A day in the life of: Christine Millson (Repatriation Manager)
Relevant Experience
I kicked off my career in the travel industry straight from school completing a 2-year apprenticeship programme in the Leisure sector. This programme provided me with a wealth of knowledge of the overall travel eco-system which was essential for the future roles I have undertaken in the travel industry. I then went on to a Cruise tour operator where I was curating bespoke packages for clients looking for unique travel experiences before settling into Meon Travel in the Repatriation department in 2011.
Most people think working in travel means sipping cocktails on the beach while casually booking luxury getaways. Cool, right? Try explaining to your friends that you’re a Repatriation Manager and watching their faces twist like you just told them you collect rare moss. Most of the time, the client don’t even know what a ‘Repatriation’ is until they need one. And when they do, they’re usually, stuck overseas, stranded due to illness, unexpected emergencies, or global disruptions they never saw coming. That’s where we step in!
Starting as a Repatriation consultant taught me from grass roots all levels of the emergency medical assistance world and the important part we play in helping people in their hour of need. This ranges from hotel extension for companions or children with chicken pox right through to co-ordinating ventilated stretcher patients journey home on commercial carriers with multiple medical teams , it requires serious precision and keen eye for detail to ensure all the moving parts fit together. Fast forward to today, and I now lead the Repatriation team alongside Jude – a role I can safely say no 2 days are the same! One minute I’m hosting clients at an airline medical day, the next I’m diving into reporting, review meetings, planning rotas, troubleshooting complex cases, or working with the team on development and training. That is what I love about the role, it most certainly keeps me on my toes, and the Repatriation world is something I am truly passionate about..
What you love about your job
Whilst the nature of the Repatriation department is time critical, pressure can ramp up. I am incredibly fortunate to work with a hugely talented and experienced team of both senior managers & the Repatriation operations team who, with a good dose of humour, make Meon such a special place to work.
We’ve seen it all – from the eyebrow-raising “how on earth did they manage that?” cases to the genuinely heartbreaking. It is always so rewarding when there has been a difficult case which is constantly evolving and we have collectively helped a patient get home safe, sound and back to their families – there is no better feeling than knowing we played a part to make that happen! Behind every situation is a person. A mother trying to get back to her children. A business traveller far from their support network. A family who just needs to feel safe again. I never lose sight of that. The work can be intense, but it’s deeply meaningful.
At Meon Travel, I get to make a difference. I get to bring people home. And that, more than anything, is why I love what I do.
