Sarina Bratton

MD, Capricorn Cruise Line

Sarina Bratton's outstanding sporting career turned into an equally impressive business career following a sports injury that forced her to withdraw from competition. As a sportswoman, she won Australian medals in three different sports. In business, she was awarded the 2004 Veuve Cliquot Award for outstanding women.

Sarina Bratton is the founder and Managing Director of Orion Expedition Cruises. Orion is an Australian based, and owned, five star cruise line that provides year round expedition cruises to the Kimberley, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Torres Strait Islands and Antarctica. Sarina worked with both Australian investors, to secure the financial backing and local equity to allow for the acquisition of a suitable expedition ship, and with ship owners, German government Banks and eventually brokers around the world to identify and secure the right ship.

Sarina Bratton was also the Founder and Managing Director of the popular Norwegian Capricorn Line, a joint venture partnership between Australian interests, and Norwegian Cruise Line of Miami.

Sarina achieved international recognition as Vice President and General Manager Asia Pacific for Cunard Line, which she grew from a sales agency operation of $300,000 revenue, through a start-up, to an operation with 33 staff and revenue of over $30 million.

Sarina's extensive CEO experience has been recognised by both State and Federal Governments through senior board positions with the State Transit Authority (NSW), Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Deputy Chair), Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee (Prime Minister's nominee) and the Australian Trade Commission.

Sarina was also a non-executive director of Australia's premium eco accommodation provider, VOYAGES Hotels and Resorts, and was awarded the Commonwealth Government's Centenary Medal in 2003 for her Business Leadership contributions to Australian society.

Sarina's contributions to the Australia Day Council were recognised by appointment to the Boards of both the National and NSW Councils. She has been a finalist in Business Woman of the Year Award on two occasions, winner of the Avon Spirit of Achievement Business Award 1995, member of the Businesswomen's Hall of Fame, and voted Inspiring Woman of Australia 2000 by the Australian Businesswomen's Network.  In 2008 she was awarded NSW Entrepreneur of the Year in the Services category of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Sarina is a former Director of Tourism Task Force, National Councillor for Tourism Council Australia, a member of Chief Executive Women Inc and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sarina Bratton talks about:

• Sharing the dream - communicating the vision
• Motivation and leadership
• Start-ups - You won't get everything right, first time
• Look and act beyond the square.