Life & Career

Encouraged and supported by her mother and father, Julie trained in classical violin and as a soprano vocalist as a child. Every spring she would compete in the Festival of Performing Arts in her hometown in the areas of violin, singing, piano, organ and spoken poetry. She attended the The International Music Camp Summer School of Fine Arts, which is attended by children and adults from 70 countries each season. Julie has been a soloist for many types of events and ceremonies, including weddings and funerals.

Julie Madison’s dynamic professional career began in her native Canada when at 21 she became managing director of her own retail travel company. It was her gift of building instant rapport and trust, together with the power to think on her feet that sprung her from success to success.

With a wealth of worldly experience Julie has been an executive member of the Association of Canadian Travel Agents (ACTA) and a member of the ACTA national technology advisory committee. Her work in the travel industry incorporated many consumer travel shows and presentations including those for her own company in Canada and Uniglobe Travel in London. She has also been an expert guest on a travel programme on a Canadian radio station.

Widely travelled, Julie's experiences include U.S., Canada, UK, Cuba, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Mexico, Hong Kong, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Faroe Islands, Austria, Poland, France, Morocco, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Julie has climbed several mountains including the highest in North Africa, Mt. Toubkal; Helvellyn in England and Mt. Snowdon in Wales. She is experienced in adventure activities such as whitewater rafting and remote camping.

Although she has experienced truly extraordinary things around the globe - including gorilla tracking in Uganda - Julie's fondest memories are those spent as a child with her grandmother on the farm - from making 'mud pies' to collecting grasshoppers. Because of Grandma's early influences Julie is now a true domestic goddess in the kitchen (as opposed to the garden) and a lover of nature (no longer collecting, just taking photos with both her camera and memory).

Julie's younger brother - her only sibling and his family live with everyone else across the pond in Canada.