Meet the Management Team
Tim Gunstone
Founder and Director
+44 207 375 7557
tim@eyefortravel.com
Tim joined First Conferences, the holding company of EyeforTravel in 1995 and started the travel sector in 1996. As well as the travel industry Tim has worked with the Freight, Oil, Energy, Chemical, Streaming Media and Glycol industries. He also looked after the First Conference's HR role whilst the company grew from 7 to over 100 people.
Before his career in Media he held various jobs, which included Trans-Saharan Expedition Mechanic in Mali, White Water River Guide on the mighty Zambezi in Zimbabwe and a rock-climbing instructor in England.
He lives in sunny Devon working from home and the London office. Tim loves surfing, rugby and the great outdoors. He is married to Babette and is the proud father of his 2 boys, Frankie and Toby.
Simon Carkeek
Director
+44 (0)207 375 7181
simon@eyefortravel.com
Simon joined EyeforTravel in August 2000 and is responsible for overall conference production.
Before joining EyeforTravel, Simon lived in Budapest, Hungary where he worked as an English Language trainer, and in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he developed and coordinated language training courses for a Danish management development company.
Simon lives in Bristol and divides his time between working from home and EyeforTravel's London Office. In the future would like to move to the South of France to enjoy fine weather, delicious food and fabulous wine on a daily basis.
He recently became a Father for the first time with a beautiful baby girl called Maddy.
Ritesh Gupta
Managing Editor/ Global Correspondent
+91-9811233336
ritesh@eyefortravel.com
Ritesh joined EyeforTravel in October 2004. Based in New Delhi, he conceptualises and manages the daily news section. He also focuses on bringing synergy between EyeforTravel.com's editorial strategy and company's conferences across the globe. For this, he contributes through his coverage pertaining to the event and analysis/interviews. His wife, Shveta, too, helps him in conjuring up news for the site.
Has been associated with global publishers like Reed Business, Haymarket Group, Euromoney and Asiamoney, AFP and Crain Communications for more than six years in a career spanning nine years. Other than travel trade, his areas of proficiency include TV broadcasting and new access technologies, online media and sports marketing.
Ritesh and Shveta's relationship blossomed further as beautiful baby girl Arissa came into their lives in October 2006.
Paul Lane
Sales Director
+44 (0) 207 3757597
paul@eyefortravel.com
Paul joined EyeforTravel as Sales Director in 2002. He looks after all our exhibitors and sponsors and works hard to ensure they meet the right people at our events. He has been a fundamental force in our recent growth.
Paul hails from Australia where he used to sail with the Australian Navy. He now loves the slightly more genteel challenges of an English Cricket Club where he is feared as a ferocious batsman.
Helen Raff
VP North America
+44 (0)207 375 7582
helen@eyefortravel.com
Helen joined EyeforTravel in January 2005. She is a keen historian and she previously worked as a researcher for a TV production company specializing in historical programmes. Helen is already responsible for some great events due to her unrivalled research skills and unwavering persistence, and has big plans to develop EyeforTravel's US presence.
Having originated from a sleepy village in Berkshire, Helen is now enjoying the challenges of life in West London & Chicago.
Joe Miranda
Event Director
+44 (0)207 375 7224
joe@eyefortravel.com
Joe hails from Mexico and mainly looks after our Spanish language events. Formerly a film director his laid back Latin American spirit hides an industrious, multi lingual business man.
Nick Gay
Event Director
+44 207 375 7204
nick@eyefortravel.com
Nick joined EyeforTravel in March 2006. He now shares responsibility for the Asia Pacific Region as well as China, India and Emerging Markets.
Before his career in Media he was both a Captain in the British Army and a film location manager.
Nick lives in London but is happiest escaping to his family farm in Somerset with his daughter Lucy. He fills his weekends with surfing, sky-diving and is planning to row the Indian Ocean in 2009. Nick swam the English Channel (solo England to France) in 2003 and uses the word 'gleaming' too much.
Gina Baillie
Regional Director, Europe
+44 (0)207 375 7197
gina@eyefortravel.com
Gina joined the company in December 2005 and is now responsible for the growth of our conferences in the European region.
Before joining EyeforTravel, she worked in for the European Union in Sweden, teaching English and French and also as a TEFL teacher in Italy. She has adapted well to a career in Media and her keen eye for detail and budding language skills have enabled her to handle some of our most complex, multi-lingual conferences.
Now living in London, she originates from Leeds and still clings to her Northern roots by insisting on living north of the river and escaping to Yorkshire whenever she can. In her spare time, she loves swimming, cycling, running and sampling fine wine and sunshine.
Tom Ellum
Conference Director
+44 (0)207 375 7236
tom@eyefortravel.com
Tom joined in June of this year and is currently producing conferences in Europe. Before EyeforTravel he found himself working as a Divemaster on a paradise island in Thailand after not quite traveling the whole way around the world.
Still coping with the switch from a hammock to a desk Tom enjoys all kinds of sport to keep himself busy. So far he has swam, run, sank, dived, cycled, hit, swung and hopes to fill in the rest soon.
