After completing her studies in Travel and Tourism Management, as part of a Bachelor of Business Management (now Bachelor of Business), employment in the sustainable tourism industry was the next step for Kathryn Vallely.

Kathryn, who also completed a Bachelor of Applied Sciences, specialising in Environmental Tourism, is a Project Officer for EC3 Global, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre.

EC3 Global is one of Australia’s leading authorities on sustainable tourism and environmental management reporting and is the new face of a partnership of highly respected business services including Earthcheck, Sustainable Tourism Services, Green Globe, Decipher, IPAT and Total Tourism Management.

Working as part of the consulting division of EC3, Kathryn is currently responsible for coordinating report preparation, project research and proposals, as well as client liaison across a number of projects, for commercial groups and international organisations.

“I’ve always had an interest in sustainability; now I am part of a leading Australian agency which helps businesses and destinations to plan and implement strategies to achieve long-term sustainable outcomes,” she said.

Kathryn attributes much of her current success to UQ and most notably the School of Tourism’s Executive Shadowing Program – an initiative placing high-achieving students for a period of work experience with a senior executive in the industry.

“Throughout my study I was looking at the industry, particularly thinking about potential employment as a graduate,” she said.

“The Executive Shadowing Program was a big step forward for me, it helped me step into the industry and to start making networks.

“I genuinely believe that I would not be in the position that I am in today, if not for my experience at UQ and in the Executive Shadowing Program.

“It helped me professionally in a number of areas – writing communication, thinking strategically and learning from a wide range of industry professionals.

“If I was to offer advice to new tourism students, it would be to have an open mind, try to experience everything and to apply for the Shadowing Program!”