha he moved to Australia from the UK in 2014 to start full time work for VisitOz. Will has represented VisitOz in the UK and Europe since 1991. He has worked in several youth development roles in his career so far. Will enjoyed a 12 year career as a coach and manager in British downhill ski racing, working at all levels from club to National Team. For 5 years he was Executive Director of a youth development charity based in London's Royal Geographic Society, running youth wilderness expeditions. In this and other roles in the UK educational sector he has initiated and established programmes focused on skills development and workplace readiness, including delivery of pilot programmes of the UK National Citizen Service. |
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Chris Rohan Farm Skills Trainer
Chris is a retired Construction Overseer for the local government, where he focused on civil construction and maintenance work as well as training, for the past 40 years. He has over 30 years of experience within administrative and training roles in local organisations including: Vice President of Polocrosse in Tansey, the Secretary of Springshore Race Club, past President and Instructor of the Goomeri Pony Club, past Secretary of the Kilkivan Show & Camp Draft Association (among many many others). At home, Chris trains horses, is a leatherworker and conducts training courses in saddlery and leathercraft. |
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Cath Chape Training Farm Cook and Accommodation Supremo
Cath is a professional cook who has travelled widely for work in Australia and overseas including New Zealand, England and Africa. Cath has twenty years cooking experience and she hopes to bring her understanding of multi-cultural environments to VisitOz to help the young people who come here looking for Aussie adventure. She is responsible for keeping the participants and employees happily fed and the household running smoothly. |
The Bookings Team
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Jules Taunton-Burnet Bookings Manager
Jules takes care of the Visitoz bookings. She was brought up on a mixed farm once her father retired from the British Army. In her early career in London, UK, she worked as a PA to several high profile senior executives ranging from The National Trust to financial public relations; spent 5 years selling tea and coffee products overseas and became tea/coffee buyer; ran high profile London events for a national charity and before becoming a mother to two daughters was Headmaster’s PA at a prestigious private school. She first came to Australia as a backpacker at the age of 21 and spent a year working and travelling around the country. Between jobs she has enjoyed many other adventures around the world including two Operation Raleigh expeditions and five months working in central India in a historic palace helping to boost its tourism. |
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Lisa Pavarini Bookings and Administration
Originally from Lake Maggiore, in the North of Italy, Lisa moved to Australia in 2011. She now lives with her husband in the small country town of Woolooga, where they enjoy taking care of their pets, garden and many fruit trees. A qualified Cert IV Veterinary Nurse, Lisa worked (and still does) as a volunteer for various animal welfare organisations including the RSPCA and Wilvos. Having worked for a variety of venues, including the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and language schools, she has extensive experience in the hospitality sector as well as an adult language teacher, tour guide and translator. Lisa has been working part-time for Visitoz since May 2016; she helps with everything, especially with bookings, in both Springbrook and Gympie Offices. |
