In this episode of Tourism Matters, I’m joined by Professor Judith Mair, Academic Director and Associate Dean (Education) at The Hotel School Australia, Southern Cross University.

Judith’s career began in Scotland, where she studied languages before finding her way into tourism through visitor information, VisitScotland, tour operations, marketing and hotel business development. After becoming a mother, she moved into academia, completing a PhD and later building a research career across tourism, hospitality and events.

In this conversation, Judith shares what it was like to rethink her career after motherhood, move from Scotland to Australia with a young family, and build a new professional life through networks, research and teaching.

We also explore Judith’s research into events, sustainability, climate change, mega-event legacies and the social value of events, including the harder-to-measure impacts like community pride, belonging and what we lovingly describe as the “vibe”.

Later in the episode, Judith talks through The Hotel School’s flexible delivery model, including six-week terms, reduced cognitive load, industry-connected curriculum and paid internships designed to help students move more smoothly into tourism and hospitality careers.

This is a conversation about careers, education, events, motherhood, migration and why tourism and hospitality remain deeply human industries, even as technology and AI continue to change the way we work. 

What You’ll Take Away From This Episode

•  Why tourism careers often evolve through curiosity, opportunity and reinvention rather than a fixed plan. 
•  How Judith moved from languages into tourism, and then from industry into academia. 
•  Why motherhood can change a career path without diminishing it. 
•  The importance of networks when rebuilding or redirecting a tourism career. 
•  How events create value beyond economic impact, including pride, identity, belonging and social connection. 
•  Why tourism and event research needs to be easier for industry to access and use. 
•  How The Hotel School Australia’s flexible teaching model is designed around the real lives of students. 
•  Why paid internships can help students graduate with both qualifications and meaningful experience. 
•  Judith’s perspective on AI, automation and the irreplaceable role of human service in hospitality. 

About Professor Judith Mair

Professor Judith Mair is Academic Director and Associate Dean (Education) at The Hotel School Australia, Southern Cross University. Judith’s research aims to understand and enhance the positive impacts of tourism and events on the communities and societies which host them. 

Her research expertise lies in fields including mega-event legacies, the future of
events, the links between events and social connectivity, and the potential impacts of climate change on the events sector. She has published over 60 refereed articles in international journals and has worked with the International Olympics Olympic Committee and the Queensland Government on projects including event legacies, understanding social impacts of tourism and events, and assessing the impacts of climate change on the sector.

Connect with Judith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-judith-mair-29778a2a/

Organisations Referenced

•  The Hotel School Australia: https://hotelschool.scu.edu.au/
•  Southern Cross University: https://www.scu.edu.au/
•  VisitScotland: https://www.visitscotland.com/
•  University of Strathclyde: https://www.strath.ac.uk/
•  Victoria University: https://www.vu.edu.au/
•  Monash University: https://www.monash.edu/
•  University of Queensland: https://www.uq.edu.au/
•  Centre for Events and Festivals: https://www.eventsandfestivals.org/

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Professor Judith Mair
 01:37 Welcome and getting to know Judith
 03:49 Growing up in Scotland
 04:53 Studying languages and early career ideas
 06:13 Discovering tourism through visitor information
 08:52 Working in Scotland’s tourism industry
 10:31 Motherhood and rethinking her career
 12:04 Moving from Scotland to Australia
 14:25 Rebuilding a career through networks
 18:02 Research into events, sustainability and climate change
 20:36 Event legacies and social impact
 23:48 Measuring the “vibe” of major events
 25:40 Moving into teaching and academia
 31:50 Joining The Hotel School Australia
 33:25 Judith’s current role at Southern Cross University
 36:37 The Hotel School’s flexible delivery model
 40:29 Paid internships and industry connection
 43:43 Career advice for parents and career changers
 46:23 AI, hospitality and the value of human service
 49:23 Carmen’s closing reflections