Our Team

Based in Melbourne, James has been fly fishing throughout Australia and the world since first picking up a fly rod and learning the craft in Scotland more than 25 years ago. His love of the marine environment lead to an Honors degree in Aquatic Science before working in the tourism industry for many years in management and dive master roles along the Great Barrier Reef, and water quality projects around the country.

The opportunity to chase a huge variety of saltwater species on fly during this time continued to fuel his passion which has continued in both estuarine and freshwater locations worldwide, before launching Fly Odyssey Australia in 2015.

James’ focus and attention to detail on the finer aspects of travel, including his extensive knowledge and fly fishing experience locally ensures that our clients will receive thorough pre-trip preparation, guidance and tailored fly fishing holidays throughout the world. He loves working with local communities on fisheries conservation in the South Pacific and the development of the Island Initiative.

Travelling extensively including leading and guiding several hosted group trips around the world each year to destinations such as PNG, New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Colombia, Australia, French Polynesia, Cuba, Kiribati and New Zealand, “Jimmy’s” personal approach to our clients both on and off the water ensures that they are in good hands.

The architect behind the concept of Fly Odyssey, Mathew was born in Australia and has fished the entire length and breadth of the country. A passion for fish lead to an Honours degree in Aquatic Science and then travel throughout the world in search of fish that would take a fly. Mat settled on New Zealand as the ultimate trout fishing destination and has worked in helping to preserve New Zealand’s aquatic ecosystems through working with the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA), before moving to the UK and launching Fly Odyssey.

Mat has helped grow Fly Odyssey into a worldwide company and developed exclusive Fly Odyssey destinations in French Polynesia and the Maldives including the Island Initiative charity. Widely travelled and extensive experience in both fresh and saltwater destinations Mat has a comprehensive knowledge of the fish and the fly fishing opportunities available worldwide. A great guide, and companion both on and off the water there are few people in the world of fly fishing with Mats knowledge when it comes to Fly fishing, travel and logistics.

Gilly has fished on the southern chalk streams for over twenty years. She qualified as a fly fishing instructor with the Game Angling Instructor Association nine years ago. She has recently joined the Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors as an Associate member. She won the ladies Single Handed Distance Casting Championship at the Game Fair in England in 2013.

For the last ten years, Gilly has worked as a freelance guide/instructor and fishing agent, based in Hampshire on the famous Rivers Test and Itchen and also the Rivers Avon and Nadder. During that time she has also pursued saltwater species around the globe.

Gilly is a keen salmon angler too, fishing regularly in Scotland and her passion and enthusiasm for fish on the fly is all consuming. Many years spent on the river has led her to a thorough understanding of the nature of fly fishing and the different types of experience that individual clients are looking for depending on their age, ability, gender and number of anglers.

Fly fishing is about more than just catching fish. It is about the whole ‘encounter’ and Gilly is committed to helping you get a memorable experience as well as access to some of the wonderful fly fishing that we have available within the UK.

Georgina, born and raised in Southern England, is our Sales and Marketing guru. Having risen to the top of her field as a Project Manager and Recruitment Consultant, Georgina decided to transfer her passion for travel into a career dedicated to ensuring your travel needs are fully catered to.

She has travelled widely to all continents and has a great understanding of our portfolio of travel destinations, lodges, resorts and guides while providing our clients with access to a great range of travel specials and offers.

Dina is our local travel expert, managing all of our client flights, lodge and transit accommodation bookings while providing bespoke, detailed holiday itineraries. Including client administration and currency exchange transactions worldwide, Dina has over 15 years international travel agency experience.

Dina’s personalised customer service and attention to detail ensures our clients holidays are well organised, refined and on-point.

Katie is well travelled, having spent extensive time in Australia and New Zealand and the UK.

Katie ensures the office is run smoothly and efficiently. Her diligent and hard work on flight bookings, itineraries and general office administration ensures that Fly Odyssey can offer the high level of customer service which we strive to achieve at all times.

Gun guide and all round great guy, Scotts personality shines on the water as head guide of @wildernessflyfishing on our local rivers, lakes and streams in Victoria. While also spending time throughout the week with clients @theflyfisher in Melbourne, Scott’s knowledge of both fresh and saltwater fly fishing is excellent and is a great companion and host when leading some of our group trips throughout the Pacific.

Russel has been a part of the Fly fishing scene in Australia since the very early days when Jim Allen started the Compleat Flyfisher in the 80’s. There really isn’t much that Russ doesn’t know when it comes to salt and freshwater fly fishing techniques, species, and the right gear needed to land your target species. He is a rigging expert and has an excellent understanding of our international fly fishing destinations. He lives and breathes fly fishing day-in and day out and is a great host, brilliant laugh and all-round fun guy to have as a Fly Odyssey ambassador. In recent years Russel has taken numerous trips to Costa Rica, Aitutaki and Kiritimati.

Tim is a great asset to the Fly Odyssey team, his personable nature and enthusiasm for fly fishing is contagious. Tim started his fly fishing journey over twenty-five years ago, teaching the craft to clients in the early 90’s who were interested in learning all about saltwater fly fishing. Based near the Great Barrier Reef on Queensland’s eastern coast, Tim travelled throughout Australia chasing every freshwater and saltwater species that would take a fly, before settling down in beautiful Tasmania, home of Australia’s best Trout fishing.

Tim’s travels have taken him throughout America, Canada, New Zealand, Kiribati and around Australia where he has focused a lot of time chasing big game species such as Black, Blue and Striped Marlin on IGFA fly tackle. Tim’s in the process of completing his CCI qualification and loves helping clients develop their fly fishing and casting skills.

Gus is at the forefront of fly fishing gear, apparel and distribution to all the best retail fly fishing stores around the country, with Manic Tackle. Including, Simms, Hatch, Primal, Scott, Lamson and C&F design equipment, Gus lives fly fishing, and has his finger on the pulse when it comes to new and innovative gear advancements in the industry. Gus has spent a lot of time fly fishing in the US and New Zealand over the years and throughout the Pacific including New Caledonia, and has a great understanding of what makes a fly fishing trip a successful one. Gus’ knowledge and fine interpersonal skills makes him a respected host and ambassador, with his enthusiasm and beaming smile from dawn to dusk makes him a great asset to the Fly Odyssey team.

Josh is no stranger to the international fly fishing community through his fantastic photography, journalism and @ausssieflyfisher guiding business in Australia. Josh has worked on numerous photography and filming projects with Fly Odyssey since 2016, including at some of our Signature Destinations such as The Brando on Tetiaroa in French Polynesia. This has also included hosted trips with Fly Odyssey Australia to Kiritimati and Papua New Guinea, filming in the Wessel Islands, while also leading groups and continued contribution to our Island Initiative and community conservation programs on Anaa Atoll. Josh’s values align well with our own, he’s a great guy to travel with, gun angler and is an asset to the fly fishing community.

Best known for his prolific writing in the UK’s leading publications, Trout & Salmon and Trout Fisherman, Paul is a qualified AAPGAI instructor at Masters level and is regarded by many to be in the forefront of UK fly-fishers.

Based in Cumbria, with some thirty years fly fishing experience, Paul provides first-class guiding, fly casting and fly fishing tuition to all levels and abilities.

Paul specialises in hosted trips to destinations worldwide and provides Fly Odyssey clients with the opportunity to learn on the many trips he undertakes for us. Targeting species such as Wild Brown Trout and Grayling, coupled with trips to exotic locations in search of Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit, Paul has a diverse fishing repertoire. Carefully selecting venues that offer great accommodation, food and local guides, Paul takes into account prolific hatches and the optimum seasons. Paul hosts yearly trips for Fly Odyssey to Slovenia, Iceland, Bosnia, Mexico Cuba and New Zealand.

Based in Queensland, Lee has been saltwater guide for over ten years along the Great Barrier Reef and more recently as head guide aboard The Phoenix One in the Wessel Islands in Arnhem Land. Integral to the discovery and development of one of Australia’s finest saltwater fly fishing destinations, Lee’s relaxed but very thorough and attentive approach makes him very popular with our clients.

His is enthusiastic nature for everything fly fishing, as well as a great laugh both on and off the water, makes him a perfect travel companion. He loves spending his down time Fly Fishing around the world including recent trips to Costa Rica and Colombia while he is also great on the vise and very proficient with pre-trip planning, rigging and  casting tuition.

Manager of all things fly fishing @compleatangler in Sydney’s CBD, Adam has been fly fishing the world and assisting clients prepare for their fly fishing trips for many, many years. A local expert around Sydney and the NSW coastline, Adam is a fantastic host and travel companion with extensive experience throughout Australia, the Pacific and the Caribbean. His laid-back demeanor and relaxed approach is a great asset when travelling, being there for our clients at every step to ensure that they have a great time while away.

We have all heard about guys that absolutely live and breath fly fishing, and Alex is no exception. One of the nicest guys in the industry, Alex has been instrumental in several of Fly Odyssey’s fisheries science and community initiative programs throughout French Polynesia including Anaa Atoll and Teitiatora. An absolute fishing machine with a fly rod in his hand, his energy and enthusiasm has also translated into his PhD studies with the University of Hawaii, including his amazing ability to immerse himself in foreign cultures and learn new languages during his time with us. Alex’s knowledge of Bonefish Biology makes him a world leader in this field, while he has also been a great host and Fly Odyssey ambassador over the years for our clients in the Pacific and continued involvement with the Island Initiative Charity.