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our destinations

Brad Horn -
Managing Director

Epic Private Journeys reflects Brad Horn’s experience in the luxury adventure travel industry in Africa, Australia and New Zealand.  By design and desire, a professional adventurer, Brad’s passion is wild and natural places.  This passion was nurtured growing up on a cattle station in Western Queensland and as an Australian Army Officer.  Brad then spent six wonderful years living in the African bush operating safaris.  More recently, he was Managing Director of renowned luxury travel house, Abercrombie & Kent.

Brad has developed enduring relationships with the best tour and resort operators around the world.  This network of contacts, combined with his extensive hands-on experience, ensures Epic Private Journeys delivers on an unrivalled experience.

Peter Hemming -
Chairman

Peter Hemming is non-Executive Chairman of Epic Private Jourmeys.  He is also Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Heathley Limited, a Sydney based investment bank which he established in 1977.  In addition, Peter is Chairman of Heathley Asset Management Limited, the funds management subsidiary of Heathley Limited.

Peter is a Member of the External Advisory Panel, Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

He is Chairman of the Friends of Sydney University Football Club, Chairman of the Friends of the Brumbies and a Director of Sydney University Football Club Foundation.

Heather Saunders -
Director, Operations

Heather Saunders was raised on a cattle station in Central Queensland.  Upon leaving school, she completed a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Japanese and French) at the University of Queensland.  Heather then travelled extensively throughout New Zealand, Japan, Europe, South-east Asia and Africa.  On returning to Australia, Heather worked in hospitality managing resort islands on the Great Barrier Reef.

Heather’s role with Epic is to ensure a seamless travel experience for our clients.

Kirstie Walia -
Director, Sales & Marketing

Kirstie Walia hails from a luxury cruise background; most notably she was Senior Tour Specialist onboard ResidenSea's The World and is therefore intimately familiar with the demands of a discerning clientele.  Having sailed ever-changing itineraries for more than ten years, Kirstie has travelled to many corners of the globe, with her highlights including Antarctica and Tibet.

Now based in Sydney, Kirstie performs a multi-facted role; she personally meets all our clients upon arrival into Australia and ensures the client expectations are exceeded.  Kirstie also manages our Sales & Marketing efforts at Epic.

Lindy Scholtz -
Operations Manager (Africa)

Lindy Scholtz is our Operations Manager for Africa, based in Johannesburg.  Hailing from South Africa, Lindy began her career as a teacher and after five years took a change of direction into the field of travel.  She has since familiarised herself with many destinations in Africa and posesses an intimate knowledge of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Namibia and Botswana, where she resided for a year.

Lindy provides the important link between Epic Africa and the operation in Australia.

Ian Johnson -
Partner (Africa)

Ian Johnson - In addition to his managerial responsibilities with Epic Private Journeys, Ian is one of Africa's leading professional guides and photographers.  He has lived and worked throughout Africa's Great Rift Valley in some of Africa's greatest wildlife destinations from South Africa to Northern Kenya.  Ian has received several International and Southern African Awards for his wildlife and natural history photography.  He has undertaken photo journalism commissions for numerous publications namely Africa Geographic, Condé Nast and House & Garden.  He is also a freelance cameraman for the BBC Natural History Unit, for whom he is a specialist consultant on leopards.

Rob Barbour -
Partner (Africa)

Rob Barbour was born in Kenya although spend his formative years in Australia.  A doctor by trade, Rob served in the Australian Army, most notably as the regimental medical officer to the elite Special Air Service Regiment (SAS).  He also spent time on active service with the UN in Western Sahara and the Middle East.  Upon leaving the Army in the late 90's, Rob migrated back to Africa.  He now resides with his family in Tanzania.  Rob's passion for both adventure and the natural world, along with his vast experience, ideally place him to lead expeditions into far flung places in the region.  In addition to his role with Epic, Rob also directs a community based safari operation in Eastern Tanzania.

Pedro O'Connor -
Director, Australian Inbound

Pedro O’Connor spent his formative years growing up on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef.  He moved to South Africa for the latter years of his secondary school education and spent time on safaris to Rhodesia, Swaziland and Mozambique.  He later experienced the cultures of Mauritius, the Middle East and Europe.  A passionate traveller, Pedro has trekked the Himalayas, ridden camels in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, been chased by elephants in Zambia, climbed active volcanoes in Java and surfed the best waves of Indonesia.

Pedro operates out of Cairns, the gateway to the Barrier Reef, where his focus is to tailor private tour adventures for Epic’s discerning clientele.

Marg O'Connor -
Inbound Consultant (Australia)

Marg O'Connor brings an outstanding level of attention to detail, maturity and a wealth of experience to the team.  Having travelled extensively throughout her life, Marg relishes the thrill of travelling to unforgettable destinations and the educational benefits of experiencing different cultures first hand.

Marg is based in the North Queensland office and provides administrative support to our Inbound Team. 

Kevin Jackson -
Partner (Americas)

Kevin Jackson is responsible for the logistics and operations of all North and South American programmes.  He has led many worldwide expeditions, including multiple ascents of Aconcagua in Argentina (the highest peak in the Americas), and Mt Whitney (the highest mountain in the continental United States).  Kevin is an expert on Patagonia, Chile; Aspen, Colorado; Anchorage, Alaska; the canyons of Arizona, and Vancouver Island, British Colombia.  Kevin is a NOLS certified Wilderness First Responder and is ACE Certified in First Aid and CPR. He also holds a Wilderness Health and First Aid Certification from the Red Cross and an MBA in Operations Management.

Andrew Roberts -
Operations Manager (Americas)

Andrew Roberts is Operations Manager for the America's programmes and is based in our San Diego, California office.  Andrew began his career in the field of climbing and safety textile design and evenutally followed his passion and love for the outdoors into the adventure travel business.  Andrew has spent a lot of time travelling and guiding throughout the Americas with multiple ascents of Mt Whitney and lots of time spent in the canyons and rivers of the Southwestern USA.  He is an AMGA certified guide with a single pitch instructor certification and is also a Wilderness First Responder with full certification in the administration of CPR, AED and medical oxygen.

Carolyn Hamer-Smith
Bhutan Specialist

Carolyn Hamer-Smith has a great respect for Asia and has travelled extensiely throughout the Himalayan region of Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet.  She had the rare privilege of living and working in Bhutan for two years as a consultant for the United Nations, during which time she fell in love, married a Bhutanese and made this mountain kingdom her second home.

Carolyn has a background in event management and has escorted groups of all sizes to a variety of destinations throughout the world, staging events in places as diverse as Cape Town, Marrakesh and Tokyo.  She currently spends her time between Australia, Japan and Bhutan. 

Michelle Hogan -
Bhutan Specialist

Michelle Hogan lived and worked in Bhutan as a consultant to the Royal Government of Bhutan's Ministry of Health working on public health campaigns.  She has trekked the stunning high mountain passes, travelled the country extensively (north, south, east and west) and has a deep respect for the culture, religion and approach to tourism.

Michelle's 'adopted family' live in Bhutan and she visits them as regularly as possible.