Born and educated in Australia, Sharon had a yearning to travel in her twenties and headed overseas. Basing herself in London for five years while working in venture capital, Sharon took the opportunity to discover new cultures and destinations before returning home. It wasn’t long until she was head-hunted into tourism with her first role in sales and marketing at Ayers Rock. “The opportunity to move into hotels found me. I had only ever been a guest. But I think knowing what I expected and how little things mattered to exceed those expectations, built the foundation for a rewarding career serving people.” It wasn’t long before the razzle, dazzle of the Gold Coast called, and Sharon was invited to head up Events Management Australia for Queensland and the Northern Territory. “My role in Events working with many government clients, developed the skills needed to keep all the different balls in the air,” Then one of her career breaks came with the opportunity to join Royal Pines Resort, an award-winning golf, convention, spa and holiday resort with it’s own residential precinct. Sharon still considers her role a Royal Pines as one of the most rewarding and she recalls jumping out of plane to land on the resorts lush lawns to an awaiting crowd of TV cameras to announce “new PR drops in”. From that moment on she was dubbed the PR Princess. In 1999 it was a hot afternoon, and the phone in her little office rang. The voice at the end of the line said ‘I’m calling from Dubai we’d like to fly you in for an interview’. That was the beginning of what turned out to be 16 and a half years as an expat. First in Dubai, responsible for the Public Relations for the 7-star Burj Al Arab and a string of luxury hotel, residential and commercial tower openings. Later Hong Kong beckoned. Then returning to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Sharon led marketing communications for brands such as Shangri-La, InterContinental, Jumeirah and Anantara rubbing shoulders with the elite and celebrity.With an entrepreneurial spirit, it’s no surprise that she opened her own PR/marketing agency, as well as a media relations portal and hosted two talk back radio shows. Serving big brands in fashion, hotels and foreign governments, she had an enviable lifestyle.“It’s funny how things work out, a lady I had met through my travel show, recommended me to Virgin. Before I knew it I was the new Head of Space Marketing & PR for Virgin Galactic in the Middle East. Wow what a ride.” Sharon has very fond memories of her time running the Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Office in the United Arab Emirates and being the first person in the world to sell a charter flight to space for six passengers. “Gosh it’s a long time ago now that I was selling space and learning to understand flight profiles, G forces and carbon fibre for example. I was selling tickets for US$200,000 a pop with nothing but a promise for the clients.”And what about Sir Richard Branson? “Yes of course I have met Richard. Not that he would remember me with the sheer volume of people he meets day to day. But he is incredible and such an inspiration.” Sharon will openly share stories of Mothership unveilings in Las Vegas and assorted client events in New York, remembering her clients and how down to earth not only Sir Richard Branson was, but all of the VIPs.” Today Sharon sees herself as a property matchmaker, bringing sellers and buyers together. “For me it’s listening to the client. Taking time to really think about the best possible outcome and how that should look.” Sharon moved to New Zealand in 2015 with her husband who grew up in South Wairarapa and is a Rathkeale old boy. “We extended our time in Abu Dhabi by an extra couple of years so I promised we would go wherever Matt wanted to go for our next move…. he wanted to come home! We bought our house online, from Harcourts of course.” Remembering the process, she says with a smile, “You’ll never believe it…we were in Italy and by the time we got to Prague we pretty much knew we had a home. Then it was time to resign, work out my 3 month notice period, and embark on a new life here in New Zealand.”Joining Sharon and Matt for all the travel, was their fur-baby Kelpie, Lou who has more air miles than most people. They added to the family on arriving in NZ with a rescued black and tan Kelpie, Jake. “I love our little patch of green and the Wairarapa. It’s home. If I can play a part in helping others achieve their property dreams, it’s a good thing. And I’m 100% committed to my clients.!”