About Us
We’re a human company, and our people matter.
MTA was started as a family business with a single objective, to make the careers and lives of travel professionals independent and more rewarding.
We are proud of our team and love giving them the chance to tell their story.
Find a Travel ExpertMeet the Head Office Team
Karen Merricks
Managing Director / Co-Founder
Number of countries visited: 45+
Favourite travel destination: Too many to choose just one… Fiji, France, Italy.
Interesting fact: My uncle was a lighthouse keeper and that started my lifelong interest in lighthouses.
Roy Merricks
Managing Director /Co-Founder
Number of countries visited: 40+
Favourite place: Fiji, France, Italy.
Interesting fact: I came from an architectural design and construction background, making the change to travel with the launch of MTA and I’ve never looked back!
Don Beattie
CEO
Number of countries visited: 25
Favourite place: Hard choice but it’s probably Italy, the food and drink, the weather and of course the history.
Interesting fact: I don’t have a middle name.
Sara Merricks
Executive Manager
Number of countries visited: 55+
Favourite place: Bhutan and Italy. Bhutan for the overall experience/adventure and Italy for the food and culture.
Interesting fact: I did ballet for 10 years when I was younger and was part of the Gold Coast City Ballet Company.
Ben Merricks
Head of Business Systems
Number of countries visited: 17
Favourite travel destination: Italy for the food and culture.
Interesting fact: I’m easily tempted by a good chicken parmigiana.
Sue Weston
Finance Manager
Number of countries visited: 20
Favourite travel destination: Maui has a laid-back island life, good food and shopping.
Interesting fact: I trained as a travel agent in my early years before taking up accounting.
Clare Kearns
Business Development Manager – VIC/SA/TAS/WA
Number of countries visited: 13
Favourite destination: Edinburgh, Scotland. I lived there for 6 months and didn’t want to leave – the castle, the people and the bagpipes! I’m a sucker for bagpipes!
Interesting fact: I plan on running an art gallery and want to ride a Harley Davidson when I retire.
Georgia Traill
Business Development Manager – VIC/SA/TAS/WA
Number of countries visited: 26
Favourite destination: The Galapagos Islands (with no kids), so amazing and life changing. My favourite family destination is Fiji to relax and unwind with beautiful surrounds and kind, wonderful local people.
Interesting fact: I grew up in my parents Brewery in South Gippsland, Victoria, that they ran for 15 years. An interesting childhood!
Amber Smith
Business Development Manager – QLD/NT/N. NSW
Number of countries visited: Too many to count.
Favourite destination: Tahiti, it’s pretty close to heaven on earth. On the cooler side I would have to say Switzerland, for its stunning scenery.
Interesting fact: Before being a BDM, I was a travel consultant and before that I was a G.O at Club Med Bali.
Kerryn Taylor
Marketing & Communications Manager
Number of countries visited: 45
Favourite destination: My favourite trip was a 10-week overland trip from Kenya, via Uganda to South Africa, amazing scenery, animals and a once in a lifetime experience!
Interesting fact: I represented New Zealand in gymnastics – in the days before I was a Mum to 3 boys (including twins).
Suzie ten Bohmer
Business Analyst
Number of countries visited: 10
Favourite travel destination: Maldives. My husband and I spent their honeymoon in the Maldives and it puts a smile on my face every time a memory takes me back there.
Interesting fact: I’m a mum of two boys Quinn and Cohen and when I’m not working, being a mum/wife, I’m throwing a heavy bar around at the gym – my happy place.
Kirsty Tate
Training Manager
Number of countries visited: 30+
Favourite place: Borneo – a truly amazing experience and incredible wildlife.
Interesting fact: I was the Queensland State Ball Champion (Rhythmic Gymnastics) for 3 years straight.
Sue Rule
Corporate Manager
Number of countries visited: 18
Favourite destination: Bora Bora, for its beauty and tranquillity.
Interesting fact: I love to holiday and relax at exquisite beach resorts.
Kym Ryan
Support Manager
Number of countries visited: 26
Favourite travel destination: New York. I can’t say if it’s the buzz or the atmosphere, the city just amazed me, but I can’t wait to go back.
Interesting fact: One of my favourite movies is “Gone with the Wind”.
Rhona Rodgers
Cruise & Wholesale Product Manager
Number of countries visited: 47
Favourite travel destination: Cruising the Galapagos Islands a province of Ecuador. To get so up close to animals and species living in their natural habitat was amazing, the diversity of plant and animal specifies is incredible. I even watched a seal give birth!
Interesting fact: In the 70’s I worked in Australia’s first McDonalds restaurant at Yagoona, NSW.
Paula Wright
Business Analyst
Number of countries visited: 8
Favourite travel destination: The Maldives is my favourite destination, a truly beautiful and relaxing place.
Interesting fact: I’m happily married to Pete and have two children, Aston and Mahalia.
Zeena Croudace
Product Co-ordinator
Number of countries visited: 20
Favourite destination: This question is like asking me to pick a favourite child! I can’t but I am a big fan of summers in Europe.
Interesting fact: I once flew a plane!
Lorna Barnes
Product Co-ordinator
Number of countries you’ve visited? 24
Favourite travel destination: Barcelona, love the culture, architecture and their food
Interesting fact: I am half Scottish and until not until that long I go I actually thought a Haggis was a little furry animal that I used to try and spot whenever we would visit Scotland 😂
Chantelle Dalla-Vecchia
Product Co-ordinator
Number of countries visited: 8
Favourite destination: Maldives! White sand, crystal-clear oceans and the colourful marine life, it was truly breathtaking.
Interesting fact: I love art and painting.
Tanya Ristic
Marketing Executive
Number of countries visited: 7
Favourite destination: I love Jordan for the food, culture and incredible history.
Interesting fact: My first job was working at a French patisserie.
Carolyn Iacono
Installation Co-ordinator
Number of countries visited: 30
Favourite destination: Spain. The food, lifestyle, love those siestas, weather, culture and the list goes on.
Interesting fact: I’m a bit of a perfectionist!
Kas Lawler
Assistance Team Leader
Number of countries visited: 8
Favourite travel destination: Quebec, it’s a beautiful historical destination where you can visit France without leaving North America.
Interesting fact: I’m the office hairdresser – braids on demand!
Silvia Wilkinson
Assistance Support
Number of countries visited: 20
Favourite place: The Sub Antarctic. Amazing, cold and way beyond your expectations.
Interesting fact: I hate clutter!
Miranda Barclay
Assistance Support
Number of countries visited: 20
Favourite travel destination: Nuremberg Germany, beautiful old city with so much history and wonderful friendly people.
Interesting fact: I’ve been kissed by Robbie Williams and have seen him live on stage 25 times.
Jo Shanks
Assistance Support
Number of countries visited: 13
Favourite travel destination: Aitutaki Cook Island is my favourite destination as it is my idea of paradise, and it holds special memories from my honeymoon.
Interesting fact: I had a 40th bucket list and ticked everything off including swimming with dolphins
Sylis Mathew
Ticketing Support
Number of countries visited: 3
Number of years in travel industry: 8
Interesting fact: I am an amateur seamstress and I speak 5 languages.
Rachell Taylor
Assistance Support
Number of countries visited: 20+
Favourite travel destination: Zimbabwe, I was volunteering with the rhinos and experienced Victoria Falls
Number of years working in the travel industry: 15+ years
Interesting fact: I was an exchange student in the USA for 12 months when I was 16
Prem Halama
Ticketing Support
Number of countries visited: 20
Favourite destination: Anywhere in Asia
Interesting fact: My all time favourite food is durian!
Veronica Nally
Ticketing Support
Number of countries visited: 40+
Favourite destination: This is a hard one to answer! There are so many wonderful places that I’ve visited – if I had to choose it would probably be Barcelona.
Interesting fact: I’m a Grade 2 Rugby Union Coach and have the qualifications to coach in Queensland.
Sarah Forbes
Support Team Leader
Number of countries visited: 6
Favourite destination: Canada, I lived in Whistler for a year when I was younger and love going back.
Interesting fact: I’ve got a Cavoodle puppy named Luna and also have a caravan that I like to go away in on the weekends.
Lauren Burdett
Consultant Support
Number of countries visited: 10
Favourite destination: New York for the theatre and India for something different.
Interesting fact: I’ve kissed Russell Crowe!
Teresa Howard
Ticketing Support
Number of countries visited: 60
Favourite travel destination: I can’t pick just one, so I’ll list my top 3. Kenya, Cambodia and Galapagos Islands (it’s because they all surpassed my expectations and I love seeing animals in their natural environment.)
Interesting fact: I love reading murder mystery books.
Kirsten Creighton
After Hours Ticketing Support
Number of countries visited: 10
Favourite destination: Vietnam
Interesting fact: I have a bad addiction to cheesy romance novels!
Angeline Liu
Ticketing Support
Number of countries visited: 9
Favourite destination: Pacific Islands, Singapore and Japan, love the people, food and culture!
Interesting fact: I have worked in the airfare & ticketing industry in NZ and AUS for over 10+ years and I am still passionate about it. I love dogs and love helping dogs in need.
Julia Golub
Assistance Support
Number of countries visited: 31
Favourite destination: South America for the diverse landscapes, ancient sites, culture and food
Number of years working in the travel industry: 4 years
Interesting fact: I have kayaked in Antarctica with Penguins.