Hi, I’m Nikki! My journey started in a small Swiss village near Zurich and eventually led me to an even smaller village in Australia called Wallabadah. I’ve always had a love for languages, which is what first brought me to Australia back in 1986. That’s when I fell head over heels in love—with the country and with my now-husband, Brian. After eight years of travelling back and forth between Switzerland and Australia, we finally tied the knot, and I made the move Down Under.

Finding my way in the Australian workforce was an adventure in itself. Over the years, I’ve held various roles: Legal Assistant with the Veterans Advocacy Service and Legal Aid, teaching German at Community College, working as a Health Care Interpreter for Western Sydney Area Health Service, doing freelance translation work, even helping out in the kitchen at a nursing home and as a job coach at a high school. But it wasn’t until I landed a role in tourism for Local Government that I found my calling. Promoting this beautiful country was exactly what I was meant to do.

I like to think of myself as a bit of a chameleon—wherever life takes me, I make the most of it. When Brian, after living in Sydney, wanted to move to the country, I was hesitant. But it didn’t take long before I was fully involved with the P&C and other volunteer groups. I’ve found that city life feels pretty similar no matter where you are, but rural life really captures the heart of a country. The vast distances, the challenges of nature—droughts, floods, fires—and the honesty and generosity of country people make it truly special.

I’ve had the chance to be part of some projects that made a real difference. Some of the highlights include working on the Quirindi Silo Art and Light & Sound Show, the Liverpool Plains Sunflower Growing Competition, and an agritourism pilot project that led to the creation of The Plains Inc., a group of innovative, resilient farmers driving agritourism in the region. For me, making a difference can take many forms, but seeing someone smile is always the best reward.