• The TIME community meets at the Sydney headquarters of the Cover-More Group.
  • Our latest cohort of graduates recount their personal mentoring experiences.

It was the Sydney TIME community’s turn to gather, network, learn and celebrate recently at the fabulous headquarters of the Cover-More Group.

“We absolutely love our graduation events,” said TIME Program founder, Penny Spencer.

“They’re such joy-filled, enlightening experiences for everyone who attends. Not to mention the connections that are forged when the travel industry’s big-hitters and future leaders gather over wonderful, generous hospitality of the kind we saw at Cover-More,” added Penny.

The Sydney event kicked off with a ‘Building a Valuable Personal Brand’ workshop presented by Sue Graham, Head of Airline Contracting at Helloworld Travel and TIME Board Member.

But as always, the real stars of the show were the TIME Program graduates themselves.

“Watching these impressive travel and tourism industry execs graduate brings us all such satisfaction, and their speeches are always so insightful,” said Penny.

Here are some highlights from TIME’s graduation group no. 34.

“In the past 6 months, I’ve spent hundreds of hours on flights, 80 hours at weekend expos, countless hours driving, perhaps a few too many happy hours, and way too few hours sleeping. I honestly didn’t think I’d have the time for TIME.

But when put in perspective, it’s just 24 hours over six months to invest in yourself and your career—It felt good to be doing something for me!”
Alexandra Morton, Key Account Manager VIC TAS SA WA for Hurtigruten Australia

“My TIME mentor, Kathryn, taught me many things like how to build a brand and add to a legacy, how to network and work the room, how to develop an online presence and career-plan for the future.”

Mat Galea, National Account Executive and Corporate Specialist for Cover-More.

And Mat’s top tip for anyone considering joining TIME as a mentee?

“Use your time with your Mentor wisely, create a structure of content that you want to cover and don’t ever feel like you’re bugging or annoying your Mentor. Your Mentor is there to guide you, and is learning just as much about themselves as you are.”

Happy TIME Grads Zoe Francis, Alexandra Morton and Christopher Allan.

“My brilliant mentor, Deb Duncan, had a way of challenging my way of thinking, to look at new ideas and providing a different perspective, precisely what I was looking for from TIME. I have a renewed confidence in myself, and I am more prepared than ever to take on the challenges of my new role.”
Zoe Francis, Trade Partnership Manager AU/NZ Bunnik Tours

Guest presenter at TIME, Judith Crompton – CEO of Cover-More Group Insurance.

Guest speaker on the night was Judith Crompton, TIME Mentor and CEO of Cover-More Group Insurance. Judith spoke of the importance of setting and re-setting goals, balancing risks and maintaining a relentless customer focus.

Travel-tourism-hospitality professionals are encouraged to follow TIME on Facebook and LinkedIn to keep up to date with what’s going on inside the travel industry’s premier career accelerator.