STAFF
Richard Delahunty – Managing Director
A seasoned world traveller, our Managing Director Richard has immersed himself in many of the rich landscapes that Earth has to offer; from Arizona’s Grand Canyon to the ruins of Pompeii. He is fascinated by the ancient world, keen to dig deep into our archaeological past and uncover the roots upon which the modern world is founded. Inspired by the wonders he had seen on his travels, Richard wanted to set up educational tours that would encourage young Australians to see it for themselves, hence, in 2012 Libertas Travel was born.
Richard is a big believer in first-hand experiences and his specially curated tours are designed to bring students outside the classroom to experience the world for themselves; whether that’s in the NASA space simulator, the Acropolis, or in the Smithsonian Museum.
Natalie Levy – Business Development Manager
Affected by the travel bug from an early age, Natalie has worked in the tourism industry for over 20 years. She has been able to combine her passion for both travel and education for the last decade, working with teachers to create customised overseas study tours. She also designs and leads syllabus linked professional development tours specifically for teachers across a range of subject areas.
Natalie is a qualified teacher with degrees both in Business / Tourism / Italian and Education. She is an experienced tour manager, leading groups across Europe since 2005.
Natalie is a strong believer in the value of travel and its ability to open minds and expand horizons. She has travelled extensively throughout Europe, Australia, Asia and North America, but does have a soft spot for Italian history, culture and food.
Jenny Owen – Corporate Services Manager
Jenny is responsible for all aspects of our administration and financial operations. She has a background in legal and investigative agencies in the public sector, and evaluation, strategic planning and social policy research.
In addition to her business prowess, Jenny loves travelling to wild places – be it hiking in the remote Kimberley, or immersion in the culture and history of Japan while walking the Kumano Kodo pilgrim trail. Her top travel highlight - a voyage to Antarctica, South Georgia and The Falklands – a place of unspoiled beauty and wonderful marine and bird life. Travelling there invited reflection and reinforced for her that this great wilderness is precious, increasingly vulnerable, and that we must advocate strongly for its protection.
Caitlin Hoey – Operations Manager
With a lifelong love of travel, Caitlin believes that no education can be truly complete without experiencing the world outside of your hometown.
Caitlin is our Operations Manager, expertly overseeing our tour operations from initial confirmation to take off. She is our airline guru and can confidently name most airport codes around the world – great to have on a trivia table!
Caitlin has been working in the travel industry for a decade, starting off as a retail agent before specialising in school group tours. Her tertiary education was in literature and writing and is particularly passionate about literature-related destinations.
Although having already travelled extensively across Europe, as well as parts of Asia and South America, the bucket list is still long!
Marianna and Jose – European Operations Coordinators
Our team in Rome is responsible for the operations of our tours travelling through Europe. Being on the ground means Marianna and Jose are up to date on the changing local conditions and can provide real time on the ground support to our groups whilst on tour.
Both Marianna and Jose have a great understanding of the specific needs of Australian school groups, having worked in the space for decades between them. They are both multi-lingual, well travelled and passionate about providing the highest quality tour experience for our groups.
Fernanda Cicero - Operations Assistant
Fernanda is our Operations Assistant, working on everything from making bookings and issuing travel insurance to compiling our all-important travel wallets. Fernanda is a Mexican living in Australia, with a rich history of living in various parts of the world, including the USA and Austria. With years of experience in the tourism industry, Fernanda has co-managed a hostel and worked in tour operations for educational tours in Mexico.
Passionate about travel, psychology, and education, Fernanda believes that traveling is one of the most powerful ways to understand not only the world but also the diverse perspectives of its people. Whether through educational trips, psychological insights, or cultural exchanges, she strives to show the world to others and inspire meaningful connections along the way. A firm believer in the transformative power of travel, Fernanda continues to explore new destinations, always eager to learn, teach, and share the wonders of the world.
Ashleigh Rote – Content Creation and Design
Ashleigh is our UNSW qualified conceptual development, design and marketing specialist.
Ashleigh assists with producing print or digital resources to improve tour related communications with teachers, students and parents. She believes in business transparency, listening closely to client feedback, and can transform the most complex subliminal desires to physical form.
Being a self-supporting business woman, she strongly believes in the opportunity Libertas provides for our youth in expanding their independence skills and knowledge of global systems that will influence our future as a society.