Mr Burnes is Helloworld Travel Limited’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. Upon completing his studies in Law and Commerce at Melbourne University, Mr Burnes was employed by Blake Dawson Waldron where he completed his Articles and worked as a solicitor.

On 1st November, 1987 Mr Burnes founded The Australian Outback Travel Company (The AOT Group) at the age of 26. After the merger of AOT and Helloworld in January 2016, he was appointed CEO of Helloworld Travel Limited on 1st February, 2016.

Mr Burnes was appointed as the Honorary Federal Treasurer of the Liberal Party of Australia in July 2015. Prior to this appointment he was the State Treasurer of the Victorian Liberal Party from May 2009 to early 2011. He was appointed as a Director of Tourism Australia in July 2004 serving as Deputy Chairman from 2006 to 2009. Mr Burnes chaired the Audit and Finance Committee of Tourism Australia during this period, was a Trustee of the Travel Compensation Fund from 2005 to 2008 and a Board Member of the Australian Tourism Export Council (“ATEC”) from 1998 serving as the organisation’s National Chairman from 1999 – 2003.

On 7th June, 2020, Mr Burnes was named an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List. Mr Burnes received this recognition for his “distinguished service to business, particularly through a range of travel industries, to professional tourism organisations, and to the community”.

Mr Burnes’ charitable involvements include being a key supporter or the School of St Jude in Arusha, Tanzania and served as a director of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation between 2008 and 2013.

Ms Burnes brings extensive sector and management experience to the Board.

In 1982 she founded, and became Managing Director of the Australian Travel Bureau (ATB) prior to becoming a shareholder and Director of Caleidoscopio SRL, growing the business to become the 2nd largest wholesaler in Italy in 1989. She was also appointed Head of Travel, Italy Australia Association in 1983, just one year after joining the organisation.

From 1991 to 1998, Ms Burnes was General Manager of The Australian Outback Travel Company (AOT), founded by Andrew in 1987. She played a pivotal role over 26 years in growing AOT from a small regional safari operator into one of Australasia’s leading travel distribution businesses with 500 staff in 15 locations worldwide with annual revenues in excess of $350 million. The AOT Group was privately owned by Andrew and Cinzia Burnes until its merger with Helloworld Travel Limited in February 2016.

Ms Burnes served on the Board of Tourism Victoria as a Director from 2013 to 2015. She has also served as a Board Member of Health Services Australia (H.S.A) from 2006 to 2008 and as a Director of the Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) from 2000 to 2004. Ms Burnes was appointed a Director of the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) on 14 December 2022 (formally known as Australian Federation of Travel Agents – AFTA)

Ms Burnes holds qualifications in Tourism and Commerce from the Metastasio Institute of Commerce (Rome) in 1982 and is a graduate of the Mt. Eliza Executive Education Business School. Advanced Management Program (May 2011) and Senior Executive Program Modules 1 & 2 (November 2014).

Michael (Mike) is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of financial, operational and commercial experience and joined Helloworld Travel in May 2022.

Prior to becoming a CFO, Mike was a Senior Manager at PwC, where he provided Audit and Assurance services to a broad range of companies, including a number of large ASX listed entities.

Mike is a former CEO and CFO of Amplifon Australia and so brings a wealth of knowledge of multi-site operations, as well as significant experience in developing and executing business growth strategies, implementing operational enhancements and driving strong financial performance.

Prior to joining Amplifon, Mike was a CFO at Adacel Technologies.

Chris joined Helloworld New Zealand in October 2020 and has over 30 years’ experience primarily in travel and tourism businesses across New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, United Kingdom and the Middle East.

Prior to joining Helloworld Travel Limited, Chris was Chief Executive of Safety ‘n Action, a health and safety training and certification organisation. This was after 7 years with Etihad Airways based in Abu Dhabi. He has also held a variety of senior leadership positions during his 21-year tenure with Air New Zealand including GM Global Direct Sales.

Chris holds an MBA from the University of Auckland.

Jason is Group General Manager – Strategy and has over 25 years’ experience in travel and tourism businesses across Australia and New Zealand.

He is responsible for the ongoing development and influencing of strategic business directions of both short and long term strategy at all levels across the entire business.

Upon completing his Economics degree, he travelled extensively around the globe before returning to Australia to commence a career in Tourism. He initially worked with APT Touring before joining the AOT Group in 1998 through till 2003 when he setup and ran his own travel agency business until 2009 when he returned to the AOT Group which subsequently became part of the Helloworld Travel Limited Group in 2016. During this time, he has held a broad range of roles across the business.

He has extensive operational and commercial experience, project management and proven leadership performance, and a wealth of knowledge of our business and the wider tourism sector. He has also gained experience in tendering, mergers and acquisitions and ensuring that secured business opportunities bought by the Helloworld Group are integrated into and across the wider business such that synergies, operational efficiencies, cost benefits and value generation are constantly achieved.

Yusuf is a true tech enthusiast and began his IT career in 1996 building websites and networks for local businesses. Upon completion of his Degree in Information Systems, in 2001 he joined the IT Department at Hyatt hotels in Melbourne, marking the beginning of his career in the travel and tourism industry. After a short stint working for Staples in Canada, Yusuf joined The AOT Group in October 2005. He worked his way up from the helpdesk and in 2010, was appointed Systems Manager and then General Manager of IT not long after. Yusuf is currently responsible for all IT Services, technology infrastructure and the Corporate Property portfolio throughout Helloworld Travel Limited offices worldwide.

Rohan Moss re-joined Helloworld Travel Limited in the position of Group General Manager – Consolidation in July 2023 after previously working for Helloworld Travel in a range of General Management positions for ten years.

Rohan is a highly experienced travel executive with extensive knowledge and expertise built over 40 years in the Australian travel industry across a broad range of senior positions within Australia’s leading travel companies.

His experience encompasses all facets of the travel industry including business systems, operations, sales and marketing. Rohan has significant expertise and knowledge in online B2B and B2C travel systems, driving efficiency and cost savings via innovative online technology solutions within the business and for customers. Rohan also has an excellent track record in leading high-performance operations and call centre teams, delivering exceptional customer service.

Rohan was appointed a Director of the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) on 19th June 2024 (formally known as the Australian Federation of Travel Agents – AFTA).

Stan has a wide-ranging background in the travel industry spanning almost 30 years.

Joining Helloworld Travel Limited in 2014 after holding various positions at Qantas Airways across a broad range of Sales, Distribution and Commercial management functions culminating in Head of Commercial Strategy.

With broad strategic and commercial experience Stan has held senior management roles with large and medium sized organisations achieving many positive business based outcomes with a focus on revenue growth, cost reduction, margin improvement, mergers and acquisitions, key customer/supplier relationship management, working with international sales markets and global alliances, customer service experience enhancements and leading people through change.

Stan is passionate about leading and managing change, with a focus on developing people while continually growing as a business professional.

Nick Sutherland re-joined Helloworld Travel Limited in February 2024 as Head of Branded and Associate Networks after previously heading up the Helloworld Corporate division of the business in Australia and New Zealand for a number of years.

A travel professional with a career spanning over 25 years Nick is an experienced business leader with a proven track record in driving growth and delivering value to both publicly listed and private businesses.

Nick has significant experience across a wide range of facets of the travel industry including complex commercial negotiations and management, industrial relations negotiations, acquisitions and disposals as well as a focus on driving high performance teams.

Most recently Chief Commercial officer at Locomote, Nick also has a passion for leading transformational change through technology solutions and delivering customer centric solutions.

Tom has spent 55 years in our Industry, starting with Qantas then Cathay Pacific Airways across 30 years. Based in Australia and thereafter Hong Kong, holding various senior sales, marketing, and management roles.

Tom and his family returned to Australia in December 1999, where he took up the position of Managing Director, Orient Express Travel in Melbourne. Becoming sole proprietor in 2003, the brand changed to Express Travel Group (ETG), expanding operations to all Australian States.

Today, ETG operates in both Australia and New Zealand, providing an Air ticket consolidation business, retail member networks, cruise and packaging wholesale brands, through some 400 agency members.

The company employs over 90 personnel and encompasses a suite of brands including, Express Tickets, Alatus, Independent Travel Group, Select Travel Group, italk travel and cruise, First Travel Group NZ, You Travel and Lifestyle holidays.

Tom was appointed as, ATIA Board Director in 2014, moving to Chairman in 2018, until retiring from that role at the June AGM this year after 10 years of service. (ATIA, Australian Travel Industry Association, was previously known as AFTA).

In July 2023, Express Travel Group was acquired by Helloworld Travel Limited Group, Tom remains as CEO and a Director of ETG.

Simon holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from Monash University and a post-graduate diploma in Sports Law from the University of Melbourne. He began his career as a solicitor at Middleton’s Lawyers (1999-2004) before joining the AFL in 2004 as Manager – Legal & Business Affairs.

In 2008, he expanded his responsibilities to include broadcasting and scheduling and was promoted to the AFL Executive in 2011, serving as General Manager, Broadcasting, Scheduling & Major Projects, and Deputy General Counsel until 2015.

In late 2015, Simon became General Manager, Game & Market Development, overseeing various aspects of AFL’s community and international programs. He was appointed to General Manager, Football Operations in 2017.

Simon joined the St Kilda Football Club as General Manager of Football Operations in the second half of 2017, later becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2019. In September 2022, he was appointed CEO of the club. Simon departed St Kilda in January 2024. 

Melissa Warren has been with Helloworld Travel Limited since 2018. Currently the Group General Manager Marketing she is responsible for marketing activity across Wholesale and Retail divisions.

A travel and marketing professional with a career spanning 25 years, Melissa has a proven track record of planning and delivering high impact marketing campaigns and activity across all media.

Melissa is a well-respected marketing leader in travel and is a key contact for valued stakeholders, media partners, preferred partners and agency networks across Helloworld Travel.

Her extensive career experience in travel includes roles in Australia and the UK at Flight Centre, Kirra Tours, Europcar, Infinity Holidays, and Holidays of Australia and the World.

She currently sits on the KarryOn Luxury Advisory Board, is a member of the Destination Canada Strategic Advisory Group and has been a judge of the Women in Travel Awards for several years.