Meet the Humans Who Make It Happen
Real people. Real passion. Real support.
Meet the Team who help turn your travel dreams into real-life, life-changing adventures.Â
Jade Egan - Country Director
I started my International Working Holiday journey as an applicant for Summer Camp and after 5 years it is safe to say I’m bit of a veteran.
When I joined the full time team at IWH I was beyond thrilled to find myself working with colleagues who are adventurous and passionate about what we do (which is creating life time memories!). I think you know you have done something right when you get to wake up every morning and look forward to going to work.
I am grateful I get to be a part of an organisation that gives life changing opportunities to people all over the world.
I started International Working Holidays back in 1994 after my own life-changing OE. I knew there had to be a better way for Kiwis to travel safely, legally, and with real support. So I created it.
Since then, IWH has helped thousands of young Kiwis live their Big OE dreams, with epic programs around the world. Along the way, we branched out into meaningful volunteering too – especially with animals, which have always had a big chunk of my heart.
My personal obsession? South Africa. I fell in love with the people, the land, and the wildlife – especially the rhinos. After spending time there in 2014, I came home fired up with a mission to help stop rhino poaching and protect these beautiful, endangered creatures.
When I’m not helping others go on their adventures, you’ll usually find me with animals of the four-legged kind. I’ve got a soft spot for horses (and a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to training them). Hoof trimming, horse riding, and the occasional spontaneous trip are my kind of downtime.
My International Working Holidays’ journey started in 2012 as a Summer Camp participant. I had the best 2 summers at a Jewish summer camp in Massachusetts and still rave about my experience 12 years later!
I started interviewing for the Summer Camp program about 7 years ago and have branched into other IWH programmes getting to meet and help applicants going to all parts of the world.
As a well seasoned traveller myself I absolutely love helping applicants fulfil their OE dreams and following them along in whatever programme they chose to do.
I started my journey with International Working Holidays back in 2017 when I signed up to do a Summer Camp Program. I went back for 3 consecutive summers (I wish it was 4!) so safe to say I absolutely loved it.
Since joining the team in 2023, I’ve been enjoying helping other people realise their travel dreams and go on their own self discovery journeys, wherever that may take them in the world.
Another thing I love about working at International Holidays is they really care about the personal journey of each individual and want to give them the tools and opportunities they need to fly the nest and become their own person.
I began my journey with Camp in 2018, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent four amazing years as part of that experience. Attending camp gave me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone and truly grow as a person, something I will always be grateful for. If I had the chance, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Through International Working Holidays, I met incredible people from all walks of life and gained experiences beyond anything I could have imagined.
Now, I’m passionate about inspiring others to believe in themselves, take that leap, and embrace their own adventures just as I did.
I have been a Travel Agent for 22 years and started out as an Interviewer around 13 years ago, taking some time out for a couple of years and then starting back in 2012.
I have been working with IWH Travel and the Team in Auckland for the last couple of seasons making sure everyone gets to Camp and our Volunteer Projects and back in one piece. Travel is my absolute passion and I LOVE bringing it alive to everyone so they can see how amazing it is too!
When I am not interviewing, I can be found in Napier walking my pooches, playing guitar (badly), practising yoga or cycling – my latest trip was cycling through Soweto in South Africa.
I love being an interviewer because it keeps the spirit of camp alive in my life, seeing the excitement of all the applicants brings back all the amazing feelings and memories of my camp experiences.
I started my journey with this amazing team 3 years ago. I learned a lot and got to know a lot of people. I would not trade the experience and knowledge they have shared for anything. And, as for someone who has a different culture, I was really appreciative of being integrated into the team so easily!
Aside from them being an advocate of animal welfare, I saw how much the team supports each of their team members, applicants and participants. No wonder, a lot of our participants keep on coming back for our programs and testimonials prove it.
I officially started my journey with IWH in 2024, and I can honestly say that this is one of the best and healthiest working environments.
The whole team is full of passion and always ensures that all applicants and participants are supported and placed in positions that align with their skills, interests, and dreams. This dedication is one of the many reasons that inspire me to go the extra mile in providing customer service to applicants – something I’ve seen the whole team do consistently! The testimonials we receive definitely prove my point.
I joined IWH in 2025 with the goal of supporting our daily administrative tasks and helping things run smoothly behind the scenes. It feels amazing to be working alongside people who share the same passions and values – especially the love for animals and traveling.
I’m always excited to contribute to the company’s success, no matter how big or small the task. Every day is a new opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with inspiring colleagues and volunteers.
Looking forward to guiding more applicants and volunteers on their journey and helping them reach their dreams. Here’s to creating more meaningful experiences together at IWH!