Kate Gibson: Hike Collective, Human Connection and Purpose-Driven Tourism
Episode Description
In the first episode of Tourism Matters for 2026, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Kate Gibson about her journey from horse riding and personal training to founding Hike Collective, a tourism business focused on meaningful outdoor experiences.
Kate shares how Hike Collective began as a mental health initiative built around hiking and connection with nature, and how it evolved into a successful adventure tourism business. The conversation explores the power of human connection in tourism, the role of tour guides in creating memorable experiences, and how the business adapted and grew during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What you'll take away from this episode
• How Kate transitioned from personal training into founding a tourism business
• Why connection with nature, community and self sits at the heart of Hike Collective
• How COVID-19 created new opportunities for local tourism experiences
• The growing importance of tour guides in shaping meaningful travel experiences
• What Kate looks for when hiring and mentoring tourism guides
• Why giving back and supporting the next generation of tourism professionals matters
About Kate
Kate Gibson is the founder of Hike Collective, an adventure tourism company based in Western Australia that creates guided hiking experiences focused on connection with nature, self and community.
Originally launched as a mental health initiative encouraging people to get outdoors together, Hike Collective has grown into a recognised tourism brand. Kate is also passionate about mentoring emerging tourism professionals and contributing to the broader tourism industry.
Organisations and industry references mentioned
Hike Collective: https://www.hikecollective.com.au/
Episode Chapters
00:00 Introduction and early influences
02:30 Growing up with horses and early career ambitions
05:00 Transition into events and fitness careers
08:00 Moving into personal training and coaching
10:00 The idea behind Hike Collective
13:00 Building a purpose-driven tourism business
19:00 Entering the tourism industry and learning the sector
24:00 Networking and building tourism relationships
29:00 Growth and recognition in tourism
31:00 Navigating COVID-19 and opportunities in local tourism
34:00 The three connections: self, community and place
38:00 Building a strong community of tour guides
42:00 Distribution and understanding tourism channels
46:00 The evolving role of tour guides
55:00 Hiring guides and building the right team
01:00:00 Giving back and supporting the tourism industry