Business Retreats Australia

Meet the Team

Katarina Cobain
Director

Katarina arrived in Australia under refugee status from Bosnia in 1994 and in 1998 completed a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism at RMIT University. She then commenced her career in the exhibition industry in a sales and organisational capacity for Expo Hire, Australia's major exhibition building company. In 1999, Katarina took up a managerial position with the Tourism Council of Australia and was in charge of organising the 2000 Victorian Tourism Awards. In 2001, a position with DeakinPrime (incorporating Business Retreats Australia) was considered too good to refuse. A series of rapid changes provided Katarina and her husband Rod the opportunity to purchase BRA the following year. The company has been running under their successful management since July 2002. During the last eight years, Katarina has gained broad experience in the tourism industry and is a specialist in all things conferencing. The general consensus at the BRA office is that she is the Venue Queen, and possesses a special knack for matching client's conferencing needs with the extensive database of Australian conference venues and services.

Emilie Ash
Account Manager

Emilie's interest in events began around five years of age when she would organise anything from party games to concert rehearsals for her family. Her experience in the hospitality industry began with working in cafes, restaurants and large outdoor events during high school. 

While completing a Diploma of Event Management at William Angliss Institute in 2007, Emilie was working at the RACV City Club. For two and a half years she has had the opportunity to work in many areas and several roles at the Club, most recently as a Conference and Events Supervisor. When Emilie is not working she loves to travel and be active outdoors no matter what the weather brings. An eclectic taste in music and a passion for great food takes Emilie and her friends to many different locations around Melbourne. With a keen interest in Australian tourism and events, Emilie hopes to sharpen her skills and become specialised in the field.

Aileen Enticot
Accounts & Administration

Aileen has many years of small business office administration and bookkeeping under her belt.  
Aileen loves great food and wine and adores travelling as often as she can – both in Australia and abroad – so she has excellent, first-hand experience of different conference and event venues. Also a keen fitness fanatic, Aileen enjoys laps of “The Tan” and working out at her local gym.

Rod Cobain
Financial Controller

He who holds the purse strings... Rod brings a background of Human Resources, Sales and Financial Services to the Business Retreats Australia mix. He holds a double degree in Business Management and Psychology from Monash University and is a Certified Financial Planner and a member of the Financial Planning Association.

As a Director of BRA, Rod oversees the financial management of the company and acts as a sounding board for Marketing and Operational initiatives.