Our Team

Hayley O'Rourke

Managing Director JBD &

Co-founder Soul Wander Retreats

  • The brains of the operation and a lover of any great luxury resort the world over, as well as safaris in africa, hiking in patagonia and skiing in the French Alps.

    Often found explaining to Jason how a $10 room somewhere in the back of a Nepalese village is nowhere near as good as a 5 star room with its own pool.

Micaela Augoustides

Senior Journey Designer

  • Meet Micky, our globetrotting travel expert with a passion for adventure and a taste for luxury. Having journeyed through over 40 countries and lived in four, Mic thrives on exploring both the hotspots and unbeaten paths. Whether she's skydiving in New Zealand, island hopping in Greece, on safari in Africa, joining a surf camp in Brazil, scuba diving in Colombia, training martial arts in Thailand or enjoying a sun-soaked beverage by the ocean, Mic's adventures are a blend of thrill and tranquillity.

    Her love for immersive travel experiences shines through as she dives into local culturesβ€”learning phrases, savouring delicacies, and embracing every activity along the way.

    When Mic’s not doing all things travel or smooching Giraffes in Kenya (pictured above), you’ll find her strumming a tune on her guitar or beach hopping with her partner and huge Groodle puppy.

    With Mic's extensive experience and adventurous spirit, she's here to guide you through the wild and wonderful world of travel!

Patricia Almayda

Accounts Support

  • Born and raised in the Philippines, Patricia harbored a deep-seated dream from a young age: to traverse the globe, just like countless others do. However, she soon realized that in a place where financial stability is hard-won, achieving such aspirations was no easy feat.

    Joining her current team has opened doors she never thought possible. Now, Patricia can travel with her family and fulfill her wanderlust. She firmly believes in the power of loving what you do, understanding that success comes from dedication and passion.

Andy Buerkner

Director & CEO Platinum Travel Group

  • As CEO of Platinum Travel Group, Andy brings decades of travel industry expertise to every venture. With a lifelong legacy in the industry, he is dedicated to delivering high-quality, personalised care, ensuring every client is looked after at every step. This passion made partnering with Journeys by Design a natural fit. 

    When it comes to his own travels, Andy prefers the serenity of landscapes over bustling cities, with Norway, Switzerland, and New Zealand's South Island among his favourite destinations.

Jason Harwood

Director

  • Always trying to tell us about how amazing the developing world is and why staying in a 2 star hotel is better than a 5 star…

    Bhutan, Syria, Myanmar, Cuba and Central America all big ticks…but hasn’t been to Bali!

Anastasiia Golovanova

Journey Designer

  • Realising from a young age that the world was a big, exciting place, she didn't want to be tied down to just one country.

    When her budget didn't allow for fancy hotels or expensive flights, she'd hitchhike her way through one city to the next, setting up her tent to sleep under the stars.

    Fluent in English, Russian and Japanese and strongly believes in a saying β€œyou live a new life for every new language you speak”.

    Always feeling cold even though she was born in Russia.

Tina Bruce

Retreat Leader & Co-Founder Soul Wander Retreats

  • Tina Bruce is an author, intuitive mentor, rebirthing breathwork therapist, yoga & meditation teacher and spinal energetics practitioner.

    Tina's expertise in trauma-informed modalities along with her own experience of birth trauma, burnout, shingles and the development of an opioid addiction to manage the subsequent chronic pain condition motivates her to create compassionate and supportive spaces for her clients. When you receive her stories and teachings, it is often described as 'speaking directly to your soul'.

    Tina is the co-founder of Soul Wander Retreats and facilitates programs locally and internationally with integrity and cultural connection. She understands very well the growth challenges and mountains people face daily which is why Soul Wander Retreats has evolved. Tina's purpose is to empower humans to trust their intuition so they can step more confidently on their soul path and reclaim their authentic selves to live a life they love.

Sarah Szubanski

Director & MD Platinum Travel Group

  • As Managing Director of Platinum Travel Group and a partner with Journeys by Design, Sarah blends her expertise in finance, technology and HR to create smooth, seamless experiences. She’s all about the details and making sure everything runs like clockwork.
    When it comes to travel destinations, Sarah loves nothing more than exploring historic cities – Reykjavik, Amsterdam and Honfleur are recent favourites. But she’s certain any city in Europe could captivate her for days (or even weeks).

Bec Coultas

Senior Journey Designer &

Co-Founder Beyond The Trail

  • Coming from the same camp as Jason when it comes to off the beaten track destinations, Bec loves any active or adventure driven journey where she can really experience the local culture.

    On the weekend you will find Bec doing trail running events across Victoria.

Irene Krukowski

Senior Journey Designer

  • (Home-based consultant, Moreton Bay Redcliffe Peninsula, QLD)

    After a lifetime spent looking after the people of Melton and leading tours all over the world, Irene decided to retire in 2012…that lasted 12 months.

    β€œI missed my clients too much”

Tuuli Vikstedt

Tour Leader Nepal & Director Winds of Change International

  • A big fan of different cultures and all the weird and wonderful pockets of this world – countries like Cuba and Tibet, where time has stopped but people’s passionate hearts beat strong.

    Born in snowy Finland but having lived, worked and studied on four different continents and travelled through countless places, Tuuli’s heart resides in the beautiful Himalayan nation of Nepal where she’s dedicated her life to helping disadvantaged communities.

Rika Nishimura

Tour Leader Japan & Director Kuroko Boutique Tours

  • Rika was born and raised in Kochi, quaint seaside town on the island of Shikoku, Japan. She spent her 20’s in Kyoto before moving to Australia where she started Kuroko Boutique Tours.

    She designs and leads bespoke β€˜one of a kind’ tours of Japan that include wellness retreats. Her dedication to authenticity transforms each tour into an incredibly deep exploration of Japanese culture, tradition, landscape, and people. Rika’s passion for sharing her beloved home country shines through in every step she takes. Rika, a former professional interpreter, also holds a bachelor's degree in International Law from Ritsumeikan University.

    Rika will be our local guide and interpreter for our 7 day retreat experience.