Meet the team
A lot of work happens behind the scenes to create our print magazines and digital platforms. Meet the faces that make up the Signature Media team.
Cathy Wagstaff
Ceo & Group Editor
CEO and Group Editor, Cathy Wagstaff, is the entrepreneur behind all Signature Media titles. Her 35-year career in publishing included roles at ACP, Federal Publishing and Text Media before she started Signature Media in 1996. In 2019, the flagship Holidays with Kids magazine celebrated its 20th anniversary, while the inspirational Signature marked 10 years.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
A slow and sustainable sabbatical in the Greek Islands spending weeks at a time returning to my favourite islands. Eating locally sourced fresh seafood and Mediterranean delights, soaking up the sunshine and spending as much time as possible on or in the water.
Tina-Louise Jackson
General Manager
Tina has been appointed Signature Media’s general manager after spending over three years as our partnerships manager. Her title sees her reporting directly to Cathy Wagstaff and working across print, digital, advertising and business growth strategies. Tina is also integral in managing the overall team.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
There are few mountains you can summit at 5,895 metres without ropes. There are fewer still with the fascinating history, daredevil allure and incredible views of Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro – the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. I’d love to make it to the top.
Cara Wagstaff
Associate Publisher, Assistant Editor of Holidays with Kids
Cara looks after the marketing and publishing for all of Signature Media’s brands. In her new role as a mum to Poppy, Cara has enjoyed writing and creating engaging social media content to help other parents. In 2024 she joins the editorial team as the assistant editor of Holidays with Kids magazine.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
Introducing Poppy to my love for the snow and ski destinations. The thrill of your first time on skis and the snow town culture, wherever it is in the world. Japan and North America are at the top of our list. For a solo sojourn, I’m dreaming of a guided horse riding adventure, cantering on beaches and meandering through tropical rainforests.
Andrew Conway
Editor-at-large of Signature Luxury Travel & Style
Andrew is an award-winning journalist with a career spanning 40 years in Australia, the US and England. He was honoured in 2019 with the prestigious Cruise Lines International Association – Australasia Media Award. Working remotely from his new home on the NSW Mid-Coast, Andrew writes regular features and advises on editorial content.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
A luxury tour of India, with a company like Abercrombie & Kent, would be an incomparable experience. India’s architecture, wildlife, rich history and culture create a place like nowhere else on Earth.
Aleney de Winter
editor of Holidays with Kids
Aleney is an internationally acclaimed freelance editor, writer and photographer, with more than 30 years’ experience in print and online publishing. The recipient of the 2018 PATA Gold Award for Travel Journalism and 2017 ASTW Awards for Excellence Best Family Travel Story, and mother to two frequent flying kids, Aleney is one of Australia’s most experienced and prolific family travel writers.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
The Southern Hemisphere’s highest and most isolated nation, Bolivia has been at the top of my bucket list for many years. Home to some of the oldest, warmest, windiest and steamiest spots in the world, I hope to get there soon.
catherine best
editor of Caravan & Camping with Kids
Catherine is her happiest self when living in a home on wheels. The editor of Caravan and Camping with Kids magazine, Catherine is an award-winning travel writer, journalist of 20-plus years, and author of the guidebook Ultimate Caravan Trips Australia.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
I’m a scuba diver and have an itch to swim with marine iguanas in the Galapagos Islands that must be scratched. I’m a mad nature lover and can’t think of anything more unique and thrilling than exploring isles so remote birds have forgotten how to fly, iguanas have learnt to swim and giant tortoises rule the roost.
Chantal Shirley
Business Development Manager
Chantal has followed in her mum Virginia’s footsteps by joining our sales team and continuing our Mother-Daughter team tradition. Chantal loves to travel, especially seeing the world through the ears of a horse. As a mother she understands the nuances of holidays with kids and loves helping businesses promote what they have to offer to our large national family audience.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
To swap horse ears for reindeer antlers and take my son to the Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland. Magical reindeer and sled dog rides through the powdery snow will be a family memory we’ll treasure forever.
Colleen Hinch
Advertising Consultant
While Colleen’s job title is advertising consultant, she prefers to view her role as a customer development manager, as she finds and maintains business for Signature Media, with our readers’ wants and needs in mind.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
Cuba for its culture, colours and living museum of classic cars. At the moment it’s all change in Cuba, and I desperately want to make it there before tourism makes too large of an impact.
Eleanor Edstrom
Editorial Assistant
Eleanor is the freshest member of the Signature Media team, joining after completing a six-month editorial internship with us. Eleanor is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts (English and Philosophy) – Honours and recently lived in France and Switzerland for a year on exchange.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
Snow-dusted peaks and glacial lakes have a special hold on me, so hiking Chile’s Torres del Paine region is definitely up there. I’m also itching to swim with humpback whales in Moorea, see Uzbekistan's kaleidoscopic architecture in the flesh and return to the South of France for an extra dose of joie de vivre. So many places and so little time!
Guy Dundas
Editor of LATTE & LATTE Cruise
Guy is tasked with heading editorial and social media content as the managing editor of Signature Media’s industry newsletters, LATTE and LATTE Cruise. Guy has more than 13 years of experience in travel trade media, and was previously the editor of Travel Daily. His travel industry career also includes a decade working for inbound, wholesale and touring companies.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
As an avid cyclist, the Pyrenees scenery on the border of France and Spain has long beckoned. The 17-kilometre Col du Tourmalet is the highest paved mountain pass in the region, frequently visited during the Tour de France. I will have to start training ASAP.
Helen Hayes
Editor of Ski & Snowboard with Kids, editor-at-large of Vacations & Travel
Helen has been in the media for more years than she cares to remember. A love of travel has seen her experience many wonderful places, meet incredible people and try her hand at new things, but snow continues to be a favourite playground for Helen.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
Seeing more of Australia is part of my plan, with Western Australia and Tasmania top of the list, and to explore the world’s wild places, from forests and mountains to plains, national parks and oceans.
Jessica Heazlewood
marketing coordinator
Jess joins us from the cruise industry where she was working as a trade marketing manager. Originally from Tasmania, Jess has been in Sydney for a while now and loves all things travel. In her role, Jess helps clients achieve their marketing goals across our print titles, websites, email marketing, and social channels.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
Somewhere full of nature and dramatic landscapes such as Iceland, Canada, Alaska or Antarctica (extra points if there are cute animals). Although, in saying that, working in this industry means my list grows every day!
LAURA BARRY
Digital Editor, Assistant Editor of Caravan & Camping with Kids
As a digital editor, Laura focuses on creating analytics-based SEO and social media strategies to grow our audiences across our suite of titles. Originally from Tasmania, Laura lives in Sydney with her husband and two Scottish Folds, Vesper and Binx.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
I'm a big Outlander fan with a love for historic buildings, castles, cobblestone roads and highland cows. Naturally, a sojourn in Scotland is at the top of my travel wish list right now, with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glen Coe and the Glenfinnan Viaduct topping my to-do list!
Leanne Archer
EDITOR of VACATIONS & tRAVEL
Leanne has enjoyed a 30-year career in the media on titles including marie claire, Stellar, InStyle and TNT magazines, as well as metropolitan newspapers. As someone who took time out when she was younger for five years of travel, she is now delighted to be mixing her love of globetrotting with magazines as editor of V&T.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
India tops my list every time because it’s a country that heightens all the senses. I love all the commotion, colour, temples, history, architecture and, especially, the people. As such a large country, I also enjoy the dramatic contrast between mountains, desert and sea. You definitely know you’re travelling when in India!
Lisa Wagstaff
Digital Manager
When she’s not working diligently on our beautiful websites and managing the digital team, our digital manager Lisa loves experiencing different ways of life through travel. She has a soft spot for skiing and slurping ramen in Japan, but her favourite destination is Sri Lanka, a tiny country with a huge amount of diversity.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
In the Rocky Mountains of Utah, Park City Mountain receives an impressive seven metres of snow annually. I can already visualise myself among the trees, guiding my snowboard through light, fluffy powder.
Lisa o’brien
production coordinator
Lisa joins the Signature Media team, bringing with her a wealth of industry experience. Lisa has worked as a travel agent for MTA (Mobile Travel Agents) and Travel Counsellors, and prior to this owned a business in the hospitality industry. Lisa loves her three pugs – Frankie, Rubbles and Squizzy – and often has extra furry friends staying over, too.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
Life gets terribly busy these days, so I dream of soaking up local culture and the sun as much as I can. Give me the stunning clear waters and beautiful people of the Cook Islands, my family and a delicious cocktail, and I’ll be in heaven.
Rafferty Laight
Kid Editor of Holidays with Kids
The youngest member of the Holidays with Kids team, Rafferty offers a unique voice for kids in the travel space. Rafferty is an accomplished storyteller, interviewer, an experienced international travel television host and a highly regarded public speaker.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
Top of my bucket list? Hmmm, does everywhere, ever count? Choosing just one place is so hard that I’m going to cheat and say Africa, because it is a whole continent. I became a raving fan when I visited South Africa last year. I loved the people, the culture, and the wildlife, so now I’m desperate for more.
REBECCA TAYLOR
Business Development Manager
Bec works in our sales team across all titles under the Signature Media umbrella. Bec’s motto is ‘people by people’, and she loves talking to clients and helping them find the perfect title and campaign for their needs.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
I love to travel and I’ve had the travel bug since I was three years old! It continues on and on. The destinations currently on my beachy bucket list are Thailand, Mexico and Hawaii.
Samantha Rowntree
HEAD Designer
Samantha recently celebrated her 11-year work anniversary, starting as a production coordinator before moving into a digital manager position. Samantha’s next move was into print and digital design, and built this website in fact! Samantha is responsible for putting out 12 quarterly print issues, 2 annuals, and countless custom digital titles, as well as creating the enticing marketing collateral for all of these.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
To me, the Northern Lights have always sounded like the most spectacular show on Earth. A mysterious, multi-coloured phenomenon where the night sky lights up like a heavenly lava lamp – what could be cooler?
Virginia Shirley
Advertising Consultant
In her role as advertising consultant for Signature Media, Virginia coordinates clients’ advertising needs across print, editorial, social and editorial platforms.
What’s next on your travel wish list?
I would love to go to Kenya to visit Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, located near Nairobi. The perfect day would be a night at Giraffe Manor, where you eat breakfast with the resident giraffes, and then a safari to spot as many other African animals as possible.
Apollo the Burmese
Apollo lives with Cathy and his office duties include boosting morale with regular desk visits in search of pats and his loud meows for food before hunkering down to sleep the day away. Of all of our employees, he is perhaps the most dedicated to his daily tasks.
What’s next on Apollo’s travel wish list?
Next on Apollo's travel list is an escape mission from the office to hunt the far juicier mice of Chatswood to his hometown of Freshwater.
FRANK THE WHIPPET
Frank belongs to Cara and loves to disrupt everyone’s work day by tearing around the office doing ‘zoomies’. He always makes sure to greet every member of the team in the morning, enjoys a competitive game of tug-of-war and will often be found sitting patiently next to the kitchen at breakfast time, hoping for a crust of toast.
What’s next on Frank’s travel wish list?
At the top of Frank’s bucket list is the next Sydney whippet event, where he can meet his brothers and sisters – and try and outrun them all!