Jenny's Background

Committed to Maitland

Since moving to Maitland in 2000, Jenny has been an active member of the Maitland Tourism Advisory Group, the Maitland Business Chamber, the Lower Hunter Business Enterprise Centre, the Women's Network (Hunter NSW) and the Maitland Business and Professional Women's Club.

In 2005 Jenny won an award for her Outstanding Contribution to Regional Tourism in Maitland, and the Lower Hunter Business Woman of the Year Award. The same year Jenny was a finalist for the Maitland BPW Club's Career Woman of the Year Award.

Jenny is the Founding President of the Women's Network Hunter NSW, an organisation dedicated to increasing the number of women in decision making positions in Maitland. In this capacity she has played an integral role in facilitiating the participation of women from all walks of life in our community.

Jenny is the Managing Director of Northern Highland Travel, a proud sponsor of many local community organisations, including the annual Black and White Luncheon that raises money for Vision Australia, the Maiwel Charity Debate, the Cancer Council, Pink Ribbon Day, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, amongst others.

Jenny is ethical, fair and committed to the people in the Maitland Community. In her work and personal life she is concerned for the welfare of others and works to ensuring that people can achieve their goals.

Jenny and her husband Robert have two children Joshua and Jessica. She enjoys going to concerts and live theatre, bushwalking, going to the gym,and reading.

Jenny's Business Achievements

Jenny has been the Managing Director of Northern Highland Travel since 2000 when the company moved to Maitland. Under her leadership, Northern Highland Travel has won over 20 major tourism and business awards, including the NSW Tourism Significant Tour and Transport Operator for three consecutive years, making them entrants into the NSW Tourism Hall of Fame.

In 2006 Jenny was presented with the Young Achiever's Award by the NSW Bus and Coach Association. The first woman to be awarded this honour. Later that year Jenny won the National Awards at the Bus Industry Confederation Conference, again a first for women, and she has played a mentoring role for many other women in the industry.

Jenny is the inaugural Deputy Chair of the Coach and Charter Committee of the National Bus Industry Confederation and the Bus and Coach Association Representative on the NSW Government's Tourism Industry Forum. Jenny is also a member of their marketing Committee. She has given presentations at State and National Bus Industry Conferences.

Jenny was a mentor under the Department of State and Regional Development's Women in Business Program in 2006.

Jenny is an accredited Driver Authority Trainer with the Ministry of Transport, and has completed the University of Sydney's Certificate in Coach Management. She has just completed the course work for the Australian Institute of Company Directors and hopes to complete her assessment in the next few weeks!

Rural Lifestyle

In 1998, whilst half way through her Masters in Community Education, Counselling, Jenny left Canberra for Walcha, a town of 1600 people, to join her husband Robert Aitchison in his parents' business, the Walcha Motel and Northern Highland Travel. Unfortunately a new baby, career and marriage put paid to Jenny's study, but the move did change her life! During her time in Walcha, Jenny was a member of the local Younger Set Women's Hospital Auxiliary, and a member of Apex. Living in a small rural community gave Jenny practical experience of the issues faced by small and growing communities, and the importance of building positive communities!

Early Career

Jenny Aitchison was born in Canberra, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) at the Australian National University, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (University of Canberra).

Jenny was a policy officer in the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in the Social Justice Coordination Section (Women's Unit), and also had experience in the Settlement Planning and Policy and Review of Migration Decisions Sections.

During this time she was elected Vice President of the ACT Branch of the Community & Public Sector Union. In 1997, Jenny was appointed as the Senior Advisor and Media Advisor to Steve Dargavel, MP.

In 1998, Jenny met her husband Robert Aitchison and moved to Walcha.