What happens when one job advertisement completely changes the direction of your life? In this episode of Tourism Leaders Unplugged, Abbey sits down with Ben Southall, founder of Best Life Adventures and winner of Tourism Queensland’s iconic Best Job in the World campaign, to explore a career built around adventure, storytelling and using the world as a classroom. In 2009, Ben beat 34,684 applicants to become the Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. The six-month role took him across Queensland’s reef islands, sharing his experiences with an international audience through blogging, video and the emerging world of social media. But Ben’s adventure story started long before Queensland. With a degree in automotive systems engineering, a converted Land Rover and a curiosity about the world, he spent a year travelling around Africa and documenting the journey online, unknowingly developing many of the skills that would later help him win the Best Job in the World. Today, through Best Life Adventures, Ben continues to take people into some of the world’s most remote environments. The conversation explores how travel, storytelling and social media have changed over the past 15 years, and why Ben believes the most powerful experiences are still the ones you have for yourself – with other people, in the real world. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT: how Ben won the Best Job in the World, over almost 35,000 applicants what it was like becoming an international voice for Queensland tourism the extraordinary wildlife encounters that shaped his connection with the reef the changing relationship between tourism, social media and remote destinations why travel is ultimately about connection, shared experience and creating “a million memories”.Enjoyed this conversation? Share this episode with someone working in tourism, studying tourism, dreaming about their next adventure or passionate about the experiences that make travel unforgettable. CAMPAIGN MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Best Job in the World Tourism Queensland launched the multi-award-winning Best Job in the World campaign globally in January 2009, offering a six-month role as Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. The campaign attracted 34,684 applications, with Ben Southall ultimately selected for the role, and went on to receive major international recognition for its innovative approach to tourism marketing and digital storytelling. ABOUT BEN SOUTHALL Ben Southall is an adventurer, entrepreneur, storyteller and founder of Best Life Adventures, an adventure travel company creating expeditions in some of the world’s most extraordinary and remote environments. Originally from the United Kingdom, Ben’s life changed in 2009 when he was selected as the winner of Tourism Queensland’s Best Job in the World and moved to Queensland to become Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Today, through Best Life Adventures, Ben combines travel, storytelling and adventure, leading people into wild and challenging environments around the world. FIND OUT MORE Best Life Adventures: https://www.bestlifeadventures.com LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/ben-southall-99217710 ABOUT TOURISM LEADERS UNPLUGGED Tourism Leaders Unplugged is produced by The University of Queensland in partnership with the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC). Tourism Leaders Unplugged brings you candid conversations with the people shaping Queensland tourism, exploring the careers, ideas, challenges and opportunities behind one of the state’s most important industries. Learn more about The University of Queensland Business School and its Tourism academics: UQ Tourism: https://business.uq.edu.au/research/research-areas/tourism Website: https://business.uq.edu.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/uq-business-school/home/ Connect with the Queensland Tourism Industry Council: Website: https://www.qtic.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/queensland-tourism-industry-council/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheQTIC/
