This year, the theme for\u00a0International Women\u2019s Day\u00a0is\u00a0\u2018Choose to Challenge\u2019.<\/strong> <\/p>\n So, to\u00a0honour\u00a0that,\u00a0we want to\u00a0celebrate\u00a0some of the incredible women and allies who work at Intrepid, challenging stereotypes and the status quo. These\u00a0team members\u00a0work in all corners of the globe \u2013 across different roles and offices, at all levels\u00a0and\u00a0who do\u00a0incredible work\u00a0to champion\u00a0women and support\u00a0gender equality.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n We asked Intrepid staff from around the world\u00a0to\u00a0nominate\u00a0a\u00a0female colleague or ally who has shone throughout the pandemic by showing\u00a0leadership or innovation,\u00a0advocating\u00a0for gender\u00a0equality, taking\u00a0on additional work, studies\u00a0or family responsibilities\u00a0or\u00a0supporting\u00a0other women. <\/p>\n In no\u00a0particular order, here are some of\u00a0Intrepid\u2019s\u00a0best and brightest this International Women\u2019s Day.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1. Aye Mya\u00a0Mya\u00a0Soe\u00a0\u2013\u00a0General Manager,\u00a0Indonesia<\/strong>\u00a0 2.\u00a0Yvette Thompson\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Sales, Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 3.\u00a0Yin Minn Htwe\u00a0\u2013\u00a0\u00a0Purchasing,\u00a0Myanmar<\/strong>\u00a0 4.\u00a0Zina Bencheikh\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Managing Director EMEA<\/strong>\u00a0 5<\/strong>. Cassandra Harvey \u2013 Sales, North America<\/strong>\u00a0 6<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>Caitlin Lutton<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Customer Service<\/strong>, Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 7.\u00a0Zinzi\u00a0Bobani\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Finance,\u00a0South Africa\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cWhen we were\u00a0unable to apply for\u00a0government support for staff,\u00a0Zinzi\u00a0spent hours trying to find a way to get us access.\u00a0She\u00a0has gone out of her way to\u00a0help out\u00a0the team, personally\u00a0helping out\u00a0a seriously ill team member.\u00a0COVID-19 has\u00a0hit close to home amongst her family and friends, and I know that she was a rock for them all.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 8.\u00a0<\/strong>Cara Toovey<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Sales, Australia\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 9<\/strong>. Fernando Rodriguez \u2013 Operations, Peru\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 10.\u00a0Celia Brennan\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Operations,\u00a0Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 11.\u00a0<\/strong>Wan-Chiwan\u00a0<\/strong>Suwannapak<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Operations<\/strong>,<\/strong>\u00a0Thailand<\/strong>\u00a0 12.\u00a0Chrystal Daniel\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Customer Experience,\u00a0Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201c<\/strong>Chrystal has returned to full-time work from maternity leave in the middle of a pandemic and\u00a0is adjusting to pandemic work-from-home life, being a mum, and\u00a0being promoted to\u00a0a manager all at the same time. It\u2019s truly inspiring to see Chrystal be amazing at all three.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n 13.\u00a0<\/strong>Ngoc V<\/strong>u \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Finance, Vietnam<\/strong>\u00a0 14.\u00a0<\/strong>Erica\u00a0<\/strong>Kritikides<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Product, Australia\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 15.\u00a0<\/strong>Joanna Reeve<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Business Development, UK<\/strong>\u00a0 1<\/strong>6<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>Erin Shand<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Customer Experience, Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 1<\/strong>7<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>Katie Breen<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Marketing<\/strong>, Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 18.\u00a0Rama Mahendru\u00a0\u2013\u00a0General Manager,\u00a0India<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201c<\/strong>Rama has earned the respect of the India team, leading them\u00a0through the crisis\u00a0while dealing\u00a0with personal issues,\u00a0as her son had just started university in\u00a0Australia and\u00a0is stuck there because of COVID-19. She is always looking to do what is best for the company and her staff.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n 19.\u00a0Katie Dance\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Technology Services,\u00a0Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 20.\u00a0Leah Johnson\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Sales, New Zealand<\/strong>\u00a0 2<\/strong>1<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>Lucy Siebert<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 C<\/strong>o<\/strong>mmunications<\/strong>, Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 22.\u00a0Song\u00a0Nongchanun\u00a0\u2013\u00a0People team,\u00a0Thailand<\/strong>\u00a0 2<\/strong>3<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>Marie Swanson<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Marketing<\/strong>, Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 24.\u00a0Maritza\u00a0Chacacanta\u00a0\u2013 Operations,\u00a0Peru<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cMost of the people Maritza works with are porters on\u00a0Inca trail who had to go back to their farms when the pandemic hit. She never lost contact with the communities and\u00a0then\u00a0worked on Christmas Eve, travelling around the countryside of the Andes to make sure every one of them and their families had their food parcels\u00a0from The Intrepid Foundation.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 25.\u00a0Michelle\u00a0Ouw\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Sales, Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 26.\u00a0<\/strong>Miranda Raciti<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Customer\u00a0<\/strong>Serv<\/strong>i<\/strong>ce<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/strong>Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 27.\u00a0<\/strong>Natalie Placko<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Brand,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 28.\u00a0<\/strong>Soledad Moncayo<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Reservations, Ecuador<\/strong>\u00a0 29.\u00a0Robyn Nixon\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Special Projects,\u00a0Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 30.\u00a0Sachini\u00a0Gunatilake\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Product, Sri Lanka<\/strong>\u00a0 31.\u00a0Sarah Clark\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Managing Director APAC<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201c<\/strong>In 2020 she joined the core management team, led the\u00a0local travel\u00a0project, does awesome monthly updates showing\u00a0us\u00a0of her home island\u00a0Tasmania, and\u00a0promotes\u00a0our purpose in an engaging and informative way. Plus, she\u2019s\u00a0super approachable and responsive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n 32.\u00a0<\/strong>Alana Plucinski \u2013 Customer Service, Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 33.\u00a0Wye Wong \u2013 Leader, Malaysia<\/strong>\u00a0 34.\u00a0Natalie Scales \u2013 Customer Service, Australia<\/strong>\u00a0 35. Brett Mitchell \u2013 Chief Sales Officer<\/strong>\u00a0 36.\u00a0Natalie Kidd\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Chief People and Purpose Officer\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0
For her leadership and strength<\/em>\u00a0
\u201cAye is an amazing example of strength,\u00a0courage and determination. She demonstrates great leadership and has mentored others to follow in her footsteps.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For being an inspirational role model<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/em>By far this woman is the best manager I have ever had!\u00a0Despite not working for her in almost a year,\u00a0she continues to inspire me every day and is my\u00a0favourite\u00a0role model.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/strong>For supporting\u00a0and training\u00a0others<\/em>\u00a0
\u201cYin MinThwe\u00a0has\u00a0led\u00a0the team during COVID-19\u00a0and\u00a0given her time to train and assist staff in other\u00a0parts of Asia. She has also done a lot of volunteering to help set up learning and best practice curriculum standards at local tourism colleges.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
For trailblazing and inspiring others<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>Zina is flying the flag for gender equality, purpose and social and environmental causes. She continued to take up\u00a0public\u00a0speaking opportunities throughout COVID-19\u00a0and is\u00a0an amazing role model for women,\u00a0showing what\u00a0is possible if you put your love and energy into it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For bringing positivity and support<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/em>Cass has always been an amazing leader, but she really set the bar high through this crisis. She has also had a rough year personally with health issues in her family, but she is\u00a0always\u00a0there for her team. She is a super woman in my eyes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For taking the opportunity to teach others<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>During the pandemic, Caitlin commenced studying to become a teacher. It\u2019s clear\u00a0she will\u00a0be incredible, as the\u00a0recent\u00a0training\u00a0she facilitated was informative, engaging and\u00a0fun!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For stepping up to care for people around her<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Zinzi-Bobani-1-e1614812896189.jpg\")
<\/a>
For her ability to bring people together<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/em>Cara\u00a0is\u00a0the unifying figure\u00a0organising\u00a0social events\u00a0online and\u00a0leading by example,\u00a0while she cared for her two girls as a single mother. There were times when you could see that the strain of 2020 was taking a toll on her as well, but she never lost her cheerfulness, her love of our team and her ability to keep on going.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For his leadership and passion<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>Fernando is very passionate about all equality issues, including gender equality. He has always put huge amounts of effort into supporting our female leaders, guides and staff throughout the region and his leadership helped us achieve our goal of doubling the number of female leaders in our region well ahead of time. He\u2019s a unique example of a male who is constantly empowering and supporting women in what is a very patriarchal Latino culture.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For her resourcefulness and care<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>She has been instrumental in putting together our Covid-19 policies and making sure that all our trips\u00a0and\u00a0travellers\u00a0are safe. Meanwhile, she\u2019s been juggling home schooling for her two young children.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For keeping staff under her care engaged and informed<\/em>\u00a0
\u201cWan has had to manage the stress of Covid on reduced hours while working from home and also delivering home schooling to her two daughters. She\u2019s ensured that leaders under her care are kept engaged and informed. Wan also managed to find time to attend and pass a new hospitality and tourism-based course in SE Asia and be one of the first to do so.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For taking new challenges in her stride<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a>
For encouraging focus and innovation<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>Ngoc is an amazing quiet achiever. In 2020 Ngoc stepped up and has been instrumental in guiding the business, encouraging the much smaller team to stay focused and be innovative. She is a superstar not often\u00a0recognised\u00a0outside of her own office.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n
For being a truly empathic manager<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>As a single mother, I felt pressure all around in the pandemic. For most of 2020, I home-schooled my child and worked reduced hours. Erica understood my situation \u2013 as a mother first, then as a manager. While she has advocated for working parents for a long time, she really shone during this pandemic. She ensured my name was put on the table for any projects and she encouraged me to take time off to look after me.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n
For taking on new responsibilities<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>Jo is a real Intrepid powerhouse, very determined to achieve the impossible for her team and for herself. She took on new responsibilities\u00a0during COVID-19\u00a0and has risen above and beyond anyone\u2019s expectations.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For going above and beyond her role<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>During COVID-19\u00a0Erin\u00a0offered\u00a0her services to fill gaps\u00a0in addition to completing her duties within her own role. Her innovative ideas have formed an integral part of the\u00a02021\u00a0strategy,\u00a0and I could not have achieved the results we have had as a team, without her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For her strong sense of what is right<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/em>Not only was Katie a huge support for our team during a\u00a0really tough\u00a0year, but she put her hand up for several extra projects. And through her involvement in the RAP committee and her own personal interest, she worked to educate herself and our team around Black Lives Matter.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For always doing what is best for her team<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a>
For getting stuff done with a positive attitude<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>In March last year she got an extra four people in her team and supported us as well as her original team. She also completed her master\u2019s and juggled having a toddler at home and being pregnant\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0still\u00a0doesn\u2019t seek out the limelight!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For supporting others no matter what<\/em>\u00a0
\u201cFor\u00a0always being there for people in our team, no matter where in New Zealand or Australia they were based.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For stepping up and going above and beyond<\/em>\u00a0
\u201cLucy is an exceptional individual. She joined the Intrepid team not long before the pandemic hit and has been a steady rock throughout.\u00a0To\u00a0lead the corporate communications for an international travel company during a global pandemic is not an easy feat! She has done all of this while being on the other side of the world to her family and while COVID-19 hit her home in South Africa hard.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For making improvements for the future<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>Song has been a significant support to her region throughout the pandemic, assisting conversations and keeping track of changing work requirements. She has also used the time to proactively identify areas for improvement for the future.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For showing care and compassion to those around her<\/em>\u00a0
\u201cDespite\u00a0working\u00a0reduced\u00a0hours, she still took the time to check in with me every so often and encouraged me to back myself in certain\u00a0challenging\u00a0situations.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For supporting the local communities impacted by COVID-19<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a>
For creating clarity in a time of uncertainty<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>Michelle did an amazing job at being available to support the team. Despite being stretched for time and there being so much uncertainty in our industry, Michelle was there to work with us to create some clarity around ever-changing processes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For approaching everything with a level head<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>Miranda has been so consistent in her attitude and support through the pandemic. She has led one of the hardest parts of the business in ensuring our customers are happy and being looked after. She always approaches things with a level head, no matter the topic and is a strong and confident communicator.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For always having time for everyone<\/em>\u00a0
\u201cNat has been the best role model and support for so many people \u2013 especially the marketers, who are nearly all women themselves. She has a knack for making you feel better when you are struggling, she is genuine, empowering and positive. No matter how stressful Nat\u2019s job has been, she always has time for everyone and will take time out of her busy schedule to chat to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For being a strong fem<\/em>a<\/em>le voice and leader<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/em>A tireless worker who always makes herself available to the rest of the team, including\u00a0areas that are not\u00a0technically in her remit. She has been a strong female voice and leader within the Ecuador team for many years.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For bringing people together<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>Robyn has been a pillar of strength over the last 12 months, moving to the UK to lead the charge on bringing the team back together and succeeding. She was a key member of the local travel revolution at Intrepid from day one and has now taken this project by the horns.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For being an encouraging leader<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/em>Sachini\u00a0has great leadership skills, she is always helpful to all the team members and wants to see the team grow as well as the team members grow.\u00a0She is such an understanding person when it comes to any situation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For promoting our purpose in an engaging way<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a>
For being a supportive manager<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>She has been a massive support to the team and takes on a lot of different tasks. She keeps us updated and is often someone we go to for support, whether professional or personal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For finding ways to support her local community<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>Wye Wong applied for a grant for a community garden project that she was working on\u00a0during COVID-19. She was successful in getting the funding and the local community now has a rainwater harvester at the community garden.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For looking for ways to improve our customers\u2019 experience<\/em>\u00a0
\u201c<\/strong>Nat is always proactively looking for ways to continually improve processes to ensure our customers get the best possible experience from Intrepid, but also looks for ways to ensure our processes don\u2019t create unnecessary work for our team.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For being such a supportive, trusting and empowering manager\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0
\u201cI don\u2019t know if I would have given this job to myself, but you did! I\u2019m so pleased of what we\u2019ve achieved so far and really looking to the post-pandemic success we will be driving together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For her honesty and advice<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a>