Our Tour Leaders
Passionate, prepared and professional, our tour leaders are the key to bringing a wealth of knowledge to your travels.
Meet our experts
Our tour leaders have solid postgraduate qualifications, university level teaching and research experience, and a thorough knowledge of destinations.
This ensures that they are fresh, enthusiastic and can provide genuine insight rather than just facts and anecdotes. If you are thinking about travelling with us, we encourage you to find out as much as possible about your tour leader.
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Ben Churcher
An educator and practicing archaeologist, who works both in Jordan and with Aboriginal sites in Australia.
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Dr Bernadette Drabsch
A scientific illustrator and historian who has worked in the field of archaeology for 15 years.
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Dr Bill Manley
A lecturer, curator, hieroglyphics expert and bestselling author, who has worked as an Egyptologist over three decades.
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Brad Manera
A Military Historian and Museum Curator, who has featured in a range of documentaries on Gallipoli and The Great War.
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Prof. Carol Reynolds
A musicologist who specialises in Russian, East European, and German cultural history.
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Chloë Sayer
A specialist in the art and culture of Mexico, she has curated exhibitions and published numerous books on this vibrant country.
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Chris Aslan
An author, lecturer and Central Asia specialist, who has spent more than 15 years living and working across the region.
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Christopher Bradley
An historian specialising in the religion and art of the Middle East and North Africa, having spent several years in Arabia.
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Dr Chris Carter
An indigenous and historical archaeologist, actively involved in research in the Atacama region of Chile.
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Christopher Menz
A former art museum director and curator, with expertise in the arts and music throughout Europe, the USA and Australia.
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Deanne Bird
An environmental scientist affiliated with Iceland’s tourism through work and academic research for more than 20 years.
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Deborah Trentham
A specialist in garden design and founder of The Garden Historians, with a BA in the History of Art and an MA in Country House Studies.
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Dr Eireann Marshall
Dr Eireann Marshall is an Honorary Research Associate and Associate Lecturer with the Open University.
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Elena Ortega
A practicing artist and expert on the art of Spain, with degrees from the University of Sydney and the National Art School.
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Dr Estelle Lazer
An archaeologist with an international reputation for her work on the human victims of Pompeii in southern Italy.
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Dr Garth Gilmour
A trained biblical archaeologist and a fluent Hebrew speaker, with doctorate from Oxford University.
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Ilaria Gentiluomo
Ilaria manages numerous tours throughout Italy and Europe as a licensed Tour Manager for Academy Travel.
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Dr Jeni Ryde
A linguist and art history specialist, with a PhD focusing on Tourism, Heritage and Renaissance Studies.
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Dr Jennifer Lawless
Former Inspector of History for the NSW Board of Studies, with expertise spanning Modern and Ancient History.
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Dr John Tidmarsh
An archaeologist, former lecturer and current Co-Director of the University of Sydney excavations at Pella in Jordan.
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Juan Cardenas
A South American Naturalist with more than 30 years’ experience guiding and sharing his passion with travellers and friends.
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Judy Tenzing
A historian with a passion for and deep knowledge of the history, music, textiles and literature of South Asia.
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Kate Bolton-Porciatti
A cultural historian, critic and journalist, and professor of Italian cultural history at the Istituto Lorenzo de’Medici in Florence.
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Assoc. Prof. Kate Foy
A professional actor, research-practitioner and arts educator who specialises in actor-training and theatre history.
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Kenneth W. Park
A curator, presenter, fund-raiser, tour leader and writer, who has visited well over 150 countries.
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Dr Lauren Mackay
An historian, author, presenter and consultant who specialises in the Early Modern World.
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Assoc Prof. Lesley Beaumont
A specialist in archaeology, author and educator, with a PhD in Classical Archaeology from the University of London.
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Lucia Gahlin
An Egyptologist with a wealth of experience as an educator, researcher, archaeologist and museum curator.
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Dr Matthew Dal Santo
A writer, historian and foreign affairs commentator, with Honours degrees from both Sydney and Cambridge Universities.
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Dr Matthew Laing
A political scientist and expert in US history, with a doctorate on the history of the United States presidency.
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Mike Turner
A cultural and garden historian with a strong interest in the art, history, literature, and mythology of the Classical past.
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Neil Moore
A Walkley Award-winning illustrator, artist and art historian who has lived in Italy for over 30 years.
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Nicole Hayward
A cultural historian with a passion for art, fashion and textiles and a career in international corporate business.
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Patrick Bade
An historian, writer and broadcaster, who has worked for the Art Fund, Royal Opera House, National Gallery and V&A Museum.
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Paula Booth
A regular tour manager for Academy Travel, Paula has managed numerous tours to Europe and within Australia.
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Peter Eyers
A professional actor, producer, host, and passionate advocate for the Arts in education.
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Dist. Prof. Peter McNeil
An award-winning design historian internationally known for his work on the visual culture of fashion and design.
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Peter Rose
One of Australia’s leading literary figures, an award-winning poet, memoirist and novelist, and Editor of Australian Book Review.
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Prof. Peter Stanley
A ‘public historian’ working with the Australian War Memorial and at the National Museum of Australia.
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Rachel Jackson
A heritage consultant with a wide-ranging interest in architectural and design history, cultural heritage, and archaeology.
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Prof. Richard Bell
A scholar, writer and teacher at the University of Maryland, and specialist on the history and culture of the United States.
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Sandy Burnett
One of the UK’s most versatile music commentators, with a career that combines broadcasting, performing and lecturing.
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Dr Stephen Wilkinson
Chairman of the International Institute for the Study of Cuba, with a PHD on the subject of Cuban literature.
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Stuart Barrie
A social historian and founding director of Academy Travel, with strong interests in the history and architecture of the USA.
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Dr Tarita Botsman
One of Australia’s most accomplished classical performers, and also a celebrated director, producer and writer.
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Thomas Abbott
Specialises in the music, art and architecture of Germany, studied in the USA and Paris, and has lived in Berlin since 1987.
