Industry Leaders to Know: Spotlight on Brad Brooks

Brad Brooks has lived and breathed travel for over two decades—starting from Sydney’s 5-star hotel lobbies to now championing industry partnerships at PassportCard Travel Insurance.

Today, Brad is the Travel Industry Partnership Manager at PassportCard, working closely with Australian travel agents to ensure they feel confident and supported when offering travel insurance to their clients.

We caught up with Brad to hear more about his career journey, the lessons learned along the way, and why growing tomatoes might not be so different from growing industry partnerships.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I started my travel journey in 1999, working in Front Office roles across Sydney’s luxury hotels. After a few years overseas living and working in the UK, I came back to Australia and took a job as a retail travel agent—just as a stopgap while figuring out my next move.

But I quickly fell in love with the fast-paced environment, the relationships, and the people. Many of the clients and suppliers I met back then are still close friends today. That early experience showed me how deeply personal and rewarding this industry can be.

After some time in retail, I moved into corporate travel, where I spent 14 years with different TMCs. I worked across operations, training, and mostly Account Management—building and growing client relationships became a real passion.

What made you decide to join PassportCard?

After many years in corporate travel, I was ready to try something different—something that still connected me to the industry I love but challenged me to grow.

PassportCard stood out because of its innovative approach to travel insurance and its focus on people-first service. It felt like a perfect fit.

Six months in, I’m loving it—especially reconnecting with the retail travel community and helping agents bring added value to their clients.

Pri Mills (TADA) visiting Brad at PassportCard’s Sydney offices

What’s one travel memory that really stands out?

Early in my retail travel days, I helped a young journalist plan an expedition to the North Pole. She needed to get to Svalbard in time to catch a rare Antonov flight to a temporary ice runway.

It was one of the most complex bookings I’ve ever worked on—but after days of research, we made it happen. We celebrated with a drink after work, and we’ve remained good friends for over 20 years. That experience really cemented my love for the industry—the sense of adventure, problem-solving, and connection.

And what about life outside of work?

Gardening is my happy place. Growing my own veggies and cooking with them brings me a lot of joy. Some crops thrive, others don't—but that’s part of the experience. Nature teaches patience, persistence, and humility—qualities that have helped me both personally and professionally.

Brad’s story is a great reminder that the best careers aren’t always carefully mapped out—they’re built one relationship, one leap of faith, and one unexpected opportunity at a time. Whether helping agents succeed or harvesting tomatoes in the backyard, Brad brings a sense of care, connection, and passion to everything he does.

Brad with the PassportCard team at the CATO Christmas Lunch