Billy Penfold

From an early age, Billy travelled independently around the world, seeking new experiences and perspectives. In his early twenties, he first visited Asia, where he developed a strong interest in the region’s cultures and ethnic diversity. This interest led him to relocate to Vietnam, where he began his career in educational travel and later established his own business. Since 2000, Billy has led more than one hundred school group tours and has overseen the planning and delivery of many hundreds more.

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Billy is a strong advocate for learning through experience and for designing programs that complement and extend classroom learning. He is committed to ensuring students gain maximum value from their tours, encouraging them to step beyond their comfort zones and develop a broader understanding of the world. A key focus of his work is facilitating meaningful service-learning opportunities through partnerships with social enterprises, NGOs, and local communities, ensuring each group contributes positively and sustainably.

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His personal interests include researching and documenting the history of the Khmer Rouge regime and examining the influence of global politics in Southeast Asia, particularly the rise of China. In addition to his industry experience, Billy has studied political science at the University of Canterbury. More recently, he has travelled extensively through North Korea, Ukraine, remote regions of India, Egypt and Malaysian Borneo.

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Billy continues to work closely with tour leaders and local guides, providing training in student group management, duty of care, and best-practice delivery, while continually developing new and engaging experiences for school groups.