Where I Belong: My Journey to Ovolo
At 16, I scrubbed pans to fuel my first car. I didn’t know it then, but that job would spark a lifelong love for hospitality — a passion rooted in my family. My late grandfather, Gordon Clark, was Director of the Restaurant Association UK. My parents met working in travel. Good food and great service were in my DNA.
So was hard work. Raised in the North of England, grit wasn’t optional — it was embedded in everything. That Northern grit gave me the drive to push harder, lead stronger, and never settle.
By 18, I was managing a Hilton property solo on weekends — leading operations, making decisions, and handling the pressure of senior responsibility whilst still a teenager. It was a crash course in leadership, and I thrived in I (sometimes!!).
At 20, I was leading night shifts in Mayfair at Red Carnation Hotels — one of the best boutique brands in the world. I was surrounded by excellence, immersed in a culture built on genuine care and a deep love for hospitality. That environment sharpened my standards and shaped my style. I became runner-up for UK Receptionist of the Year, and from there, the journey took off.
> Liverpool
> Melbourne
> Darwin
> Mayfair
> Cannes & Amsterdam
> Westminster
> Brisbane (Ovolo The Valley)
> Now: Sydney, at Ovolo Woolloomooloo
I’ve opened hotels, led transitions, and managed heritage icons — from the creative buzz of The Olsen in Melbourne to the historic elegance of St. Ermin’s in Westminster. With Hyatt, I held senior roles at Andaz London and Great Scotland Yard, and supported task force transitions in Cannes and Amsterdam. At Great Scotland Yard, the former metropolitan police headquarters, we achieved record-breaking results across EAME and landed #3 on TripAdvisor out of 1,600 London hotels.
Titles and accolades are great — but what truly defines a career is how you lead when no one’s watching.
Hospitality isn’t just about service; it’s about soul. It’s about showing up with empathy, creating space for others to thrive, and learning from every challenge and triumph. Any culture I’ve helped shape is owed to the incredible experiences I’ve been fortunate enough to have — and the people who’ve trusted me along the way.
And through it all — my parents have been my constant. They’ve supported every move, every risk, every late-night phone call from the other side of the world. They gave me the belief to succeed, through the challenges, and celebrated every win like it was their own. Their love for travel and hospitality shaped my earliest memories, and their strength carried me through the toughest moments. I owe them everything.
I’ve also been lucky to have mentors who helped me grow — none more so than Douglas McHugh, my former GM at St. Ermin’s. His quiet encouragement and belief in me came at a time when I needed it most. I am grateful for our relationship.
To my grandad — I hope I’m making you proud.
Eventually, I found my home — Ovolo Hotels.
We’re family-owned, with the visionary Girish Jhunjhnuwala at the helm — a leader who dares to be different. That independence gives us something rare in hospitality: the freedom to be nimble, agile, and never boring. With properties across Australia, Hong Kong, and Bali, Ovolo Hotels are known for bold design, vibrant F&B, and guest experiences that are anything but ordinary. The group’s drive, creativity, and constant innovation match my personality to a tee — fast-moving, full of energy, and always pushing for more. We’re not just a hotel brand — we’re a lifestyle, a mindset, and a movement.
At Ovolo Woolloomooloo, we’re curating experiences, not just rooms and overnight stays. From Steak Frites Thursdays to Noble Roast Sundays (yes, the Yorkshire puds have their own postcode), and our Dolce & Mare High Tea — a tribute to our maritime roots and Italian heritage — we’re rewriting what boutique hospitality looks like.
2025 and 2026 are set to be game-changing years. We’re elevating our F&B offerings, refreshing our conference and event spaces, and rolling out design-led upgrades that will redefine what guests expect from a Sydney stay. The energy, creativity, and ambition behind Ovolo Hotels is unmatched — and we’re ready to take over the Sydney market here at Woolloomooloo. This isn’t just growth. It’s a statement. Hold tight.