Our Team
Making travelling the world accessible for everyone!
At STX, we have a vision to make travelling the world accessible for everyone.
STX is a disability specialist travel agency and we are expert in designing and arranging personalised travel experiences for people with disabilities and their families and friends. Whether you want to go to Broadbeach or Barcelona, our team will give you expert advice and guidance on booking a holiday that suits your individual needs. We take care of all the support you may need so you can be confident to travel knowing everything is taken care of.
As a nationally registered travel agency and NDIS service provider, we can ensure your travel experience aligns with your NDIS goals and personal circumstances.
The Team
Yann Charavel
Yann is a co-founder of Supported Travel eXperiences with significant consulting experience in advising, transforming and growing small and large organisations in France, Canada and Australia. Yann is passionate about making our world more inclusive and accessible and providing opportunities for everyone to travel the world.
Biography
Yann has more than 16 years experience in strategy and management consulting across mining, transport, retail, property, utilities, and government in Australia, Canada and France. Yann is specialised in delivering complex business transformation through the design and implementation of customer centric operating model enabled by digital technology and strong adoption management.
For a Canadian food manufacturer and distributor, Yann help turn recently acquired businesses around and back to profitability while establishing a distribution network operating across Canada and the US. .
Yann decided to combine his skill set with his experience with small business to acquire Viva Travel in 2019 with Andrew.
Why joining STX?
I understand the frustration of travelling for people with disability from experience traveling with previous work colleagues interstate and realising the lack of travel services available to support everyone’s needs.
Phone Number: 1300 200 789 (ext. 106)
Location: Brisbane
Email address:
yann@supportedtravelx.com.au
Andrew Hager
Andrew is a co-founder of Supported Travel eXperiences with a professional career spanning over two decades in executive, consulting and advisory roles. Andrew has over 15 years experience in the travel & tourism sector and is passionate about customer experience design and improving outcomes for people with disabilities.
Biography
Andrew has over 20 years experience across various sectors including travel & tourism, retail, energy and management consulting. He worked for a large Australian wholesale and retail travel company for 8 years and after a break from the industry he realised how much he missed it and returned to tourism in 2018, then buying Viva Travel with Yann in late 2019.
Andrew has experience in customer experience design, strategy, commercial analysis and business transformation. Andrew completed a Master of Business Administration with the University of Queensland in 2019 and during his studies had the opportunity to study Managerial Finance at Harvard University.
Why joining STX?
Travelling is one of my absolute passions. Having personal experience understanding how difficult it is for people with disabilities to travel as freely and easily as others, I think the concept of STX is something that is much needed and will add value to a lot of people’s lives.
Phone Number: 1300 200 789 (ext. 101)
Location: Brisbane
Email address:
andrew@supportedtravelx.com.au
LinkedIn Profile >>
Sam
Sam has spent 14 years working in the travel industry and recently became a disability support worker. She is now back in travel and can't wait to help people with disabilities fulfil their goals and make unforgettable experiences.
Fiona
With over 25 years of travel experience and a keen eye for detail, Fiona has what it takes to ensure your holiday is a complete success. A specialist in accessible travel, a wheelchair user and a Mum of 2 boys, she looks forward to creating your dream getaway!
Lauren
Lauren joined the STX team because she has a passion for helping people with disabilities see the world and fulfil their travel dreams. Having a physical disability herself, she knows how important it is to get the right assistance to ensure that all travel plans meet the needs of the traveller.
Yvonne
Yvonne's career centers on disability advocacy. After thrilling accessible adventures like an Alaskan cruise and riding the Rocky Mountaineer as an aid for a powered wheelchair user, she joined STX to make travel inclusive for all.
Our Advisory Board
Jorge Fernandez
GAICD
After crossing over from a career in biological sciences in 1984, Jorge Fernandez has worked across most of the diverse areas of the travel industry
Biography
After crossing over from a career in biological sciences in 1984, Jorge Fernandez has worked across most of the diverse areas of the travel industry, leading to well respected career and position as a senior Industry leader. This naturally led to providing specialised advisory and consultancy services to that industry and their clients since 2009.
Jorge has held many senior management, executive and entrepreneurial roles across travel tour operations, retail, online, corporate travel management and digital transformation. As an operations, strategy and business functions specialist, he was also sought after outside the travel sector in technology solutions, IT re-marketing and executive leadership development. Hi experience spans working for and with groups such as Contiki, Flight Centre, OTC, TravelEdge, The Resurg Group, Informed Solutions, ITR Global, Travel Managers, Helloworld, Magellan and Club Med.
A graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Jorge also facilitates and chairs business performance and leadership peer groups, and provides advisory services to the private sector and through company boards.
Why joining STX?
I believe in the ethical and sustainable evolution of travel and the industry that enables and provides travel experiences across the whole human cohort in all its diversity and needs. I want to add value to the business, its founders and its customers through broad perspectives and insights where I can.
Ian Lacy
BE(Hons) MEngSt MBA GAICD
As an avid traveller, Ian has been to 20+ countries in 6 continents and has lived for more than a year in 6 of those countries.
Biography
As an avid traveller, Ian has been to 20+ countries in 6 continents and has lived for more than a year in 6 of those countries.
Born in Australia, Ian was educated in Brisbane and holds a BE (Hons) and M.Eng.St from The University of Queensland. He started his career as a consulting engineer specialising in water and wastewater infrastructure. He was president of Young Engineers in Queensland and Young Professional Engineer of the Year in Queensland.
Ian also has a MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He worked as a consultant with McKinsey in Sydney/Melbourne/Auckland before joining Citi as a Global Emerging Markets Management Associate in New York.
Ian spent 16 years with Citi in multiple locations and varying leadership roles. From revitalising the Diners Club portfolio (Hong Kong and China); launching insurance for the Consumer Finance business (Hong Kong); implementing global transaction services deals for Fortune 500 clients (Singapore); and showcasing new mobile, supply chain and analytics technologies to institutional clients (Singapore).
Ian is married with three young kids.
Why joining STX?
Have a passion for start-ups and strategy and think STX has great potential! Also have a strong altruistic outlook and want to help STX to deliver better access to travel experiences that I have enjoyed.
Michael Dobbie
Michael is a Senior Manager in PwC’s Integrated Infrastructure Advisroy team, he leads the Firm’s vision to create a more inclusive environment and greater employment opportunities
Biography
Michael is a Senior Manager in PwC’s Integrated Infrastructure Advisroy team, he leads the Firm’s vision to create a more inclusive environment and greater employment opportunities for people with a disability. He has 19+ years lived experience in disability and has held leading positions in Government across the Infrastructure and Transport, Social Services, Small Business and Education portfolios.
Prior to Government, Michael was a professional athlete. His achievements include: representing Australia at the 2008 Paralympic Games in wheelchair tennis, and representing Australia on six other occasions at various world cup events.
Combining his personal and professional experience, Michael is a passionate advocate of the importance of embedding accessibility in physical and social infrastructure and is a board member of Biala Disability Support Services
Why joining STX?
I firmly believe in STX’s vision of creating more opportunities for people with disability to travel and explore the benefits of accessible travel. I also believe that it is super important to have people with lived experience of disability providing support and guidance to companies that are operating in this space.
Sam Winzar
I’ve completing my Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, I have had a passion for supporting people with disability to live their best possible life each day.
Biography
I’ve completing my Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, I have had a passion for supporting people with disability to live their best possible life each day. This has taken me to workplaces and organisations around both Victoria and the world.
Moving to Pathways to Care to start the Support Coordination business allowed me the opportunity to support a large number of people with disability, and build a team that can have a positive impact on the lives of so many people across the state and country.
Having experienced growing up in a regional area, I have seen first hand the challenges and difficulties accessing services that exist, and I am focused on Pathways to Care providing the highest quality support to ALL participants of the NDIS, regardless of their location.
Why joining STX?
I am joining the STX Advisory Board for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I am keen to share my knowledge of the NDIS with an organisation that I hope can fill a real need for people living with a disability in Australia. I have seen first hand this gap with participants that I have supported, and am really hoping that STX can further improve the lives of people living with disability. Secondly, I am always wanting to learn more from people in this growing, and important, sector, particularly from people living with disability themselves. This will help guide my own practice and organisation to be the best we can possibly be.
Karen Wynn
Karen is an experienced executive with over 20 years’ experience in the health insurance and financial services sectors.
Biography
Karen is an experienced executive with over 20 years’ experience in the health insurance and
financial services sectors. As General Manager, Member Value Proposition at RACQ, she is leading the transformation of the Club’s value proposition, ensuring the organisation remains relevant and meets the needs of its’ diverse member base now and into the future.
Karen is a non-executive director of MyHorizon, a Qld based disability services provider.
Why joining STX?
Inclusion in all facets of life is crucial for people with disability. I am excited about the opportunity to create experiences that enable people with disability to travel safely, securely, and independently. As a person with disability, I have both a personal and professional interest.
Brett Bennett
Brett Bennett is an experienced transformation and operational improvement executive with a diversity of industry
Biography
Brett Bennett is an experienced transformation and operational improvement executive with a diversity of industry and sectors including health, financial services, aviation operations, Government and disability.
Driven by delivering step changes in business performance, Brett takes pride in a humanistic leadership approach and achieving outcomes by working through people and ensuring the organisations capability concurrently moves forward.
Known as a tenacious and energetic problem solver, Brett has helped deliver over $400 million in annual P&L impact under a range of industries and circumstances – from positive strategic intent to forced and rapid due to dire financial performance.
On a personal level of Brett has a curiosity about anything and everything and is the eternal optimist. Outside of work his passions are his family, skiing (snow and water) sailing, multi-sport events and the great outdoors.
Why joining STX?
Australia is leading the world in terms of the social reform for people with a disability. Continuing to support development of the sector supporting and offering services to people with a disability in Australia is where my passion lies. STX is an excellent organisation with great potential and offering real value to people with a disability in Australia and globally.
Luke Fulton
As an avid disabled traveller for both business and pleasure I know the challenges faced by those in the community.
Biography
As an avid disabled traveller for both business and pleasure I know the challenges faced by those in the community. I am the President of Link Vision, a not-for-profit organisation that provides assistance for those who have low or no vision as well as other disabilities. I am also a director of Vintage Watch Co., a high-end watch retailer in Brisbane and Sydney.
Why joining STX?
To provide more options and opportunities for people with disabilities to travel independently without barriers with a focus on travel not their disability.
Amanda Mather
Qualified with a strong business education and a diverse career in the government, commercial and healthcare sectors spanning 25+ years.
Biography
Qualified with a strong business education and a diverse career in the government, commercial and healthcare sectors spanning 25+ years, I have demonstrated success in various roles including public relations and marketing, project and change management, strategic/business planning and business policy/product development.
In 2005, I joined Queensland Health and took on the enormous challenge of overseeing a $2B healthcare budget across Queensland. Then I held executive roles in marketing, communications and engagement for the Royal Children’s Hospital, In 2012, I established a small consulting firm providing business development solutions for government and private businesses. In 2015, I commenced at Hear and Say playing a pivotal executive role in enhancing Hear and Say’s long term financial sustainability, business and brand development, advocacy and fundraising goals. In 2018, I was a founding director for not-for-profit Bionics Queensland. This led me to take on the position of CEO for Sporting Wheelies in November 2019. I am excited and honoured to lead this iconic Queensland charity as we develop our capabilities in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Paralympics.
Why joining STX?
Sporting Wheelies regularly coordinates and books travel for our high performance State-representative sporting teams and regional teams to compete within Queensland and across Australia and this is likely to increase as we head out of COVID lock downs onto Brisbane 2032. We have a clear understanding of the issues associated with travel for people with a disability and I hope that through the work of STX we can improve outcomes for all people with a disability to travel easily to destinations of their choosing. This would have benefits for our sporting teams as well as all our clients across Queensland and will set us up to deliver improved inclusion for the Brisbane 2032 Paralympics.
William Glaros
I am a management consultant advising on M&A, value creation and transformation for SMEs and large companies.
Biography
I am a management consultant advising on M&A, value creation and transformation for SMEs and large companies. I have also provided operational advice for growth stage companies. I have an MBA from Melbourne Business School.
Why joining STX?
STX is an exciting idea in an underserved market and it’ll be a great journey to take
