Operations and Management Team
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Diana van Woerkom established Australian Internships after many years in education and training with Queensland Government. Diana started her teaching career in Hervey Bay with a new concept in education that recognised the value of both the academic and technical/vocational development of students. She eventually moved into the role of Director of Business Development where much of the training was developed to respond to industry demands. Diana was actively involved international education and this served as a catalyst for the establishment of her own business Australian Internships – the first company in Australia to welcome and support students from over 45 countries. In 2023, Diana retired from active management.

Rebekah first joined AI in 2003 while studying Business Management at the University of Queensland. After dedicating over a decade to Intern Services, Marketing and Operations she was appointed as the General Manager in 2015. Bek has a strong passion for the industry and believes that internships are a magnificent contribution to an international-oriented career & a great way to diversity the Australian workplace. After 17 years at AI Bek ventured out to raise a young family and spent several years working as a General Manager in the ECEC sector. In 2023 Bek returned “home” to AI where she took over the business as the Managing Director as founding owner Diana van Woerkom moved into retirement. Her wealth of knowledge and experience in the internship industry helps her understand the cultural & personal barriers faced by young professionals. Passionate about people, processes, and education Bek spends her days working to inspire the team to strive for excellence in all aspects of their interactions with interns, parents, and industry. Ever the optimist, Bek has a bubbly and optimistic outlook and strong belief that “knowledge is power”.

Lu Yung started her career in the Tourism and Hospitality sector where she studied Hospitality Management and worked in HR and Client Service roles for award winning Great Barrier Reef Tour companies and Hotels. Lu joined AI in 2008 where she held the role of Program Admissions Manager and Operations Manager for many years. Lu played a pivotal role in the establishment of the process and procedures that the AI team use today. After venturing out for 12 years to run her own small business and raise children in Far North Queensland Lu has returned to AI in the role of Quality and Compliance Manager. Her strong passion for culture, business experience and people make her the perfect candidate to provide support and guidance to young career starters in gaining the most out of their internship experience abroad. Her goal is to help carry the baton of providing the best internship experience in Australia and to showcase what a wonderful place Australia is, how friendly the people are but also to build on the international business network and connection on a larger scale. She is thrilled to be back working for AI to support the team in ensuring the program is of quality standard.

Marketing
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PROGRAMS TEAM
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Josh, Australian, has spent the last 7 years working within the education sector helping students onto the right path for their future career. Within this time Josh has gained key skills in sales, business development and team management. Josh has a big passion for fitness, studying his certificate III & IV in Fitness and a Diploma of Sports Development. Josh also spent 3 years working as a Personal Trainer in some big gym franchises and running his own business. Josh joins the team at AI with a goal to continue helping students into their careers as an Internships Program Manager.

Liam hails from Cairns, where he grew up before venturing to Southeast QLD to pursue his studies. Alongside a Bachelor of Business Management (Economics & Intl. Business) from the University of Queensland, Liam has extensive Customer Service, Operational, and Relationship Management experience. Leaning on his skills & education, Liam aims to provide a seamless service for both our Host Organisations and Interns. Alongside his role at Australian Internships, Liam is currently undertaking his Master of Business Administration (Sport Management), which includes a future placement in Spain. This opportunity has afforded him valuable insights into the advantages of international education and a passion for assisting students in pursuing similar endeavours.

Anna, has joined AI as a Hospitality Program Manager. Prior to this Anna owned a successful events company in Brisbane, solidifying her passion for hospitality. With extensive experience in both public and private sectors, including roles with State and Federal Governments, Anna excels in building long lasting relationships. Outside of work, Anna enjoys traveling and creating memories with her family.

Michaela, originally from Romania, has many years’ experience in Higher Education and Employment Services, providing employment and training programs support to international students, graduates, and experienced job seekers. Michaela completed a Bachelor of Counselling and is a registered Generalist Counsellor. Michaela’s passion is seeing people take control of their own careers and making choices that work better for them  and those they work and live with. Michaela enjoys travel, walking, baking, coffee and music.

Joy joined AI in 2017 with many years of valuable experience in the Education and Training sector.  Originally from Hong Kong, Joy has lived and worked in different parts of the world with multi nationalities and lived in a multi-cultural environment throughout the last 20 years. Many of those years have been in the field of Education.  Her seven years of experience working as a Clerical Marker for IELTS at the British Council, Cultural and Education Section, not only helped her to have a keen eye for details, she was also able to gain comprehensive knowledge and experience in diverse educational sectors. Her background also includes eight years as an Educational consultant providing professional advice to students seeking to study abroad.  When she is not working, she enjoys being outdoor, travelling and gardening.

Katharina, originally from Germany, joined AI as an Internship Program Supervisor in 2023. She has lived and worked in different places in Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland, where she mainly worked within the hospitality industry in different roles and venues. She has completed a Master in Sustainable Tourism Management in Cairns where she gained work experience in the tourism industry after completing an internship with a large tourism operator. She knows of the importance of gaining work experience as an international and hopes to support other internationals on their way. When not working, Katharina enjoys reading, live music and travelling.

PJ originally from Bombay, India, has joined AI as an Internship Program Supervisor. PJ has a degree in Hospitality Management and International Business. With a background in hospitality, he is passionate about the industry and can’t wait to assist candidates in achieving their dreams and reaching their goals. He believes the hospitality industry is a realm of endless opportunities and incredible individuals. Outside of work, PJ is an avid food enthusiast, always eager to explore diverse cuisines. Embracing the outdoors, finding joy in activities such as hiking, camping, running, and spending quality time with friends.

With a diverse background spanning Training Management, Executive Assistance, Sales Administration, Contracts Administration, and Paralegal Assistance, Chresta is a highly organised professional with a proven ability to streamline processes and enhance operational efficiency. Skilled in designing impactful training programs and providing high-level administrative support, Chresta excels at managing sales operations, overseeing contracts, and assisting with legal documentation. Known for exceptional communication, attention to detail, and adaptability, Chresta fosters strong cross-functional relationships and thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

ADMINistration
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Caroline is of Tongan descent and joins the AI team with years of experience in the Health and Fitness industry. She completed her Bachelor of Business (Sport Management) and Bachelor of Exercise Science at Griffith University before working in Administration, Management and as a Career Advisor, assisting individuals starting a career in Fitness. Caroline has a passion for family, culture, music and travel. She aims to make a positive contribution to the industry, assisting students with their careers and aspirations.  

Originally from Brazil, Beatriz worked in a multinational company, specialized in IT, which contributed a lot to her personal and professional development, where she had her first contact in the job market. Beatriz chose to come to Australia to completely step out of her comfort zone, in an immersion in a new culture, new people, new habits. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Business course at Kaplan Business School in Brisbane. The experience of life in Australia, aligned with the knowledge gained from her course, were the main keys to carry out her function in Australian Internships. Communicative, proactive and motivated, she is always glad and willing to help the team.

Originally from Brazil, Rafael began his institutional life studying law in his hometown. During the course, he had the opportunity to be part of the university's initiative focused on the Brazilian youth entrepreneurial movement, where he was able to work in a junior company formed by young people, acting in the position of Financial Administrative Manager becoming passionate about business and acquiring practical experiences of the entrepreneurial world. After 7 months of English in Australia, he is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Information Systems at Torrens University Australia. Always with reliability, responsibility and proactivity, Rafael joins the AI team with the goal of helping in the processes, providing and achieving the dreams of the students as an administrative assistant. 

Services Team
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Originally from Iran, Nilly demonstrates professional customer service and excellent communication skills with 10 years of experience within the financial realm and tax consultant. Having spent a lot of time with clients, she is conscientious and able to present a high level of work in a professional environment. Nilly has a bachelor's degree in accounting and plans to become a charter accountant soon. She is keen to keep her accounting skills and qualifications as up-to-date as possible and is very enthusiastic about helping clients be successful and maintain good accounting records, including helping them with their year-end taxes and accounts.

Lee, originally from China, completed a Master of Applied Linguistics in 2022. Lee has 1 year’s experience in Higher Education and International Sector, providing admissions and consulting services to international and domestic students. Lee joined the team to help clients with their successful enrolments and entry to their programs.

With a bubbly and friendly disposition, Vien has a strong background in people and processing including 8 years’ experience in Customer Service in addition to 6 years’ experience as a Fraud Analyst. She is an expert in providing customer support, reviewing transactions, verifying information, and much more. As an Enquiries Officer at AI her personal mission is to support each and every applicant. She believes that internships transcend linking skills with opportunities; it’s about creating success stories and fostering continuous growth.

Sheila, originally from the Philippines, brings over 8 years of experience across diverse industries, with a focus on the education sector and customer service. Her background includes 2 years working with an Australian education company and 6 years managing client relations and sales for markets in the US, UK, and Australia. Known for her strong communication skills, dedication, and hard work, she is committed to delivering excellence in every role she undertakes.

Outside of work, Sheila enjoys broadening her perspectives by watching documentaries and exploring new cultures through travel. She is excited to bring her expertise to the team at Australian Internships and continue her professional journey in an international setting.

PACIFIC ISLAND PROJECT Team
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Oliana and Australian Internships have been partnering on a few Pacific island projects and initiatives. Oliana is an Industry & Community Liaison Coordinator at The University of the South Pacific; she is also a Co-Founder of the fj STEAM PRINCESS (Funded by US Embassy Suva, Partnered with the University of the South Pacific and Science Circus Pacific from ANU, Canberra). Over the past 16 years, she has been involved and has expertise in Project Management, Research & Development and IT Services. Oliana holds a BSc in Computing Science and Mathematics from The University of the South Pacific.

Fane was the acting CEO of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS). Prior to this, Ms. Vave was General Manager Customer Services with the Water Authority of Fiji and Director of Tourism, Ministry of Public Enterprises, Civil Aviation, Communication and Tourism based in Suva. Fane holds a Masters of Business Administration from University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.