Meet Team Brisbane

Jess grew up in a small beach town on the coast of South Carolina. While attending the College of Charleston where she played soccer and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science, she decided to study abroad through TEAN at Bond University, in Queensland Australia. With Jess’ undeniable love for the ocean, adventure, travel, and community, this transformative study abroad experience as well as her other international travels guided her to want to help others have their own life-changing travel experiences. Along with helping others get stoked about their travels, Jess enjoys surfing, skateboarding, painting, and an occasional yoga class.

Originally from Rockville, MD, Mark studied Non-Profits Arts Management at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. After 8 years working in music agencies and venues across the continental US, he got bit by the travel bug and ventured to China to work in education. While in China, Mark taught courses in World Cultures and Contemporary Global Issues, sharing his passion for modern anthropology and the movement of culture throughout the globe with his students. In Shanghai, he would start his own teacher placement agency, helping new teachers find work placements and get settled in an exciting, yet very different, culture. Towards the beginning of the Covid-19, Mark found himself stuck in Australia after a motorcycle trip through the Philippines and Indonesia. During the height of the pandemic, he taught International Business English remotely to graduate students at the Shanghai University of Business and Economics. This afforded him the ability to travel up and down the Queensland coast and islands, eventually calling Brisbane home. Mark believes that the education one gets from traveling is like none other. He looks forward to helping students enjoy everything Brisbane and Australia have to offer.