Our Tour Managers

John Cannon

John's life-long passion for bushwalking and nature is reflected in his weekly "In the Bush" column in The Sunday Tasmanian for the last 25 years.

John worked as the tourism and communications officer for the State Government and after retiring, looked yet again for opportunities in the tourism area. He has led adult education bush excursions and extended adventure travel trips until a snapped Achilles tendon led him to seek work on a less gung-ho rung of the walking-guiding spectrum. This newly acquired need was well accommodated through tour managing with Premier Travel Tasmania.

"It is a delight for me to be involved with Premier Travel from the very professional way that the Company operates at the leading edge of Tasmanian export tourism right through to the fascinating discussions with many interesting guests as we travel through the beautiful Tasmanian countryside," John said. 

Moira Nolan

Moira has been with the company since 2002, leading French and Italian language tours since 2006.

She has a certificate III in tour guiding – natural and cultural heritage.

Moira is equally passionate about languages as she is about bushwallking – off season she works as a professional translator.

“I love showing off Tasmania to our clients, and giving my interpretations of our state. I’ve mostly been with small groups of clients, and love the rapport and excitement of touring.  If rambling and walking are on the agenda, so much the better”. 

Bernie Samms

Bernie joined Premier Travel Tasmania after working as a guide, taking historic walking tours through Hobart.

He started work in tourism after a long and successful senior management career in Information Technology. Bernie has particular interests in Tasmanian history, Tasmania’s out of the way places and its wildlife. His other interests are flying light aircraft, classical music, travel and trout fishing (albeit the latter not so successfully).

His brilliant rapport as a tour manager has many of our guests staying in touch with Bernie years after their visit to Tasmania.

Elise Tardieu

Elise is a former teacher who qualified as a guide in 2005 and has been working with Premier Travel Tasmania since 2006.

Born in France and having lived in Britain, Canada and on mainland Australia Elise arrived in Tasmania more than 25 years ago, fell in love with the island and stayed.  She is bilingual in English and French and also speaks Italian.

Elise is enthusiastic, energetic and has an engaging personality.

“I’m so lucky to have found a wonderful job where I can share my love of the extraordinary fauna, flora and history of this unique area of the world.”

When she is not working she loves to go bushwalking with her family, reading about the history of Tasmania, or travelling. 

Hans Foehn

Hans was born in Switzerland and came to Tasmania as a twenty one year old to learn English and maybe find a job in the aviation industry.   In 1974 he joined the Royal Australian Air Force and worked in the logistics area for the air force on the mainland and overseas.

After retiring,  in 2002, he and his wife bought a B & B in Woodbridge, south of Hobart.  In 2007 they sold their business and Hans now does part time work with the Air Force and  some volunteer work with St Vincent de Paul and Southern Cross Care, as well as being a tour manager with Premier Travel Tasmania.

He greatly enjoys taking visitors to the many national parks and other areas of Tasmania to show them the unique flora and fauna which can only be found in Tasmania. 

John Counsell

John has been a highly successful tour manager with our company for nine years. He is a keen bushwalker and enjoys showing our visitors Tasmania's fantastic wilderness areas. His other interests are history and enjoying Tasmania's fresh seafood.

As a well travelled person he is particularly tuned to the cultural differences of our guests from all over the world.
 
John has also worked as a Visiting Journalist Guide for Tourism Tasmania and has been a guide on a cruise boat and at a brewery! 

Jonathan Knight

Jonathan  was born in Tasmania and graduated in Geology and Geophysics at the University of Tasmania.  He has a strong background in all things Tasmanian and has been an active bushwalker in Tasmania since childhood.

He worked in mining and petroleum exploration in Australia, Indonesia, Europe, Africa and South America.  After years of moving around the world it was time to come back home and look at a change of pace and lifestyle. His joy in sharing his experience and knowledge brought him into teaching, lecturing and now tour guiding.  John speaks Spanish, German, French and some Indonesian. 

Liese Fearman

Liese has been living in Tasmania since 1983.  She and her husband, Paul, run a small farm on the Scamander River, raising Angus cattle and growing fresh cherries.

 A retired science teacher, Liese has a lifelong interest in nature, having studied Wildlife Biology in Canada.  She now derives much enjoyment from the fascinating birds and mammals that abound on Tasmania’s East Coast.
 
Born in Germany, raised in Quebec and living for some years in Papua New Guinea (where husband Paul still works), Liese speaks German, French and Pidgin. 
 
Liese enjoys meeting new people and showing them Tasmania’s unique attractions, in between farming and keeping involved in the lives of her three grown children. 

Lucy Burbidge

Lucy has been with the Company since 2002 as an English/French speaking tour guide having completed Cert II in tour guiding specialising in natural and cultural heritage of Tasmania.

Whilst she appreciates her European Cultural background, she loves her very different lifestyle and the landscape of Tasmania where she has lived for 20 years.  Lucy is also an Interior Decorator  and enjoys good food and wine.

Marina Hagen

Born in Germany, Marina fell in love with Tasmania 7 years ago. The island's beautiful wilderness, its wildlife, history and life style made it easy for Marina to decide that Tasmania should be her future home.

She holds a degree in Eco and Adventure Guiding and is an architect by profession. This wonderful blend of skills is often reflected in the sustainable nature of her architectural designs.

In her free time Marina enjoys wildlife care, outdoor activities such as sea kayaking, bush walking and cycling and the martial arts. She loves learning about different cultures and countries and has lived, volunteered and worked in Europe, South America and of course in Australia.

"I feel very lucky to show and share the beauty and history of this island with people from around the world."