Matt Maguire - Broome Operations Manager

Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up and lived in Lincoln, England. When the opportunity to travel presented itself, I eagerly travelled to Australia on a working holiday visa. After doing a lap around Australia, in 2009 I settled in Broome where I met my wife Natalie, and together we now have a son, Finley, and daughter, Josie.

As Operations Manager - Broome, what does your job entail?
Each day in my role is different as I co-ordinate all retail, hospitality and tourism operations in Broome. I’m involved in all aspects of the business, and when needed you may even find me driving a bus or skippering a boat. 

My wife Natalie introduced me to Willie Creek Pearls in 2011. Natalie was working in the tour bookings role and I started working as a casual maintenance employee. Over the years I have since had various roles across all facets of the company. Most recently, I was managing assets and logistics and I have since progressed to my current role as Broome Operations Manager.

The absolute best part of my role are the people. Working for the Banfield Family and having a dedicated team around me makes our work environment a great place to be.

Being remote often leads to logistical difficulties. Things can change on a day-to-day basis, so having the ability to adapt is essential, which can be challenging at times.

The amazing location. Broome and the surroundings have some of the most pristine coastlines in the country. 

Having worked in the industry for many years now, the process still continues to fascinate me.

The most surprising thing I’ve learnt is how immense the effect of mother nature is on everything we do - whether it’s the tides, rains, fires or cyclones. This means we never take anything for granted.