Alumni News

Click here to reach Mike Moss's business venture (have a look at his entry below first)

If you are a Leeds met Tourism Management alumnus and want to promote a charity project, a personal research project, or even to publicise your company or organisation's work, send me a message with details of what you want to do, with your phone number and address. The only condition is that you also send an entry about yourself for the Alumni News page. This offer will be as an experiment and reviewed in due course. The message will appear on the home page, this alumni page or any other of your choice. There is no charge but you must be an alumnus/alumna of a Leeds Met Tourism Management course.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Actually, 236 alumni now have entries on this web page following some updates at the Awards Ceremony. This is more than 1 in 5 of all the students who studied Tourism Management at Leeds Met since the courses began in 1992.

I prefer to be in touch with people directly so that I can get details right, but do pass on any information about your friends (or get them to contact me) so I can email or write to them. I also like to get permission before adding any substantial news items about alumni, though news passed on might be posted "we hear that". Please email additions, corrections or preferred rewording to me.

*** All postings show information supplied at a particular time. If an alumnus/alumna has moved on, we may not know - please keep us up to date! ***

Contact me using the link below, or you can write to me at:

Tourism at Leeds Met
Leslie Silver International Faculty
Civic Campus
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS1 3HE
UK

Entries are usually arranged under the surname people were known by in University. Names changed on marriage are added in brackets.

Photos are especially welcome - keep them smallish for emailing, or post prints to LeedsMet. I have to reserve the right to use and edit contributions in order to match the style of the page. Prints can be returned if you send your current postal address.

The photos on this page were generally supplied for this page by the former students shown and remain their copyright.

Adverts appear free of charge if they are placed by Leeds Met Tourism Alumni on behalf of their employer or own organisation. This is a service to Alumni. The optimum size is 210mm wide by 75mm high, though these dimensions can vary. They should be supplied as JPEG files of 0.5 - 1Mb, good resolution. Please contact me if you are an alumnus/alumna and want to take up a space.

Last updated: 19 August 2008.

Click here to contact me

Facebook has a Leeds Met Tourism Alumni page.

Poke, hug, snowball and send zombies and gifts to lots of old friends! There are over 140 members.

Click here for Stuart Moss's Tourism Alumni Facebook page

Take a break - take a look at: Plimoth Plantation

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Amin Abdullah(1996) has been General Manager for tour operator Executive Travel and Tours in Johor Baru, Malaysia. Amin is married to Lily and when we last heard from him they had had a litle boy.

*

James Anderson (2006) joined Leeds City Council Tourism Unit after completing his MA in Tourism at Leeds Met.

*

Adele Anyon (2002)(now Adele Sabin) works as a Property Manager in Rotherham. She married James Sabin.

*

Helen Apps Villa (1996) is a Solution Manager for SAP, the world's largest business software company. She moved to Germany in 1998, after working for Thomas Cook. She is married and has a little boy.

*

Andrew Ashcroft (2003) joined a journalism course at Liverpool John Moores in September 2005. He recently sent this update: "I've been cutting my teeth working on newspapers in Southport and Formby...though news stories range from kidnappings to the local squirrel population. I've had my first splash on the front page so making progress".

*

Mark Ashton (2006) writes "Since graduation I travelled for 11 months in South and Central America, spent last winter working in a bar (desperate times - desperate measures) and have just returned home to rainy England (boo!) after three and a half months in Spain and Morocco.

Needless to say, a job is in order so hopefully will have something to add to this page soon".

*

Charlotte Atkinson (2000): last heard of working in reception at the Jarvis North Leeds hotel.

*

Jane Austick (1998) lives in Leeds. She is working as an admin and resources assistant for the local Anglican deanery children’s worker.

*

Sue Bannister(1996)(now Sue Hyams) has been running a successful wedding stationery business for several years (www.cardsbysue.co.uk) in her home town of Burgess Hill. Married Simon Hyams.

*

Jenny Banyatsi (2006) is working as a member of airline cabin crew with Emirates and is based in Dubai. She loves it being hot out there after time in Britain and away from her home in Botswana though the work can be challenging and the city's culture is very different.

*

Sarah Barge (2000) went to Durham after completing her course. She works as a radio researcher and is now married.

*

Lucy Barnard (2000)(now Lucy Barnard Carew) is married to James and they have two children, Harvey and Lily. They live in Hull.

*

Kelly Barnes (2008) leaves to travel the world starting this summer - '08.

*

Natasha Barnes (2002) travelled in America for three months and did repping abroad, including Ibiza and Zante. She met Brett Gill, they got engaged and have now returned to cooler climes in Britain.

*

Francesca Barella (1998) was Assistant t Conference & Banqueting Administration Manager at Royal Lancaster Hotel, London - maybe still is!

*

Nina Bateman (2006) has returned to her home area on Teeside and is about to start a sales development job with Sapphire Technologies. The company produces specialist software which supports the security of large-scale computer systems. Nina says she is excited by the prospect of working with Sapphire as it has many public sector and blue-chip company clients. "One day I make a move towards the tourism industry again, but this new job is a great opportunity for me".

*

Andy Beedle (2005) is a Hotel and Restaurant Manager in Hoole, Cheshire.

*

Hayley Beer (2004) works for the Oxford Tourist Office.

*

Kelda Belcham (2006) writes: "I took up a job last October for a publishing and training company in London (Euromoney Institutional Investor) as an Event Coordinator organising the logistics for training events and conferences in Europe, the Middle East & Africa. Although the subject of these events (Auditing and Information Security) are not in tourism it is a way for me to get some events experience.

Since working here I have had three different people (delegates and speakers at our events) asking if I went to Leeds Met! Very strange and I thought they were all very clever until they admitted that when my name is Googled on the internet your website pops up which made me laugh. Your website is now internationally visited, congratulations!

Have just got back from Zanzibar as I had a conference over there and had to be there to run it which was amazing. Unfortunately it rained a heck of a lot so not ideal but I did get to see most of the island and swim with wild dolphins in the open sea which was fantastic. I met the former Minister for Zanzibar Tourism as she is now the Minister of Finance for Tanzania and so came to open our conference. She spoke a little about her background and how she really got tourism started in Zanzibar which was interesting. Unfortunately the rest of her talk was on finance which wasn't so appealing to me! She installed the attitude in the Zanzibar locals of preserving the natural beauty and attractions to prolong tourism on the island which has definitely worked as it is gorgeous, thoroughly recommend it if you get the chance although the poverty I found rather upsetting at times. She also mentioned pro-poor tourism briefly which took me back to my university days". Latest news is that Kelda spent a holiday in Beijing and Shanghai recently, and is about to travel on business to Hungary and Ghana.

*

Catherine Bennett (1999) is now, we hear, Catherine Storey and works for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

*

Tina Bodalikar (1996) became a member of cabin crews with BA.

*

Caroline Bone (2000) was last heard of as a Trainee Manager with Lunn Poly, Leeds, where she won awards for her approach to her work.

*

Andree Buchner (2003) returned home to Dresden, worked in Italy, then was back in Germany. He returned to Britain and worked on customer services for an online company in Bristol. In October '06 he joined a web company in Bedford, UK, as Research and Development Administrator. Now (April 2008) Andree tells us he has been appointed a senior analyist with TUI, and is glad to be putting all of his skills and experience to work for such an important company in tourism.

*

Helen Blake (2005) has been in touch. She is now working jointly for Malmaison & Hotel du Vin in Human Resource Management ... currently recruiting for a new Hotel du Vin opening in Cambridge.

*

Heard that Ruth Bond (2000) was out in Cyprus for two years before returning to the UK.

*

Sarah Bowie and Tomy Wadsworth (both 2006) are, we believe, now married.

*

Kelly Bowker (2005) writes "I am just up the road working at the University of Leeds in Human Resources. I have been here for about 3 years now. I am also back at Leeds Met doing a postgraduate diploma in personnel management. It is a 2 1/2 year course and I have day release from work one day a week. The University of Leeds is also paying for 75% of it which helps! I have just finished my first year, but I have found it hard work studying while working full time - it was a lot easier the first time round.

I am getting married in October '08 (one of the reasons I stayed in Leeds) so I am busy making plans for that. We are off to Italy for our honeymoon, so may look Federico [Fava] up. The last I heard he was working for a tourism company in Italy giving guided tours to school parties."

*

Rumour was that Nicola Boyce (1996) lives in New South Wales.

*

Sally-Anne Bramham (1999) is married and has two children.

*

David Brigham (2001) believed to be in London, working for Expedia.co.uk.

*

Peter Brooke (2003) worked in events and meetings management until January 2007. He then became a training co-ordinator and referee for the Rugby League.

*

Daniel Brookes (2004) works for the Thistle Hotel in Leeds.

*

Denise Brotheridge (1998) became Denise Greene in 2003. She and her husband had their first baby in March 2006. Denise is an Accounts Director for a representation company (ITG Marketing) providing sales and marketing services for hotels and inter-island airlines in the Caribbean, Thailand and Canada. A recent project was connected with the company web site – www.itgmaketing.co.uk.

*

Charlie Brown (2002) was a familiar figure serving in the University bookshop for some time before she moved on to temping for the Yorkshire Bank. She then joined Leeds City Planning Department, Development Section, Planning and Economic Policy. Now, however, she is part of the Town Planning team at Calderdale Metropolitan Borough. Charlie reports that she is busy with tourism-related projects in Halifax and the Mytholmroyd area, where her Leeds Met course is helping development work.

*

Richard Bryan (2001) is now the Managing Director of QA Research in York. He is in charge of well over a hundred people serving research, sale and marketing campaigns. Besides Tourism Richard says he has had to expand his knowledge to understand a variety of public sector initiatives including health, children and young people, housing, community engagement, and education. His company web site is at www.qaresearch.co.uk. Richard lives in Leeds with his partner, Hazel.

*

Cheryl Bryce (2006) worked in recruitment for a time. We hear she is now in Sheffield.

*

Someone said that Joanne Bryce (1997) is now Joanne Shaw. She is believed to have worked as airline cabin crew out of Glasgow - but that is old news, now.

*

Vicky Bull (1998) moved to the United States after graduation. She was one of a group of students who spent their placement year in Minnesota, partly in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis/St Paul, and partly in summertime resorts out in the lakes areas. Vicky returned to Minneapolis and worked for some years in the retail trade there before heading towards Tennessee for a spell. Now back in Minnesota.

*

Tracy Burgin (1997) is a Human Resources adviser in Customer Services Management in Leeds.

Natalie Burke (2006)(now Natalie Burke Graham) got married in August '07 having moved out to Australia, her husband's home country. She and Stu, seen above on the great day, are planning career moves. They are now living in Melbourne.

*

Vibeke Burke (2001) works for the British Council.

*

_________________________________________________

EDITOR'S NOTE: this section between photographs disappeared unaccountably from the web base and has had to be re-entered from a hard copy. I know some updates are missing but hope to correct this soon. If you know of missing news items for an entry of yours please let me know.
_________________________________________________

*

Cathy Buxton (2001) is now managing a gym on the University of Sydney campus in Australia. She lives out there with her boyfriend.

*

Amanda Cairns (2001) (now Amanda Cairns Dalgleish) writes "I was Contracts Manager for Gold Crest Holidays in Ilkley from Feb 01 - Mar 06, responsible for contracting and allocating accommodation for coach tours operating in the UK and northern Europe.

I got married in July 03 to John who also works in travel, and am still living in Leeds but with dreams of emigrating somewhere hot!" Amanda and John now have two boys, Connor and Finn.

*

Maria Canale (2001)(now Maria Galeon) left the course when she moved to California, marrying Danomar, originally from Hawaii, shortly afterwards. Maria now works in the San Francisco area. She and her husband celebrated the birth of their first baby not long since.

*

Lyndsey Cassidy (2003) has emailed an update: "Since leaving Uni I worked in sales for RS Components, then in 2005 I got my job as an event planner at Rockingham Motor Speedway ... I always did love those event modules! My role involves planning and delivering lots of different events ... corproate, track hire, OEM (launches etc), conferencing and some press events including filming for various TV programmes. I love the variety of my role, and having worked here for some two years now I am building up strong relationships with clients who return to Rockingham every year".

*

Carole Cavanagh (1998) was with Cunard in Southampton but has now moved on to join Online Marketing in Bournemouth. Cunard is one of her clients, and Carole tells me (Dec '07) she spent twelve nights on board the new Queen Victoria cruise liner, helping Cunard prepare the virtual tour of the ship which went live on the Cunard web site a few days later.

*

Beth Chafik (2007) sends news: "I'm working in an accounts department full time and juggling partime CPP course (Certificate in Personnel Practice). I enjoyed Human Resources at uni so thought it would be an exciting career path to go down.

The course has now come to an end, and Im already getting itchy feet so im planning a TEFL course in August and I am hoping to go somewhere in Europe...Italy or Spain would be my ideal choice but I really just want to get away!"

*

Harpreet Chana (2004) took a PGCE course at Leicester University before starting work in a primary school.

*

Mary Cheeseman (2002) spent a year in Korea teaching English before returning to Britain and her home town of Cheltenham.

*

Ringo Cheung is manager of Austravel in Leeds.

*

Stephanie Clay (2004) has moved to the Higher Education in York, where she is organising conferences and meetings.

*

Lucy Collier (2003) went to work as a cabin crew member with Virgin Airlines after graduating. In late 2006 she took on a new post with Emirates Airline as a Recruitment Officer.

*

Helen Compton (2003) worked in Leeds with Hayes Recruitment, dealing with jobs in construction and property, particularly for Leeds City Council. Helen says it's a busy job but rewarding and came after some time travelling followed by temporary jobs. We now hear Helen has moved to the Southampton area.

*

Joey Connor (2000) travelled in South America then returned to Ireland and now works in local government near Dublin.

*

Amy Coombes (2004) is now Amy Longmore and writes "I now work in Human Resource Management at Alliance and Leicester's Head Office - I'm a recruitment specialist. Not so tourism related but I get to see a lot of the country ;-) and actually have taken a lot on board from Annemarie Piso's lectures since starting in HR. Really enjoying it and have started my CIPD! I got married in December 2005 to my long term boyfriend ... we have just bought our first house in Leicestershire so exciting times at the moment! I keep in regular touch with Hayley Beer, Nick Paul and Claire Pestell".

*

Becka Cordingley (2004) sends the following news: "After leaving Leeds I went to Fuerteventura as a mainline rep for First Choice until the winter season came round, had the best (but most exhausting) summer of my life! I made some friends for life during this time!

After arriving back in cold old Blighty I took some temping jobs to tide me over the Christmas period, then discovered I was nearly 6 months pregnant in the February of 05. What a surprise (especially as children were never in my life plan!)

I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy in June 05 and named him Reece Elliott Cordingley. I decided that my travelling didn't have to stop so I took him to Ireland to stay with some bar owner friends I made whilst I was repping.

I am extremely lucky as my parents have been wonderfully supportive and I still live at home (and I can't complain about the on site babysitting service they have to offer!) I went on a week's girls’ holiday to Zante (not what I would call a cultural visit, and doubt I would return there again, but it was nice to be me again!)

I started to work for the Book People ltd in May of last year as an Account Manager for the new division of Book Events (we basically hold corporate book sales in large businesses), and during this time I have been on several conferences and mingled with the stars. It's a job I love, the pay's fantastic and it's five minutes away from my house- everything I could want really! So much so as I am taking Reece to Calangute, Goa the week before Christmas- I am so excited as India is a place I have always wanted to visit.

The final chapter of this 'essay' is to tell you that I am in the process of buying a house, I am however going to rent it out for a couple of years (never missing a business opportunity as Graeme would say) and then move in myself. It's round the corner from where I live at present and also close by to a really good primary school for Reece when it's his turn to be educated."

[That's young Reece in the picture above, practising some tourism skills. We will need your application for the Leeds Met course around autumn 2022, Reece]

*

Sophie Couch (2000) returned from Spain, where she had been teaching English in Huelva, to work as Volunteer Manager with Greenforce: Global Conservation Expeditions. At the beginning of May ('07) she moved to the London School of English as Academic Relations Manager. Sophie worked in her placement year for the Spanish Tourist Office in London and after graduation for Educational Travel Services, also in the capital.

*

Emily Cox (2003) (above, with Carl Turner) writes: "Since graduating I have been working for Thomson and Crystal holidays repping in the summer and working the ski season in France in the winter. I started off as a chalet host, was then a chalet staff trainer for two winters and am now going to be a chalet manager this winter. I worked with Carl Turner last year in Val Thorens and the year before, and we never met each other at uni, so it is a very small world! Just thought I'd email you some pictures of us enjoying some drunken nights out last winter!"

*

Joanne Crapper (2001) works for the University of Leeds as a Research Support Officer.

*

Anand Dattani (2003) sent this news: "When i left Leeds I had managed to get a job a with Dial-a-Flight, as a sales agent. Boring as it maybe I am still there and enjoying it very much. I have know been promoted to a sale manager. I have managed to get a nice portfolio of corporate client for whom I am their sole agent. This at least makes what is at the end of the day a commission based job more stable".

*

Lisa Davies (2007) has taken up the post of Product Executive with Cosmos and is now living in Ealing, London.

*

Nick Davis (2004) is believed to be in the sales department of Marriott in London.

*

Rachel Davis (2008) is leaving for Brisbane, Australia, soon, after a farewell party in Sheffield in mid-August '08. She plans to be out there for at least two years.

*

Jane Dawes (2000) is Marketing Manager for Goodform Ltd, based in Leamington Spa, who provide sales, marketing and training services for sporting organisations. She can be found on www.goodform-info. Jane topped up from an HND course at Leeds Met and achieved a first class honours degree.

*

Nicola Dawson (1999)(now Nicola Farrer) married Rob and moved to Vail, Colorado where she works in the ski resort. They have a little boy, Julian.

*

Charles Debenham (2002) left Haymarket Publishing at the end of January '06 and undertook some further studies before flying out to Barcelona for six months teaching English. Immediately after graduating Charlie had been to Korea teaching, then returned to work at Haymarket. Now talk and chalk (or felt pen at least) have called him back - and there was probably an element of tourism in his Barcelona work, too.

*

Sally Dent (2000) is said to be working in HR in the north east.

*

Kristin Detlie (1998) Kristin joined us from Norway for some final-year modules and then did a post-graduate degree in business studies in Australia. Last time we heard she was in Oslo with a finance company.

*

Claire Devine (2000) brings us up to date: "After leaving Leeds Met I worked for a year and then decided I wanted to teach tourism and so did a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education at Huddersfield University. After graduating in 2002 I got my first job and moved to the Wirral, after working for Wirral Metropolitan College for 18 months I decided I wanted to move back to Yorkshire and I got a job at Huddersfield Technical College- I have now been at the college for 3 years and really enjoy my work. I teach travel and tourism to a variety of different abilities and find it very rewarding. Many of our students successfully complete and go on to Leeds Met."


*

James Devon (2001) works in customer liaison for a mobile phone business.

*

Laura Diver (2005) has been (June '07) travelling in South America, visiting Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

*

We did hear that Victoria Dixon (2002) was married in 2007 and lives in Edinburgh where she is Account Director for a marketing and print company.

*

Alison Dobbie (2000) spent time travelling the world before settling in Addlestone, Surrey. "Travelling was great, started in America, through New Zealand, Australia, Thailand and then South Africa an amazing experiance that I would repeat again in a heatbeat if I had a chance!" Alison says she is now the Training Manager, UK and Ireland, for a company called CHEP and has been with the company for four years. The business is one handling a vast supply chain of pallets and containers around the world which serves the flow of industrial goods. CHEP is part of the Australian company, Brambles.

*

Claire Dorrell (1998) is, we hear, now Claire Zacher, having married in September ’05.

*

Helen Dover (2000) is, we are told, working in publishing in London.

*

Teresa Downes (2003) recently travelled through Los Angeles and spent time in Fiji before moving (late January ’06) to New Zealand and then to Australia: "My friend and I travelled for three weeks up the east coast (just a flying visit as we had friends with us). Then we moved in to a lovely house in Sydney and I got a job working for a company called Goway Travel, who are an inbound tour operator (Canadian owned) and I knew about them from working at Austravel. Worked for them for four brilliant months.
Once we had finished in Sydney my friend and I hired a car and drove all the way up to Cairns, stopping at some spectacular places, - the Whitsundays, Eungella National Park and Undarra to name but a few! Then we flew to Melbourne and drove to Adelaide, stopping along the Great Ocean Road, which was also amazing, drove up to the Flinders Ranges in the outback and stayed at Wilpena Pound, which was again brilliant and excellent for walking. Then we flew to Perth, staying with my dad, who had taken a temporary contract out there. We worked for a temp agency in the Hospitality Industry, so spent time in hotels, the casino and concert halls and had a fab time.

Having returned to Britain I now work for a company called Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Leeds. It is a business travel firm, so I have made the transition from retail, as most do. I work in the Fares team. So I have to know most of the contracts and all the different variables on routes and carriers. My job at the moment is not customer focused, which suits me just fine for the minute".

*

Luke Downing (2005) now owns and runs the Dough Bistro in West Park, just out from Headingley. It's hard work, says Luke, but he does get an hour or two off occasionally for football.

*

Rachel Doyle (2008) has found a job she loves with Care Management Services. Rachel is a Trainee Field Assistant and currently looks after a client who has spinal muscular atrophy. She will also be trained in how to care for a range of clients with other problems.

*

Rachael Drake (now Rachael Carter)(2003) has a baby boy who was born early in 2008. Rachael works for a compnay called Grontmij. It is an engineering company where she is a senior administrative officer, working mainly on project management software called Navision.

*

Karen Draper (1998) has moved permanently to New Zealand, and loves it. She was working for STA travel in the University of Auckland. After graduating Karen earned money in the UK, then spent more than a year travelling through Asia, Australia and New Zealand with Beccie Donoghue. She returned to England and was employed for some time with Travelcare in Manchester. While out in New Zealand she was visited by former class mate Jo Drake and they toured the country, including a call in to 'Hobbiton', the set created in North Island for scenes in The Lord of the Rings.

Now Karen has a new job. She tells me "I'm finally leaving STA after two years. I've got a new job starting Monday as Operations Manager at Railplus (www.railplus.co.nz) which will be a great challenge and a much needed change. And the best thing is that I get two weeks training in Melbourne which I'm sooo excited about!"

*

Bilbo Baggins might have
worried about appearances
and the lack of garden,
but Karen Draper and Jo Drake
were clearly delighted to be
in Hobbiton - New Zealand,
not the Shires, that is

Shailini Duhn (2004) is an MRO Executive with AJW Aviation, who maintain and overhaul aircraft. (Must ask her what MRO stands for).

*

Shaun Duff (2002) wrote: "I graduated in 2002 in International Tourism Management. I worked for Thomson when I left University in 2002 and became Product Manager for Eastern Long Haul and Florida. The Eastern division included Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Goa and Thailand". Shaun has now moved from Thomson (TUI) and taken up the post of Market Manager with lastminute.con, handling hotels in England. He's glad to be in London again, having cut out long commuter travelling.

*

Kylie Dunn (2005) is working for a company called Roomzzz in Leeds which runs serviced apartments. She is a guest service assistant and loves it!

*

Claire Eldridge (2007) writes (June '08) "I was in Sri Lanka working on a project with Janet Cochrane. It was such an amazing experience, I came back in March. It was the most amazing five months I have ever had. I have been to Sri Lanka before doing some volunteering work after the tsunami. This year I was researching the affect of the tsunami and war on tourism. It was such a fulfilling time and I have met some amazing people there and met some friends that will be in my life forever. I love the country. I feel so at home there.

Unfortunately while I am back in England I have not managed to find a job which relates with what I did at university, however I'm still looking. So I am currently working at CIS insurance, to bring some money in. They have a huge sustainability and environmental cooperative department which I would love to work within, so I am looking at developing into that area. I have a great interest in CSR.
Also my boyfriend lives in Sri Lanka and we have a few plans in the pipeline, to build a home there and I think also for the future when tourism increases we would like to have a small business there, maybe a guest house or something similar.

So my plans are forever changing at the moment, first pay off a few debts, and save some hard earned money while I daydream of the future, hee hee...."

*

Ellie Elliott (2003) now works in the Leeds Met Human Resources Management office.

*

Mark Elliott (2001) worked for Le Meridien Hotels at their HQ in London until being made redundant, so went travelling to SE Asia(Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia) for a few months before working as Market Analyst with Deloitte & Touche in early October 2006.

Mark has now moved on. He writes: "I’ve recently started as Editor of Travel Daily Asia online magazine, based in Bangkok. This followed the year working, and writing for Deloitte & Touche LLP, in their HotelBenchmark department. Has all been a bit of a whirlwind, coming straight out here after the WTM, but all good so far. Weather’s great, food excellent and people are lovely – plus my apartment has a fantastic swimming pool, which is slightly more than I was getting while living in North London! Keep up the excellent website!"

*

Mathias Elverfeldt (2005) returned to his post in Frankfurt with Singapore Airlines Cargo PLC after receiving his MA in November '05. He also received the Course Prize for contributions to the course. Mathias works in the Regional Marketing Executive, Europe, of the Airline. We have heard recently that he's off to Brussels for a spell before returning to base.

*

Camilla Fairclough (2007) is working as a candidate manager for City Catering. "I worked for them in my final year as a waitress/ supervisor and was offered my current job on the back of that. I'm currently working on attracting candidates for Christmas and how to keep them working afterwards. Its great fun, but a challenge, lots of pressure but very satisfying when you get a new client or get 20 new members". A quick call to Camilla at the company's office could get you employment, people.

*

Rebecca Farr (2006) is Guest Services Team Manager at Stansted Airport. She lives with partner Tom in Hertford.

*

Joanne Farthing (1998)(now Joanne Bartlett): "I have been married two years now to Steve, who I met in Thailand when we were both travelling. I worked for Virgin Airlines as a member of the cabin crew before I moved into the world of financial advice. In February '06 we had a baby boy who we named Lewis. He's fab! He's absolutely gorgeous!

I am now working for Barclays Bank as a personal banker and living in Southend on Sea. I married an Essex boy!"

*

Ishmael Fearing (2002) was in sales at the Hollywood Bowl Leisure Centre in Bradford.

*

Catherine Ferris (2003) is a Product Manager with lastminute.com, dealing with hotels.

*

Lorna Foster (2005) is a Product Executive with Travelpack.

*

Joanne Fox (2000) married Colin Enlander in October '06. Further details will be added very shortly.

*

Simon Frank (1998) is now a production manager in industry. He married Karen in 2000 and they have a little boy named Daniel (in the photo above). Simon and Karen also run two optician's practices near where they live in east Cheshire. He has lost touch with several of his year group, though hears from Mike Bowers and Mick Caulfield, so the news on these pages was very welcome.

*

Sean Fuller (2005) writes "After uni I worked at a golf club as a bar superviser for just under a year. Tt was fun and the free golf and gym was too much to resist. After about 10 months I relised I was failing to live up to the legendary potential I thought I had, so set out on my quest to find a career path suitable for me. I have now joined up Enterprise Rent-a-Car as a trainee manager. This is a graduate role and to be fair to it the potential is pretty good, money and promotion. I hope to be an assistant manager fairly soon".

*

Chris Furness (2006) is, we hear, working for security company ICTS with American Airlines at Manchester Airport.

*

Paula Gallaher (2006)(above) is an Assistant Purser working for Princess Cruise Lines in the Caribbean. Leeds Met Retail Services Professor Claudio Vignali met up with her by chance while on a cruise with his family in January ('08).

*

Becky Gammon (2006) moved to Cosford in the midlands recently with her family. Last news was that she was settling in and seeking a new professional position.

*

Ina Gamst (2005) is Corporate Sales Manager for SNO!zone at Xscape in Castleford, West Yorkshire. Ina and her team recently ('08) won a major tourism prize for their developments and successes in the Business Tourism Awards dinner at the Royal Armouries. She is seen above (third from right) with her team.

*

Angela Gaunt (2003) works as a Business Travel Consultant in Leeds.

*

Raine Gibson (2007) writes (June '08) "I thought I would just say hello, as I bumped into Andrew Eaglan in Uni recently but missed you! I have been working as a Sales Manager for a Leisure/ Entertainment group, I found it very difficult to get into travel after graduation plus found there was very little financial incentive to go directly into travel. I have gained some fab sales experience and now looking to get into recruitment..But only for a few months as I have booked my flight one way to Australia. I will have two months touring Laos, as the sustainable tourism module inspired me to see the beautiful country. Then on to Perth where I have a twelve month working visa. I hope to start a new life for myself, as I don't believe this country could (based on my political opinions and the terrible weather). I believe Dez and Andy Kirkman are also in Perth, so we will start a small uni group, hee hee".

*

Pippa Gilligan (now Pippa Timson)(1996) married Marcus and has two children, Daisy aged 5 and Kiki aged three months (July '08). They're seen in the photo above (minus Marcus - we're hoping for a picture with him in as well before long).

*

Louise (Lou) Gollins (1996) is an Account Manager with BT. She is now Louise Mungur.

*

Zara Goodwin (2006) is the Marketing Co-ordinator for an interior design company based in Pudsey. The company, Ornate Interiors, works with traditional and fibrous plaster castings. Zara had joined the firm as part of a Business Link recruitment scheme which provides opportuities for marketing graduates.

*

Francesca Greca (2007) graduated as the top student in MA International Tourism Management. Mariafrancsca is from Calabria, Southern Italy. She is currently (June '08) working for General Electric in Leeds while considering doing a further research degree.

*

Dominique Green (now Dominique Caunt)(2000) writes (May '08): "I have been teaching Health & Social care at Grange in Wibsey, Bradford - we just got an outstanding inspection! I have been here just over two years now and am loving every minute of it. I got married nearly a year ago now and my husband Nick is from the lakes so we spend a lot of weekends walking etc over there. Moving to Bingley in a few months as we have just bought a new house, so its non stop! I cannot believe its over 10 years since we were at Uni, its very scary!".

Latest news - baby expected in January 2009!

*

Sally Gregory (1999) was working at Sportsworld in Abingdon organising events and visits alongside Sue Leadbetter.

*

Someone said that Simon Grimwood (1996) had moved to San Francisco. Any news, anyone?

Andy Grundy (2003) married Patricia Ramos from Brazil. They met on placement in the USA and married in Chicago that same year. Now back in England Andy and Pat have two children, their first child, Eliana, born in 2005 and son Liam arrived in Fenruary 2007 (pictured above). Andy writes (June '08) "I am now a self-employed Independent Mortgage Adviser, working with my Dad in a partnership. And I should say I intend to be a self-employed Independent Financial Adviser by September on completion of the last two of seven exams to be taken".

*

Stephanie Guy (2008) will be setting off on some globe-trotting travels in September '08. She has promised us reports of her adventures as she travels.

*

Randolph Hamilton (1999) became Sports Tourism Manager for the Ministry of Tourism Information, Commerce & Consumer Affairs, St Kitts and Nevis. We heard he was doing a further course in tourism from there.

*

Hannah Harding (now Hannah Sedgman)(2004) is living and working in Japan with her husband, Lance, having been in her native China for some time. She tells me (July 07) that a move to Australia is likely very soon.

*

Jenny Harrop (2000) was a Marketing Executive with the Yorkshire Tourist Board, where she worked with our alumna Lisa Losardo. More recently we heard she had moved south.

*

Jo Hart (2003) worked with Lincolnshire Tourism until June 2005. She had been working on a European funded project but unfortunately the funding ended and the company didn't have the money to keep her on. She moved to the Tourism and Marketing Department in the City of Lincoln Council, where she spent her placement year, working on a variety of different projects, again on a short-term contract. When the contract ended in late May ('06) she joined the Economic Regeneration Department of Lincolnshire County Council. Jo says she enjoyed the opportunity to broaden her horizons beyond tourism, although tourism does play a major role in economic regeneration and so the knowledge she has built up should be put to some use!

In September 2008 she will take a change of direction and begin a PGCE course in order to enter teaching.

*

Vicky Hart (2005) has been in Mexico. After graduation she worked as a recycling promoter for a time before joining the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers where she led projects undertaken by a diverse range of people. Vicky has been helping with a project that studies the impact of tourism on the Yucatan Peninsula. She emailed from her base 'down the end of a dirt track with only one way out' and was about to catch a bus to Merida, the nearest large town. Her longer term aim involves a postgraduate qualification followed by further work in the voluntary sector abroad.

*

Karla Hawke (2005)(pictures above) sends us this report: “After finishing my final university exams, and before starting my first job, I left the UK to teach and volunteer in a centre for street children in Ghana, West Africa. I spent a month teaching English in the centre and also going out onto the city streets with staff to teach on the street or to bring children back to the centre and show how the centre could help them. The centre offers to teach skills in woodwork, candle making, embroidery so that they learn that they can make a living for themselves.

One of my most memorable moments was teaching a group of 7 year old boys how to budget their money. It was both wonderful and heartbreaking. Ghana has many opportunities for tourism. It has numerous national parks and Cape Coast Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Talking to a guide in Kakum National Park, he said ‘Ghana’s tourism industry is slowly picking up’ so the future looks bright.

My job in Japan was not only to teach English but to create cross-cultural understanding. Japan is a very self contained country and generally speaking many students are unaware of what is happening outside their own country. I tried to incorporate current affairs and teach them English that they can really use. It was interesting to watch them flick through a copy of OK! Magazine and shriek at the bare shoulders on display (a cultural no-no in Japan), something that goes virtually unnoticed in Britain.

Teaching in Japan gave me the opportunity to travel. During Christmas 2005, I spent time teaching in an orphanage in Cambodia. I am very interested in Aid work and volunteering and I think that the tourism industry has the capacity to help lift people out of poverty if it is done in the right way. I hope to work in a career that will allow me to use tourism as an instrument for community development.

Karla is back in England, still engaged in work with Africa. On 10 June 2007 she and her boyfriend Mike ran the Two Castles 10km race from Warwick to Kenilworth. They have so far raised nearly £400 through the race.

*

Rumour has it that Abby Hayes (2000) is out in Auckland, New Zealand, working for Mitchell Corp, who operate hotel chains.

*

Russell Hay (2003) left Malmaison in Leeds in September 2006 and helped open Malmaison Liverpool in January 2007. He then moved to the company's Birmingham hotel.

*

Sam (Samantha) Henderson (2000) teaches in a primary school near Hull. She is now married.

*

Claire Heap (2002) joined the Tourism Unit at Leeds City Council after graduating, then spent a few years with Hull City Tourism. Now she is back, working as a business executive with Conference Leeds.

*

Claire Hitch (2003) works for Soccerex in London. They describe themselves on their website as 'the leading event providers for the global football industry', organising amongst other things a major conference this year at the venue for the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa. Claire says "I am really enjoying my job and getting paid well, which is great as you need to be to live in London. I rent my own flat and am looking to buy next year - waiting for house prices to fall".

*

Nat Holt (2006) works in administration in the Faculty of Business and Law at Leeds Met.

*

Rachael Howard (1999) went to work for GNER in customer services, then spent time with Arriva before becoming part of the team at Northern Rail. After a spell in York she is now a Station Supervisor at Leeds looking after passengers using the company's trains.

*

Kathleen Hughes (2002)(now Kathleen Thornton) is Market Intelligence Executive for Customermaze Ltd, based in York. The company does research in the tourism field. Kath tells me (July '07) she will be on maternity leave shortly.

*

Steven Hull (2003) posts the following: "For the past two summers I've been working as an Overseas Trainer and a Campsite Manager for Holidaybreak (Keycamp/Eurocamp) and for the last two winters (and this one coming) as a Resort Manager for Inghams Ski. Recently I worked for Superbreak in York on recruitment, but I'm going to move out to Arinsal in Andorra this winter (2007-08) as an area manager for directski.com".

To contact Steve, go to www.arinsal.co.uk


*

Alice Jenkins (2002) is believed to have been working for Accor and is now married.

*

Nicola Jerzyszek (2001) sends the following (July '08): "Following a move from Ernst & Young HR in Birmingham, I’ve been working at KPMG for the past 3½ years as an HR Manager in Transaction Services (all those people that deal with mergers and acquisitions). It’s a brilliant firm to work for and I’ve been able to really carve out what I want from my own career – including a very recent move back to Leeds. It’s not tourism related, but believe it or not, some of the HR challenges are incredibly similar!"

^
Ralli Jivkova (2000)(now Ralli Norman) worked for First Choice after graduation, then in 2004 moved with Ollie to Mallorca - at first for a year. She says "we thought we'd make a decision then about what we're going to do more long-term, but we are still here and loving it". Ralli is a Call Centre manager for an incoming agency which besides selling accommodation on the web, provides support to visitors on a day-to-day basis. She also organises events such as weddings and conferences, which she loves as it gets her out and about the island. While she enjoys the job, it is also nice to be on the island in the off-season when it's quieter and they feel they have the place more to themselves. Recently she and Ollie spent time in Windsor, which took some re-adjustment to the crowds and busy traffic. In Mallorca they have an apartment facing the Mediterranean only ten minutes' walk across the beach from her workplace, and her desk at work has a direct view of the sea. Beats the view from 'F' Building in Leeds. Oliver, by the way, is a golf professional. The photo was taken on a recent trip back to Ralli's home country of Bulgaria.

*

Sophie Johnson (2003) is Business Development Manager for Ariel Extreme in Bedale, North Yorkshire.

*

Tilly Johnston (2000)sends this update (Oct 07). She worked in the Persian Gulf region after graduation, then moved to Uganda. "I guess my last news was that I was working for a Tour Operator in Uganda, I did that for about a year and a half then moved up to manage a lodge with my man Craig on the River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park, we left about a year ago when I got a consultancy contract with the Commonwealth with a rainforest centre in Guyana! (www.iwokrama.org) I have now moved to Morocco where Craig has just got a teaching job and trying to find work here, although there really doesnt seem to be much until I improve my French and Arabic!!!!"

*

Sandra Jubb (2003) moved out to Oz and now lives in Sydney. She manages an IT recruitment team. Says she lives "right on the beach and wakes up listening to the sound of the waves!"

*

Ida Kahar (2002) lectures in marketing in her home country of Brunei.

*

Clarine Kalogeraki (2000) returned to her home in Athens after graduation. She completed four years as Sales and Marketing Manager for a company organising the International Franchise Exhibition of Greece. For them Clarine travelled abroad ten to fifteen times a year persuading businesses to invest and expand in Greece. She then spent time with a corporate training company, JMK, before joining the UK's "Economist" staff in Athens working on financial projects. Some people may know her sister Michelle, who also completed her degree in Leeds Met and now practises as an architect in Athens.

Clarine married her fiance, Dimitris, on 28 June 2008 in Varkiza, near Athens. They are both seen below in a photo taken on a holiday to Disneyworld.

Amandip (Amz) Kandola (2006) is Sales Manager for Travelex - foreign exchange services - at Leeds/Bradford Airport. She is keen to develop further in a marketing career.

Adonis Kekidakis (1999) returned to Greece to complete his two years' military service after graduating. He then joined Sportius Hospitality, a major sports tour operator, as a manager working on activities leading up to the Athens Olympics. Adonis came back to the UK and in London completed a photography course at the London School of Printing (now the London School of Communication). He next set up as a commercial photographer in his home town of Alexandroupolis in north-eastern Greece, though he has done work all over the country. Above are some of his photographs, including, on the right, a self-portrait.

*

Cath Kelly (2000) is now a police officer.

*

Louise Kendall (2004) writes: "I have worked for TUI UK in Coventry since graduating in 2004. I work in the New Media team and have recently been promoted to E-CRM Manager. I basically look after all e-mail communication pre and post purchase for most of the TUI brands including Thomson, Thomsonfly and Portland. Not sure what the future will bring over the next few months as we merge with First Choice - but I'm looking forward to the opportunities that will hopefully arise within the new TUI Travel".

*

Rachael King (2004), according to rumour, is thought to be working at Stanstead for Radisson SAS.

*

Andy Kirkman (2007) flew out to Indonesia the day after receiving his degree award. He has joined Kim Wilson and Kelvin Shewry in undertaking voluntary work organised by tutor Dr Janet Cochrane.

*

Marianna Kornilaki (2003) is now doing her PhD in Leeds Met, hoping to complete it by the end of 2007. In parallel she is working on different consultancy projects undertaken by the university. She is in contact with Dimitra (Mimi) Tsagkaraki (2003) who is now working for a hotel chain in Crete in the Marketing department. Latest news: Marianna has been appointed a lecturer on the Events Maagement course at Leeds Met (Sept 07).

*

Gaby Laifer (1998) is now Product Development Director for a Marketing agency in London, responsible for sourcing travel and leisure offers for blue chip brands. More details of the company are at www.tlcmarketing.com. Gaby is now married to Sharon and they have a little girl of 18 months named Evie.

*

Kerk Lawley (2001) was President of the Leeds Met Students Union during her time in the University. On graduating she went to PGL Adventure Holidays in the position of Manager of Seasonal Personnel. In late 2004 Kerk moved to World Challenge Expeditions, again to work in Human Resource Management. She tells us that in 2006 she will be recruiting and implementing an HR Team, having implemented several aspects of the company's Board strategy during 2005. Kerk continues her sporting life, having played rugby for Leeds Met, and is now in the Grasshoppers Netball Team. She and a co-player organised a 'Calendar Girls' fund-raising of their own on behalf of the Grasshoppers and of Asthma UK. The Grasshoppers' calendar was photographed at Ealing Film Studies in November '05. We can reveal that Kerk appears as Miss June, having been allowed a sneak preview, and that all the young ladies are fully clad. The girls do have a degree of spice, though...... Her company web site is at www.world-challenge.co.uk

*

Sue Leadbetter (1999) was working for Sportsworld in Abingdon - and travelling the world helping organise group visits and events.

*

Lucy Lee (2005) has taken up the events role with Tom's Companies, working at their five star Seaham Hall and Serenity Spa. Lucy, originally from Lincolnshire, says she fell in love with the North East after a year-out placement while studying at Leeds Met. After graduating she worked as a receptionist and sales coordinator at Slaley Hall before reaching her ambition of working in events.

Her new role at Seaham Hall includes organising wedding parties, private dinners and corporate and private events on any scale. Lucy also co-ordinates all required needs sourced both in-house and out and ensures that all goes smoothly for the client and party guests. Lucy said: "I saw it as a great opportunity to develop my ambition and skills. To do this somewhere with as fantastic a reputation as Seaham Hall's, is even better. I love the North East and am really happy that I was able to come back and start to develop my career here."

*

Elaine Leung (2003) writes (July '08): "I moved to London a year and a half ago and started in recruitment. I recruit IT contractors for investment banks, so anything ranging from developers, testers, business analysts, project managers etc, the full spectrum really. I started with a headhunting company where I really developed my researching skills on 'how to find the right people and how to market-map' i.e. try to recreate organisation charts of specific departments in the major banks and then headhunt people out of them! Then I moved to Hayes for more personal development and training and to workk with a broader base of clients. I was promoted and managed the Barclays Capital account. And one month ago I joined Royal Bank of Scotland and work for them directly as opposed to working for an agency which is much nicer. I am building up my part of the business as the direct recruitment piece is a new idea and I have free reign to do as I please, as long as I make the company lots of money of course!"

James Levy (2007) (on right, above) emails: "I thought you might like an update on my graduate career. I am now working for Marriott in Washington DC, and will be here for the next 18 months. I am working in the Mayflower Hotel, one of the best hotels in the city, as a trainee manager. Hope the new freshers aren't driving you to distraction as much as we all did last year!!

James sent an update in early Feb '08: "After completing the first four months of my training here at the Mayflower Hotel, I was offered a special position in the Sales team. I am working as a Sales & Events Coordinator, responsible for following up all initial sales leads and ensuring that the guests have everything they need for their functions, be it rooms, food, special linen or even flowers from our hotel florist. It came with a pay rise and my own office!!

Life is good, and even though this placement is only temporary till my Visa expires, I have been made to feel very welcome and treated like a real asset to the hotel. Only down side - I'm 3,000 miles away from home which I miss a lot. (especially going out with mates at the weekend!!)".

Latest news from James: he will be back in the UK for a while in September before leaving for a new post in Melbourne, Australia in October. As James says, there's quite a number of ex-pat Leeds people down under.

*

Danny Lister (2003) still works for an ID company. Danny tells me he recently travelled to Dublin with Nina Frizell and met up with Joey Connor, Lynsey Reardon (now Lynsey Wilson).

*

Nic Lloyd (2000) sends greetings from Sydney: "I am now working for one of the largest advertising agencies in Australia called Publicis Mojo (part of the worldwide Publicis Group) based in 'The Rocks' area of Sydney (just by the Harbour Bridge). I am a Senior Account Manager working on brands including Toyota, Lion Nathan, Cadbury and Xbox360. I recently organised a publicity event to celebrate the launch of Xbox360 over here in Australia. This event basically comprised of a requirement to break the Guinness world record for the worlds largest water balloon fight. We succeeded with nearly 3000 participants and over 50,000 water balloons thrown on Coogee beach here in Sydney. A TV ad of the event can be seen at http://www.waterballoonchallenge.com/. Below is the main publicity shot that we got from the event. It then went all over the world.

Life is busy but really good, Sydney is a great place to live, hot summers and beautiful winters, I thoroughly recommend it and I don't see myself coming back in any great hurry. Any of those thinking of coming over here should definitely give it a go, I'm sure it's not for everyone, but there is no harm in trying it!"

*

Rebecca Lockwood (2005)(above) has written (July '08): "I work for P&G Professional Care (Wella UK) as an account manager up in Newcastle upon Tyne. Was rather bizarre getting the job as I was working for Superbreak in York but really wanted to get into sales account management within the tourism industry. I applied for what felt like hundreds of jobs and couldn’t even get an interview, saw a graduate sales role for Wella UK and thought hey I like hair products, applied and after the longest interview process in the world (it was like being on the apprentice) got the job and I have not looked back since! They are an amazing organisation to work for and really look after you. I am having a great time I look after about 200 salons in and around Newcastle upon Tyne dealing with sales and training on the Wella brands I love it. My interest in Tourism has not gone away though and I still love my holidays as many as possible a year. Also recently completed a beginners course in Spanish. So that’s me really! Bought a house in Newcastle upon Tyne (fabulous city) and have a long term boyfriend Mark who lives in Liverpool it’s a fair trek to see him but he’s worth it and because of the distance we never argue its great! Hoping to progress with the company and would like to move closer to home as I do miss my family in Sheffield".

*

Amy Longmore (2004) works in HR/Recruitment with the Alliance and Leicester.

*

Lisa Losardo (2003) sends this update: "Since graduating in 2003, I worked for one year at Leeds Met in a courses office assisting with the co-ordination of school events including open days and graduation ceremonies. I then spent a year travelling, visiting South America (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile), New Zealand, Australia, Bali and Thailand.

We (my partner and I) lived and worked in Sydney for six months in Bondi and whilst in Thailand we joined a volunteer group for a month helping to rebuild the island after the tsunami devastation.

I'm now living back in Leeds and work for the Yorkshire Tourist Board in York as an Assistant Marketing Campaigns Executive which I love! I primarily work on Business Tourism which involves promoting Yorkshire as the perfect conference destination, working exhibitions (domestic and overseas), assisting with the publications and updating websites with content, producing copy for media campaigns and e-newsletters etc...

I've been in my current role for 6 months now and hope to further my career in tourism marketing sometime in the future".

*

Oliver Ludlam-Raine (2008) is setting up his own Landscaping business near Leeds and will supply futher info in due course.

*

Agata Maccarone-Eaglen (2001 & 2004) took both her first degree and Master's qualification in Tourism Management at Leeds Met. She now teaches tourism in the University of Salford. Agata is married to Leeds tutor Andrew Eaglen and both travelled to China when Andrew delivered a conference paper in late 2005.

*

We hear that Julie Mackin (2000) works in recruitment in Sydney, Oz. Quite a little ex-Leeds Met group out there now.

*

News arrived that Natalia Magalhaes (2008) is working for Hayes Recruitment.

*

Rajiv Maher in
Sewell, Chile

Rajiv Maher (1999) has been living and working in Chile for some years. He emails us: "I'm still in Santiago, Chile finishing off my Master's Thesis in Corporate Social Responsibility - looking at voluntary self regulation codes and certification in large Chilean companies.

Hoping to get it all done and dusted by July and then shall most probably make my way back to the UK. I also had a two month work assignment at Chile's largest Winery called Concha y Toro you may have heard of it if you're into your wines. I worked alone there on a customer (marketing and logistics) satisfaction audit and produced a report and presentation at the end.

The mountaineering photo of myself (only just alive) was after having climbed to the peak of a rather beautiful volcanoe in the south of Chile called Villarica. Along with this I've also attached a couple of photos [see above] of a small town in the Andes mountains close to Santiago about 3,000m up called Sewell. It was and still works as a copper mine but before housed hundreds of families whose head of houseold worked in the mine. It has now been turned into a cultural heritage tourist destination where one can walk around the old housing residencies and enter the mine with a guided tour from somebody who grew up in that village. Sewell has now applied for UNESCO World Heritage status".

*

Michael Martin (2003) is now teaching Travel and Tourism/Geography at Notre Dame High School in Norwich (a far cry from Newcastle) and says he is loving every minute despite the workload.

*

Paul McCann (1996) is now running a ski and snowboarding agency called SnowXscape which is based in Batley. Paul is one of the original class of tourism management students and will be remembered fondly under his nickname Paddy by many of you. There's a web link on the home page to contact him and see more of the business.

*

Jane McDiarmid (2005) is, we hear, working in the HR Department of Hill Dickinson, the leading legal services firm.

*

Kate McGee (2006) works at Leeds Met in course administration.

*

Mark Meredith (2000) writes: After my course I joined First Choice Holidays as a Graduate Trainee. Since then I've assumed various roles within the group, all within a commercial/ product capacity. I'm currently working as Senior Product Manager for short haul, responsible for the group's land product in Balearics, Mainland Spain, Italy and the wonderful Lapland! Still in touch with a few of the guys (when they remember to email me - hint, hint!)

*

Hazel Miles (2008) will be globetrotting for a while, then moving to Brisbane where her friend Rachel Davis (2008) will be living - and they would love to persuade Kelly Barnes (also graduated in '08) to finish her travelling by landing in the city. Will Brisbane ever be the same again?

Leeann Montecalvo (at right,
with friends) sent this photo
from Australia.

Jennie Moir (2005) is a Team Manager with Boots Chemists at their main Leeds store.

*

Leeann Montecalvo (2005) completed her degree course and headed for Bali and Australia. She has so far jet-skiied on the Sunshine Coast, driven the sand dunes on Fraser Island, sailed off the Whit Sundays, flown the Barrier Reef and surfed in Byron Bay. At the moment (Dec ’05) Leeann is working for a marketing agency in Sydney and says she’s loving every minute of it. In the New Year she will cross the Pacific via Fiji and the Cook Islands to LA. Keep reporting, Leeann!

*

Mike Moss (2002) sends this news: "Since leaving University with my Tourism Management degree under one arm I've worked at quite a few places. I lived in Sydney, Australia for a year from 2004- 2005 and on my return moved back to Leeds and started working for a direct marketing agency in Headingley.

This year I went part time to launch and work on my first business venture. I have set up www.teamgopher.co.uk as a trading style of Michael James Advertising Ltd. Let your friends, family and students know about it and get them to sign up that would be fantastic. Details of what it is all about are on the site.

Things are going well so far, I got a £1000 grant from Leeds Met Uni to help set it up. Looking to turn Team Gopher into a national brand in the next couple of years, very early days, start small think big but watch this space as there is plenty more to come".

*

Stuart Moss (2001) sent an internal email with his news: "I'm still living in Leeds, in-between my house and my girlfriend's house (both in West Park). We are both hoping to sell both and buy a bigger house between us next year.

I've been teaching at Leeds Met ever since I graduated - firstly in Tourism, and then in e-Business for another faculty, and I've just returned to the Tourism umbrella where I am now a Senior Lecturer and course leader for the new 'Entertainment Management' degree (although I haven't bought my red coat yet). I'm also a Teacher Fellow which means that I have a few additional opportunities to write conference papers and carry out research. My first book was published last year which I co-authored with David Hind on 'Employability Skills', and I'm currently working on my second one. When I'm not teaching, writing, or doing other academic work, I enjoy cycling around the Dales and Pennines (although I do wish they were a bit flatter) and inventing disgusting-sounding culinary delights such as 'The English Breakfast Curry'. This was show cased on Channel 4's 'Come Dine With Me' in February 2005. That's it for now, Adios".

*

Lucy Mullins (2004) is a travel rep for My Travel in Lanzarote.

*

Amanda (Mandy) Musson (2001 married Tom Price.

*

Louise Neville (2000) is now Louise Rodwell. After graduation she worked for Meon Travel in Hampshire, then moved to become Tourist Officer for Portsmouth City Council. Her husband is Paul Rodwell.

*

Cath Newton (1996) is a Senior Buyer for Fenwicks Department Stores in Newcastle-on-Tyne.

*

Beate Novak (2004) works in Spain, arranging travel for a company called Andalucian Dream Homes.

*

Libby Odell (now Leroux)(2002) emails: I am still working at Butterfield & Robinson in Beaune, Burgundy, France. I am now Trip Manager and in charge of all our trips that run in France, Spain & Holland. You can check out what we do on www.butterfield.com - "Biking and Hiking since 1966".

I am loving life in France and living over here. It’s been three and a half years now that I have been living permantly in Beaune. Ben (my husband, we married 2 years ago in July) and I have just finished renovating an old farmhouse in a village just outside of Beaune and moved in just before Easter. We are loving it! After two long years of hard manual labour it is great to now being living in the house that ‘we’ renovated!

I still find time to make regular visits back home and see a lot of Gemma Vigor and Kathleen (Hughes) Thornton. In fact I was in London with them only two weeks ago (May 06) and they are coming over here to stay in July. So life is good and very busy! LATEST: We hear that Libby and Ben are just celebrating the birth of their first baby, born in the first week of July ('07).

*

Sam O’Keefe (2003) has written with the following news (that's him above in the photo):

"Since I left University I’ve spent my winters in St. Anton-Am-Arlberg in Austria skiing by day and then making pizzas by night, in one of the busiest restaurants I’ve ever seen. On average we make about 435 meals a night in an 80-cover restaurant in only four hours of service. So by my reckoning by the end of this season I will have made about 54,810 pizzas; never thought I would have done that in my life!

The skiing is going well. I managed to get a sponsorship from a ski-touring binding company. I know that won’t mean much to some people, but skiers will understand what I’m talking about. This year I’m working closely with a photographer in order to get some good shots and a better portfolio so that maybe I can take my skiing to another level and maybe get a bit more out of this sport, other than tired legs and a beaten body and spirit by the end of the season.

In the summers I’ve been travelling round Europe a lot paragliding and surfing. It seems that everything I do has to involve some sort of sport otherwise I wouldn’t be happy. I’ve spent a summer here in St. Anton, doing some labouring work, but mainly doing a lot of paragliding, climbing, mountain biking and travelling up to North Germany to go windsurfing. That was a good
time in my life, really relaxing and just getting away from everything, no stress; life isn’t too hard in the mountains you know! I think I may just have to stay here.

At one time I spent almost two months trying to get work on luxury boats in the south of France, but wasn’t successful. When I returned to England I looked on the Internet for indoor climbing centres, and low and behold since I had left Guildford a huge indoor centre had been built on an Industrial Park and they had jobs going in the café, so I thought it would be perfect, climbing and work contained in one place. Well I got the job and within two days I was made the Manager as it seems they didn’t have one and never told me about it. Didn’t bother me, I like a challenge and this was going to be a big one. I had a lot of fun doing the job over the summer, employing, training, creating menus, developing evenings/ activities, redesigning the kitchen etc.

It was great and I definitely learnt a lot from that job which will help me a great deal in the future. I then headed off to France in search of work in a place called La Clusaz, but again things didn’t quite work out as planned; we got jobs but the hours were terrible. Basically I would have only been able to ski for about two days a week. I don’t live this kind of lifestyle for the money, I do it because I love skiing and I want to do as much of it as possible before an injury or old war wound stops me from skiing anymore.

So I’m back in St. Anton making pizzas for another year and I’ve kind of accepted that this is going to be my home for the next few years if not more than that. This year I’m planning to go to South Africa and Australia for weddings so I think I may be able to get another season down in the mountains of Argentina, yippee!"

RECENT ADDITION: (Dec 07) "I started in a new kitchen last year, cooking more traditional Austrian cuisine, and grill food, like steaks and fish, amongst other delights and now I'm kind of the sous-chef which is pretty good. Still skiing every day and having fun all the other times, spent the summer in Canada for a month and then two months in Mexico."

*

Natasha Osborne (1998) (now Natasha Ure): "I live in Edinburgh now and have done so for 6 years and very settled. I married my husband, Cameron, who I met on a train going to Edinburgh. Now I work for Napier University in the conference and lettings team, marketing the facilities for external hire and previously worked in events for Edinburgh university - strange how I have ended working in a University". Latest news however - Natasha will shortly be going on maternity leave!

*

We did hear that Hannah Parry (2002) is now married and has a baby boy. Congrats, Hannah!

*

Nicole Patchett (2000) is now married to Jonathan Long of the big haulage company Longs of Leeds, and she is working for the company.

*

Ami Patel (2007) travelled in California for a while but is now returned home to Bradford. She works as a supervisor for Abbey.

*

Giulio Pattanaro (2006) completed his MSc in Tourism Management and returned to Italy where he worked for a while for a magazine until it closed. He writes: "As I was afraid might happen, the magazine I was working for failed, mainly because the editor was not able to obtain funding and a good level of advertising. Therefore, since February on, I have been working as a researcher for the Turin campus of a French business school called ESCP-EAP. The campus offers postgraduate courses, but it also provides market research for public companies. As for me, I am working in the market research department. I've been lucky because I am currently involved in a project for the region of Piedmont to develop tourism in the mountains, and that's very much what I wanted to do. I am happy with my job and finally I am not regretting the magazine experience".

In June '08 Giulio made a return trip to Leeds where he met up with Andrew Eaglen, Alan Machin and other friends from Portugal and Italy. "But I really came back for the fish and chips and Cornish pasties" admitted Giulio. Apart from catching up on each other's news over a meal at Brio in The Light, there was an interesting discussion about the collecting of visitor statistics in destinations and attractions. After stories of faked attendance figures and occupancy-rate reporting that strayed well away from reality the group began to conclude that no statistics could be trusted. Now there's a topic for class discussion.

*

Nick Paul (2004) works in Leeds, for IC Blue Ltd as a purchasing manager. Nick says the company is "a distributor and stock broker of electronic components .. don't worry, nobody else understands what I do either!".

*

Clare Pestell (2004) is teaching geography and tourism.

*

David Pickering (2005) writes: I’m currently working in the student liaison office of Innovation North at Leeds Met where I’m trying to give guidance to lost students! I’ve been here six months now (I spent last summer in Barcelona, mostly on the beach) and my roles include dealing with student problems, which range from difficulties with deadlines to more personal problems that may be affecting their work and general life. I also put on events for the university, monitor and co-ordinate open days, and keep a general track of all the students within the faculty. I’m really enjoying my position at the moment but I’ve only got a couple of months left before I go back to Spain for the summer. I’ve been saving up so that I can take the time off and travel up and down the coast of Spain and then across to Italy for a month. I’m craving being able to use my Spanish again, eat fresh fish and meat, drink extremely cheap wine, visit places that I’ve been wanting to see for a ages and generally take as many books as I can with me and turn myself into an intellectual genius!

Apart from that I’m still saving to go away to South America, it’s just taking longer than I had imagined but hopefully I’ll make it there in the very near future.

*

Jude Pigg (2000). After graduating in 2000 Jude went travelling for 17 months in Asia, Australia and South America. Judith now works in Sheffield as the Trade Relations Manager for www.vacenza.com and www.alpharooms.com - an online accommodation provider with over 23,000 hotels and apartments worldwide.

*

Lucy Pitt (2000) moved away from tourism and used her management training from Leeds Met to enter a software company. After a few years there she is currently working as Brand Manager for Elizabeth Shaw who are premium chocolate manufacturers, based in Bristol. She says that being responsible for long standing brands such a Mint Crisp and Irish Cream Truffles, it is also her responsibility to create new product ideas. This year sees the launch of her gift wrapped box called Fine Champagne Chocolates by Elizabeth Shaw which can be found in Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons. It is currently outperforming the company's brand leading product, so Lucy says she's very pleased with that. She also points out that working for a chocolate company has its benefits at Christmas time: what people will do for the prospect of receiving some chocolates in return! Should any Leeds Met alumni require chocolate freebies / giveaways for an event, Lucy says that they should give her a shout as it may equal a good sampling opportunity for her (especially with the Elizabeth Shaw Vodka Shots product)!

*
Steph Pomerleau (was Steph Hallford)(1998). After graduating, I back-packed around the world with my then boyfriend, Bart. We started in Europe, then flew off to Mauritius to get married. As a honeymoon we travelled through India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, before ending up in Minneapolis, where's he's from. We've settled here...for the past 10 years...wow, time flies! We now have 2 beautiful kids, Ryder (3 1/2) and Kate (10 mos.), and hopefully more to come before I get too old!

I'm now working as an event manager for a golf management company out of San Diego (Gibson Golf Management). We plan and execute golf events and corporate entertainment for major corporations, and also manage corporate promotions. Currently I'm working on a test drive promotion for Cadillac. Fun but demanding!

*

Amanda Presland (2005) is moving to Florida soon and getting married: will be settling in the States permanently.

*

Sofy Ramzan (2003) works for the National Health Service.

*

Edd Randall (2001) is a dealer with J P Morgan in London.

*

We hear that Julie Reynolds (2000) works for Stena Line, is married now and has a baby.

*

Phil Rimmer (2004) has been in touch: "It was really good to look back at our graduation and Malta 2002 pics [on your web site], but it makes me wish I was still at Uni.

Following graduation in July 2004 I secured employment the following month working for First Choice Holidays. My role was working as a Customer Services Executive and involved me studying videos and photos in relation to customers concerns following their holiday. I was then required to make a decision as to whether or not to offer compensation and inform the customer in writing. After six months I was awarded a promotion and was given the responsibility of checking work colleagues' payments and letters prior to posting. I was also asked to train and mentor new employees on a regular basis. During my employment I was sent on a week long resort visit to Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, to inspect new build hotels. This was an excellent experience, which gave me a great insight into a third world country being developed. In July 2006 I made the decision to relocate back to Leeds. This was a combination of wanting to return to the City that served me so well during my University days and at the same time looking to pursue a career within HR.

Since returning to Leeds I have been covering maternity leave within the Leeds Met HR Dept. This has been a great opportunity for me to gain experience. I have now been accepted onto the course at The University of Central Lancashire to study for the Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management (CIPD). I will commence this on Thursday 25th January '07 for two years".

*

Heard that Sabrina Roberts (2006) now lives in New York.

*

Dan Robinson (1996) is married and living in Washington DC. After graduation he worked for Legoland, first in Windsor and then in Washington. He has now taken a change of direction and is employed by a real estate agency in the city. He says he is keen to meet up with other alumni from '96 in 2006 to celebrate ten years since completion, and hopes to come back to the UK to do so.

*

Gini Rodgers (now Gini Wilde) (2003) is Senior Account Manager for Bonner and Hindley Communications in Leeds. The company handles marketing and communications campaigns for many tourism organisations including visitor attractions, hotels, transport providers, local government, consortia and specific events. Gini’s first tourism post was as Assistant Tourism Officer with Leeds City Council where she worked for two years. Her role within the Tourism Team included hosting press visits, writing and implementing marketing campaigns for short breaks, business tourism and travel trade markets. After that she became Marketing Manager for Magna Science Centre in Rotherham and implemented campaigns for the three brands of the business – consumer, education and corporate. Gini still looks after all the marketing and PR for Magna as well as now working on a wide range of other clients but specialise in business tourism and media consultancy. Gini supervised two Industrial Hosted Projects for final year Leeds Met tourism students for Magna and Leeds Hotels Association. A recent emails says "still working at Bonner and Hindley and loving it. I’m specialising in business tourism as well as still looking after marketing and PR for Magna. My business tourism clients include ( both marketing and PR) Yorkshire South ( new ATP for South Yorkshire), Doncaster Racecourse, Yorkshire’s Magnificent Venues and The Spa in Bridlington. I’m going to be developing this side of the business from now on".

Gini married Richard Wild in August 2007. "Claire [Heap] was chief bridesmaid at the wedding and did a fabulous job – she organised the hen party to Marbella for 16 of us" writes Gini.

*

Chloe Ross (above)(2004) has sent this message: "After leaving Leeds Met i moved back to London and went on a Graduate Scheme with FirstGroup. I ended up as an HR Manager and after three years I left to work for KPMG in their HR department in central London. Live with my boyfriend in Borough SE1 and am enjoying it very much. KPMG are merging with KPMG Germany to become KPMG Europe so i am looking forward to the opportunites that will bring".

*

We heard a rumour that Damian Rowsell (1996) was teaching in a primary school in Kent. Any information, anyone?

*

Louise Sams (2003) is moving to a new post. She writes "My new role will be Product Development Executive for the County of Durham Partnership. The partnership is a relatively new organisation, set up in June 2006, which is responsible for leading tourism within the county".

*

Alexandra Sanig (2004) is presently working in the Leeds area and keeps in touch.

*

Clare Sayes (2005) is currently working at Ruth Halliday Associates, a Recruitment Company in Manchester city centre, but tells me she is planning to study law and become a Solicitor. She's really missing life in Leeds and everyone from the International Tourism Management Course, and hope that everyone is doing well.

*

Hannah Schumann (2006) is Acting Marketing and Events Manager in the Leeds Met Faculty of Health. Hannah says she is now pursuing appropriate professional qualifications.

*

Kelvin Shewry (2007) has flown to Indonesia with Andy Kirkman and Kim Wilson to take part in voluntary project work organised by tutor Dr Janet Cochrane.

*

Claire Smith (2007) now works for Thomas Cook in Bradford. Claire tells me she did her placement year there and felt she really was part of the team there.

*

Helen Smith (1996) is back in Preston after a time working for KLM in Amsterdam and en epic trip from there driving overland to South Africa via the Sahara. Helen has recently been working on a Master's degree in sociology at Manchester University, completing in '08.

*

Sophia Smythe (2009): did hear she was in London. No other news.

*

Julie Somers (2003) works for LeedsMet in the Conference and Events Department, though will also be helping out in the evenings as a Senior Residential Officer. She says she is still in touch with many former class members, and "It’s funny how it’s only been two years and we’re all doing such different things!".

*

Nikki Straw (1997) worked in tourism in the East Midlands for a while, but then trained for social work. She writes (July '08) "I'm now Nikki Whittaker. Adrian and I got married on 5th April and it was hilarious! It snowed, rained and hailed but it was a fantastic day and Hayley and Sharn Kelly were with us as we celebrated. What followed was a honeymoon in Sri Lanka and the Maldives which was just as well because we won't be going far for a while! We are expecting a baby on New Year's Eve!

Adrian already has two children so I am second mum to a 15 year old and a 9 year old. They are fantastic. Our relationship is great and I couldn't wish for more loving kids!

I am working for the Salvation Army in Huntingdon and I am centre manager for a resettlement project, its hard work and antisocial hours but I love it and feel fulfilled in my role. I have also qualified as an NVQ assessor this year and am delivering training for this. I am currently studying a diploma in CBT and Life Coaching in the hope of opening my own counselling practice in the next couple of years".

*

Arun Suntokeesing (2005) passes on his news: "I passed quite an intense recruitment and selection process in December '07 to become a Private Banker for Coutts & Co. working as part of the International Desk - the client group will be with the Americas desk to begin with, with the option of transferring to another international portfolio after a year. This was a progression from working within the Royal Bank of Scotland private banking section as a relationship adviser - this enabled me to gain the necessary experience and gain the benchmark qualifications required to undertake a regulated role".

*

Simon Sweet (1999) worked for Reebok and Explore Worldwide after graduating, but is now based in Thailand as country manager for 'Footsteps in Asia'. Simon is now married and we hear he and his wife have a little boy, James Roy.

*

Adam Swift (2005) is with On-Line Travel, Leeds, where he is Administration Manager and keeping the operation running smoothly.

*

Abbie Taylor (2001) brings us up to date: "I am now a primary school teacher. I qualified three years ago ['04]. At the minute I teach year 3 (7 and 8 year olds) but next year I'm teaching the oldest children at primary school (year 5/6). Scary!!! I will also be a mentor for a trainee teacher on a SCITT course. Think that's even scarier."

*

Rachel Thomas (2005) works as a Fitness/Personal Trainer at a JJB gym in Cheshire and "loving every minute of it".

*

Kirsty Thorpe (who married and became Kirsty Morgan)(2000) writes (May '08): "Married life is good, we have two children now, a girl, Carys, who is three in July and a boy, Owen, who is one in August. So we're pretty exhausted at the moment!!

I work as a Finance Officer for a housing association, I was too tempted by their brilliant benefits (including maternity benefits!) but mainly because they support studying, so I'm studying with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants at the moment. I've done 6 of 14 exams so far and have completed most of my work performance criteria. I'm taking it slowly as I started studying before I'd even got married so I'm just about managing one exam every 6 months (when I'm not on maternity leave) and will probably qualify in about 4 or 5 years. Still I'm sure it'll be worth the effort. I could veer back across to the Tourism Industry and make a decent living".

*

Elena Tooulia (now Elena Tooulia-Efstathiou)(1996) returned to her native Cyprus after graduation. She is the Public Relations Executive for the Damon hotel and the Kefalos Beach Resort, both of them in Paphos. Elena and her husband have two young children, Despina and Sawina. She has been supporting the Tourism Courses in Leeds Met by arranging to take placement students in the properties.

*

Dimitra Tsagkaraki (2003) is in Crete working in the marketing department of a hotel chain. Dimitra called in to the City Campus (Dec '07) to say hello when she was in Leeds for the graduation ceremony attended by her sister at the University of Leeds.
*

Katie Tucker-Peake (2005)(now Katie D'Amico Tucker-Peake) got married in the USA in February '07 to Justin D'Amico (photo below). They live an hour north of San Francisco but will move to the city around June '07. Justin works for a power utility: Katie awaits her work permit so she can put those Leeds Met skills to use!

*

Carl Turner (2003) writes: "It’s been two years now since I graduated and have done lots since. For the last couple of winters I’ve been working for Thomson Ski and Crystal Ski (TUI) as a chalet manager which I absolutely loved. For the summer I’m working in overseas recruitment, based in Kingston, London recruiting all new ski staff for the forthcoming winter season." Carl is on the look out for both graduates and placement students.

*

Kathryn Turner (2001)(now Kathryn Whitnall) is a Media and Promotions Executive with the Global Travel Group.

*

We hear that Stuart Turpin (2000)is a buyer for Tesco and spends much time travelling in Asia.

*

Tomy Wadsworth (2006) is now engaged to Sarah Bowie (2006).

*

Rebecca Walker (2002) works in training administration with the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust.

*

Andreas Walmsley has completed his PhD. In December 2006 staff and students joined with him in a farewell party at the German Christmas Market in Millennium Square, Leeds. Andreas has moved to a lectureship in tourism at the College of St John in York. Andreas has successfully defended his PhD and will soon receive the formal award.

*

Erin Walsh (2001) is Marketing Manager for Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line and Windstar Cruises, based in London, three brands which make up the Carnival Corporation. She has been with them since graduating in International Tourism Management from Leeds Met, achieving a first class honours degree. She has been living in Redhill, Surrey.

*

Anica Wainwright (2006) travelled for a year. She then joined the Avance Group in Leeds and works in services producrement.

*

Wang Yu (known also as Molly) was awarded the 2005 Best Student Doctoral Thesis prize at the annual China Tourism Conference. An inscribed plaque was given to her by the CEO of the Pacific Asia Tourism Association and professors from two Chinese universities at the Conference in Guangzhou in December '05.

*

Joe Walker (2004) works on behalf of a travel company, Albatros, in Kent.

*

Ian Ward (2003) works as a member of airline cabin crew, enjoying some long-haul flights to exotic locations. After working for Fly