Ms Kristie Gillman
Alumni - Bachelor of International Hotel and Tourism Management
Department of Premier: Events
The Executive Shadowing Program (ESP) organised and run by the School of Tourism provides an opportunity for the School’s highest achieving students to undertake exclusive placement in an industry sector of their choice. These placements provide an opportunity to work with a senior industry figure and to observe organisational functioning at a more strategic level and differs significantly from other intern or work experience programmes. Former ESP Manager Cate Clifford said “Students are selected using a variety of criteria including grade point average, interview and work experience. Entry into the program is extremely competitive from an industry and student perspective. We only place students in organisations that can offer UQ students access to senior members of staff across the hospitality, events, tourism and leisure sectors”. This program gives these students the opportunity to see the world from a more executive and managerial viewpoint and should serve as a major benefit in their professional development as they progress through their career.
This has certainly been true for a number of the ESP participants. Kristie Gillman a BIHTM graduate majoring in events has accepted a position with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. She attributes her success in securing the sort after position to participating in the School of Tourism’s Executive Shadow Program. Kristie received a perfect score in her employer assessment. “Having a real experience on placement made a real difference to me, it allowed me to see theory in practice and to develop my networks. The ESP was invaluable”