Alumni Profile: Darrell Wade
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Degree: Bachelor of Commerce 1983 Current Position: Co-founder and CEO, Intrepid Travel Darrell Wade is living proof that the friends you make at university can have a profound influence on the rest of your life. After meeting on day one of Orientation Week, studying and travelling together, he and classmate Geoff Manchester were inspired to start their own adventure travel enterprise. Today, Darrell is CEO of a worldwide company that still operates according to its original philosophy of small-scale, sustainable tourism. |
Darrell Wade co-founded Intrepid Travel in 1989 with his friend and former University of Melbourne classmate Geoff Manchester (BCom 1982). Their idea was to create an alternative to mainstream tourism, offering small groups the chance to experience local cultures at grass-roots level. The company has since expanded worldwide and now takes 40,000 travellers to more than 90 countries each year.
As well as a passion for travel, Darrell has a long-standing interest in social and environmental concerns that has formed an integral part of his company’s ‘responsible travel’ philosophy. Most recently, he has turned his attention to how the travel industry contributes to the problem of climate change, and in particular the growing impact of carbon emissions from passenger aircraft.
In November 2006, Darrell was a guest of the Australian Conservation Foundation at a private dinner with former US vice-president and climate change campaigner Al Gore. “It was inspiring to learn of [Gore’s] incredible dedication and passion for creating action on the climate change issue,” says Darrell. Since January this year, all flights sold by Intrepid from Australia have had a carbon offset payment included in the price. The scheme funds sustainable energy projects, tree planting, waste recycling and other activities that contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.
Here, Darrell tells us more about his extraordinary journey since graduation.
What does your typical day at work involve?
There is no such thing as a typical day! Running an adventure travel company that grows by about 30 per cent every year means that every day is different. I spend about half the year away from the office, either travelling for work (about 12 weeks a year) or on holidays (also about 12 weeks a year, also travelling usually). When I’m ‘in the office’ it’s a combination of sitting at the desk, in meetings or travelling around Australia.
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your work?
I guess I got into this industry in the first place because I love travel, so my greatest joy is to create incredible travel experiences for people. Usually of course it is our staff who create the product and make it happen but I am still often involved at the planning and concept level as I travel a lot and am constantly seeking new experiences.
Even when on holidays I can’t help but think about what I am experiencing and how others might like it, how it could be improved and whether it is commercially viable. Every now and then I think how my job is ultimately measured by whether or not my company can give people the best time they have ever had in their life. It’s a great reason to get up in the morning.
What were your previous jobs?
I’ve only had two. One was so bad I don’t want to talk about it (electrical discount retailing). The other was great (design licensing with Hallmark Cards) but travel got in the way and that led to Intrepid.
What are your career highlights?
There are just too many to list seriously. Every day I am amazed at the new things our company does, and as a co-founder/CEO you get an incredible buzz out of that. We started the company with just the two of us (we met on day one of O Week, about ten years before Intrepid started) and a tiny amount of capital, so it has just been learning and growing ever since.
What did you find most beneficial while studying at the University of Melbourne?
To be honest, I found the social camaraderie the best part. Geoff, my co-founder, maintains we learned a lot in our commerce degrees. I maintain we didn’t learn much at all, but that it equipped us for life nonetheless! I wouldn’t trade my years at Melbourne for anything and my daughter, who is doing VCE this year, is desperate to get there too.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Dare I say it - travel! But when I am not travelling I read a lot, mainly papers and magazines.
