“As a parent of a child with special needs, I am so grateful to work part-time and have this amazing career in travel which is both rewarding and fun,” she says.

With nine years’ experience in travel and more than 25 stamps in her passport, Marie has lived in the UK and travelled much of Africa, Asia, the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Her passion for travel is undeniable – especially the kind that involves wildlife encounters, scuba diving, adventure travel and cruising.

When booking your next holiday, Marie recommends quality over quantity. “Immerse yourself in a place or country for days or weeks – it’s no fun packing and unpacking each night. Unpack, unwind and explore!”

She also believes in the power of remaining considerate and thoughtful wherever you go. “Be kind – always – but on every trip. Small random acts of kindness are good for the soul.” One particular trip she’ll never forget is visiting a local village school in Ubud, in Bali. “We brought stationery and art supplies for the students, then spent an hour with them observing their talent for drawing.”

Marie is dedicated when it comes to helping her clients. For one very special client staying in Uluru, she worked hard to arrange a private six-and-a-half-hour "One With the Lot" helicopter experience taking in the breathtaking sights of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Lake Amadeus, with a landing at Kings Canyon Resort.

In their client testimonials, Marie’s clients leave rave reviews. Marlene Klinberg said she has booked so many trips with Marie that she has “lost count” and that “nothing is ever too much trouble for her”. “Marie goes above and beyond to organise an amazing trip,” she wrote.

Brad and Helen Francis were also impressed: “Marie has been most respondent to any of our changed travel plans over the years, has been good humoured and shown genuine care with the areas of the world we have visited.”

When it comes to her own travels abroad, Marie says India really is incredible thanks to the magic of its “colour, culture, history, food and friendly people”. But perhaps her most lifechanging experience of all was while overlanding through Central and Eastern Africa. “I’ll never forget hiking up a volcanic mountain range to spend an hour with a family of Gorillas in Rwanda. It was unforgettable and truly humbling.”