Meet Our Team
We have a very dedicated and experienced team at TEP to help you. Here is a brief introduction to the people you will deal with in the TEP office.
Brenda McDonough - Managing Director
In 1990 Brenda migrated to Australia after a successful career managing a department of a large building and kitchen supply company in the UK. She also worked with horses as a stallion groom and riding school manager in the UK and Ireland respectively. On arriving in Australia Brenda worked for Ikea and other well know companies also won a NSW State award in kitchen design.
Brenda’s qualifications include:
- Australian Immigration Law and Practice
- Diploma of Training and Assessment Systems
- Diploma of Racing - Thoroughbred Trainer
- Diploma from the British Builders Merchants Federation
- Australian & British Horse Riding coach
Professional development conducted by Brenda
- Invited speaker by NSW Government to address business leaders and dignitaries on international business opportunities
- Presentation paper to the Australian Bureau of statistics on ANZSCO industry employment codes
- Presentation on leadership & mentoring both in Australia & Internationally
- Establishment of mentoring groups teaching leadership techniques to mentors
- Lecturing at colleges and Universities around the world, including UK, Ireland, Turkey, Ukraine & Russia
- Project manager – Equine Industry and & Thoroughbred Industry research projects
- Invited speaker at RIRDC Workshop & Equitana Melbourne
Brenda has been a practicing migration agent since 2002 (MARN: 0213896) meaning she is able to give advice to people wishing to extend their stay in Australia or migrate permanently. She has managed, directed and been the chairman of several companies and industry organizations.
Brenda travels extensively around Australia and the world interviewing and assessing applicants to come to Australia, as well as meeting with our international partners. She regularly travels in bizarre countries establishing new partnerships.
Karen Bromham - General Manager
Karen is a Registered Migration Agent (MARN: 0637810) and also the General Manager at TEP. She was born and grew up in an inland town of NSW called Wagga Wagga and has been working for the company since March 1998.
Karen has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Equine Studies) at Charles Sturt University and holds a diploma in Assessment and Workplace Training. Karen has a background in the horse industry, including actively competing in junior judging events where 3 times she achieved Reserve Champion in the State Judging final in NSW.
As well as regularly attending conferences and client visits in Australia, Karen has traveled extensively overseas to visit TEP country partners. In addition to traveling to the USA, UK and Europe, in 2005 she traveled to South America, where she visited Argentina and Peru and helped coordinate our first exchange program trainees from Ecuador.
Pat Carter - Outbound Manager
Pat is the Outbound Manager at TEP and also assists in the migration department. In 1990 Pat came to Australia to assist Brenda when she set up the company and in 1998 immigrated to Australia from England. Pat worked professionally with horses and has horse industry qualifications from the UK, and has also worked in the horticultural industry in Australia and Europe.
Before moving to Australia, Pat enjoyed a career in the hospitality and gaming industry traveling extensively to all parts of the world via her work aboard cruise ships. As a result she has plenty of tips for anyone about to travel! Her extensive cultural and worldly experience has produced a special resolve to assist parents to the very highest level, often providing additional information and support for hours at a time.
Debbie Barlow - Program and Recruitment Manager
Debbie commenced with TEP at the beginning of March 2001 and is currently our Training and Program Development Manager, which means she manages our inbound exchange program and training department. Debbie, who is originally from the UK, has worked professionally in the horse industry in the UK and Holland. She came to Australia in 1997 on the Stablemate program and she worked professionally in many areas of the horse industry, including grooming for an Olympic representative equestrian rider, yearling preparation for one of Australia's leading breeding farms and a stint as Broodmare Manager on a boutique farm in the Hunter Valley.
Debbie joined the TEP team as Inbound Program Coordinator but has since been promoted and is now an integral part of our team. She has also recently become an Australian citizen!
Artem Butenko - Migration and Inbound Assistant
Artem is from Ukraine and is an Inbound Program Coordinator at TEP. He attended Uman Agrotechnical College where he completed a specialist bachelor degree in Mechanic Engineering. While studying, Artem worked in both England and Wales in the agricultural industry and also in construction. After he went back to Ukraine and completed his study at University he again looked for opportunities to travel overseas - this is how he found the Stablemate program.
When he came to Australia through Stablemate he was placed with a racing trainer in the Hawkesbury district where he gained invaluable experience in the Australian racing industry. In December 2005 Artem came to work for Stablemate, to assist with our Inbound Program and all our Ukrainian applicants. Artem also has the job of caring for our interview horses on the TEP property and running all orientations for new arrivals into Australia on our program.
Hayley Rutherford - Administration
Hayley is the most recent addition to our team and comes to us all the way from the Northern Territory. She is our administration officer and also assists Anne in accounts. She has had many years of experience in adminstration and accounts positions, including working for a very busy medical practice in Katherine.
Anne Millichamp - Accounts
Anne is our accounts extraordinaire and the person you need to speak to if you have a specific accounts query.