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The countdown is on and the buzz is building: TravelManagers has pulled back the curtain on not one, but two keynote powerhouses set to headline its National Conference in Bali this September. And if the past is anything to go by, this year’s event is shaping up to be an absolute belter.

In true TravelManagers tradition—where inspiration meets action and where jet fuel meets soul fuel—the stage will first belong to Milo Wilkinson, a behavioural scientist with a resume so eclectic it makes a Swiss Army knife look underqualified.

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill conference icebreaker. Milo doesn’t just talk leadership—she dissects it, reconstructs it, and hands it back to you sharpened like a samurai’s blade. With stints guiding executives, elite athletes, criminal profilers and even death row inmates (yes, you read that right), Wilkinson has made a career out of decoding human behaviour under pressure.

Her message? That grit and grace can coexist, and that mastering yourself is the first step to leading others. Attendees can expect fewer platitudes and more practical insight—think less “walk on fire,” more “walk into the boardroom and own it.”

Then, just when you think your heart’s full, your tissues used up, and your notes overflowing, the conference will close with a speaker who quite literally defines resilience.

NSW Australian of the Year and world-class kindness advocate, Kath Koschel, has been named as this year’s closing keynote speaker.

Kath Koschel, former NSW Australian of the Year and founder of The Kindness Factory, has turned personal heartbreak into a national movement. Having endured unthinkable tragedy, Kath hasn’t just bounced back—she’s bounced forward, galvanising Australians to commit acts of kindness as a daily habit rather than an afterthought.

Her story, stitched together with moments of devastating loss and luminous hope, reminds us that compassion isn’t weakness—it’s our most radical form of strength.

As TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager Michael Gazal puts it:

“There’s a growing sense of anticipation that BALI2025 will be one of our best conferences yet—which, given the calibre of past keynote speakers, is really saying something.”

And indeed, that’s not hyperbole. Past speakers have included CEOs, Olympians, and industry icons. But Wilkinson and Koschel are bringing something distinct to the table: the tools to change minds and the heart to change lives.

With just under four months to go, the engine room is at full throttle. TravelManagers’ network of personal travel managers (PTMs), along with partner suppliers and the National Partnership Office team, are already counting down to September like it’s Christmas in the tropics.

In a world where AI churns out quotes and buzzwords like sausage rolls at a servo, it’s rare to see a conference anchored by such raw, real and resilient voices.

But then again, TravelManagers has never done ordinary.