Meet the Team

Oliver is head of our Americas team, which encompasses everywhere from Canada and Alaska in the north all the way down to the tip of Patagonia, and has been part of the team for over eight years. He has been recognised for multiple consecutive years as a Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist for Mexico, Colombia and Chile, but his knowledge extends across all of Latin America. Mexico is where Oliver’s heart really lies, so much so that he married a Mexican and has visited over 20 times. His travels in the region include a backpacking adventure across South America in the early 2000s and a more recent sabbatical across Central America. For Oliver, the love of the region comes from the feeling you get as soon as you step off the plane – you can feel the samba and salsa in the air and the people are warm, friendly and fun. It helps that the continent is as diverse as they come – whether you want mountains, sea, history, wildlife or culture, Latin America has it all.

Alesha heads up our Asia, Australasia and Original Diving team and brings with her over 14 years of experience in the travel industry. Having grown up between Australia and New Zealand, she developed a deep curiosity for cultural anthropology and a genuine respect for the communities that shape a place – values that continue to inform every trip she designs. Asia and Australasia are two of the most diverse regions on Earth, with wonderfully varied food, landscapes, wildlife and culture, and for Alesha, that is precisely the draw. After years of extensive travel across the region, she has built up a wealth of first-hand knowledge and a healthy collection of stories to match. Ask her about ziplining into a jungle lodge in Cambodia, stumbling across a sloth bear in the Sri Lankan wilderness or exploring the coastal trails of Abel Tasman in New Zealand, and you'll quickly understand why this region has her heart. She loves the fact that no two trips here are ever the same – the region's extraordinary breadth means we can craft everything from wildlife-focused adventures and cultural deep dives to laid-back beach escapes and multi-country journeys for our clients.

Harriet is head of our Europe team and specialises in bespoke journeys throughout the continent, with a particular focus on France, Spain and Italy. She loves helping clients discover destinations in a meaningful and authentic way, from hidden rural retreats to celebrated cultural and culinary experiences. Food is one of her greatest passions. While many people eat to live, Harriet has always associated more with living to eat, so it’s no surprise that she’s particularly drawn to San Sebastian and the wider Northern Spain region, home to some of Europe’s most exciting gastronomy. Food and wine have always been at the heart of Harriet’s travels, and she’s crafted some pretty spectacular wine-focused itineraries over the years, earning her the title of Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist for European Wine Regions.

Lucy has been at Original Travel for over seven years and now leads our Africa & Middle East team. Her love of the Middle East began with a trip to Egypt when she was 15 years old and she has since travelled all over the region, building on her knowledge with every trip. And don’t just take our word for it: her ever-growing expertise has been recognised by Conde Nast Traveler, with Lucy being named a Top Travel Specialist for Oman, Jordan and Egypt for several years running. Oman holds a particularly special place in Lucy’s heart, thanks to its incredible scenery, warm people and the sense of adventure that greets you on arrival, but her travel highlights are vast and varied, ranging from visiting the Tomb of Seti I in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt (all of the tombs are impressive, but Seti I is mind-blowing in terms of scale and detail) to seeing the ancient site of Petra in Jordan (it really is worth all of the hype). Lucy has also travelled extensively through South America, Southeast Asia and the Indian Sub-Continent, but the ancient history of the Middle East is unbeatable for her.