Julia Finnis-Bedford
Founder & Managing Director

Julia started this business in 1999 after a production stint managing stills productions. Spotting a gap in the industry, she realised there was no source for locations and no-one to manage them. Since its beginning, Amazing Spaces has grown at a wonderful pace thanks to a variety of factors: a supportive and passionate team (in particular Lisa who has been with Amazing Spaces since 2000); the fantastic locations they have managed to source over the years; and the support of their clients – the production companies, events companies, and their discerning leisure travellers.

Coming from a background of various sectors ranging from public relations to wine export and commodity trading, then line producing and casting within the film industry – Julia has found her niche at Amazing Spaces. Her past experiences have stood her in good stead for the challenges of the film industry and its' uncompromising service standards. Recently, she was recognised for her achievements by the Businesswomen’s Association, as one of 4 finalists in the Regional Business Entrepreneur Category for 2007.

Julia is a typical Aries and loves to move with new challenges. She believes in integrity, fairness, quality and innovation whilst adding value at the same time. Her number one priority is to look after the girls who make up the team at Amazing Spaces. Her motto: “Nothing in isolation, everything in collaboration.”

Lisa Martin
General Manager / Director and Shareholder

Lisa manages the Locations Portfolio for shoots and is Julia’s right hand woman and business partner. She is the guru of locations and can interpret any brief, knowing the right location before the director does – even if it is very different from what they have asked for! She 'feels' it and sees it in her mind's eye – literally! She remembers the name of every location, as well as the owner's name – quite a feat considering we list over 1000 locations! Lisa employs an uncompromising quality of service, is fervent, zealous, committed, and extremely eloquent.

Renee Samantha Stirling
Film Location Consultant

Renee is our main Film Consultant who deals with the scouts, production companies and location owners – in short, anything to do with a film shoot. Even when she is dealing with the most demanding people, Renee remains focused in a pastoral way. Unbendable about service delivery, she proudly upholds the integrity of the company. Disarmingly unpretentious, she is a country girl who loves to perform on stage and who could be a movie star.

Jemima Goodall
Film Location Consultant

Jemima is one of our main film consultants. Jemima is feisty and confident and has a maturity about her that belies her age (and size!) Jemima is impervious to the stresses of difficult shoot situations and never takes them personally, being able to deal with them without flapping. A dedicated horse woman and animal lover, Jemima has a heart of gold and a shizzle manizzle sense of humour! (don’t ask, one of Jemima’s talents is making up descriptive phrases!).

Ndilikazi (aka Didi)
Stills Location Consultant

Didi has grown in a very short time, starting with us as Receptionist, then Assistant Location Consultant and now to full blown Stills Consultant. Known to us as our little ‘kudu’ (long story), Didi is quiet, but takes everything in (more than we realise) and just gets on with it. Didi is determined, indefatigable, and her attention to detail is exemplary. We are extremely proud of our little ‘trainee’ who has come so far with us, and hopefully will continue to grow with us for years to come.

Kate Greaves
Venues Consultant

Kate handles enquiries from production companies, events co-ordinators and wedding co-ordinators, assisting them with finding their perfect venue. Originally from the UK, Kate loves to travel and experience life in new lands, getting to know their cultures and ideals. Kate is a no fuss, no drama, just-get-on-with-it kind of gal with great attention to detail. She is unassuming, independent and easy going. We feel most fortunate to have Kate on our team as she is peppy, spirited and zealous about her clients and events.

Robyn Gruijters
Marketing Manager

Robyn deals with the marketing function at Amazing Spaces. Her distinctly Virgo traits are indispensable to us and demonstrated in her love for calendars, order and planning. Her lovely calm demeanour and no-drama attitude allow for an efficiency and quality of service that is the source of many of the compliments we receive. Robyn is unpretentious and true-to-self with a wicked sense of fun. A true team player and an absolute asset to Amazing Spaces.

Hayley Bond
Villas Consultant and PA to MD

Hayley runs the Villas division at Amazing Space and is in charge of 2010, as well as all our leisure and production bookings. Hayley is the resident source of amusement in our office – always ready for a laugh and able to look on the bright side of life. We have a common belief in taking control of one's life, having the power to choose, designing a life that's rewarding and satisfying - and Hayley lives this mantra daily. Hayley is an ally with Robyn in the Virgo stable - organised, meticulous and of calm demeanour - all the traits we needed to run the Villas division! Hayley's energy balances the more fiery of us (Aries!) and we feel the rewards of having this no-drama, funny, yet serious-about-her-job young lady in our space.

Ncumisa (Linky) Jim
Reception/ Front of office

Linky came to us through the process of ‘synchronicity’ and it couldn’t have been a better match. Her contribution to the Amazing Spaces team serves both our dream to be part of the upliftment of people in South Africa and her need to be in a place that allows self-expression, learning, fun and a sense of family. Linky is willing, reliable and tenacious. She has a great sense of humour, with crackerjack powers of observation (especially of people’s idiosyncrasies) and she often has us in stitches.

Charline Plaatjies
Bookkeeper

Charline is our bookkeeper and resident style queen! Always looking fabulous (so not an accountant in style!), Charline is committed to a function that is in line with the Amazing Spaces brand truth: service, quality and efficiency. We are proud and confident about our accounting department thanks to Charline’s hard work, her ability not to take things personally, and her brilliant filing! Charline has a naughty streak which is not immediately evident, but is able to be serious and get on with it when the going gets tough.

Arina Wessels
Financial Manager

Although Arina is only with us in the mornings, she is a power house to be reckoned with, who takes her work very seriously. Together with Charline,  Arina keeps us on the straight and narrow. We reap the benefits daily of this strategic thinker and are able to add huge value to our business with advanced financial analyses. Arina is serious and tenacious, sensitive and witty all at the same time. A scuba dive master, Arina loves the ocean and often does trips to Madagascar. The ‘crazy’ energy in our office is tempered by Arina’s ‘grounding’ energy which is good for all of us.

Veronica Zikhali
Cappuccino Queen

Veronica, aka “Mama Vee” is the lady you really want to get to know the minute you walk through the door at Amazing Spaces. She is our resident Cappuccino Queen. We have become known for our great coffee and, besides the great beans, we have Mama Vee to thank for that. True ‘Mama’ energy and stature, Mama Vee is nurturing and caring, and always willing to make a great cuppa – and if you’re lucky, you will even get a biscuit with that!

Allan McCreadie
Photographer

Allan has been our resident photographer for a number of years now. He has a distinctive style which suits our look & feel and our clients enjoy. Allan is serious about his photography, which shows. An unassuming, friendly chap with a boyish look and easy manner, Allan has become part of our 'team' - and has no problem being the only male when he's in the office!

Jan Choueiri
Manager - Spain

Jan handles all aspects of the job in Mallorca from scouting to bookings, to searches and management. Jan is a man of many talents, and can speak five languages - making our communication with our many European clients a breeze. Although from Belgium, Jan loves the Spanish way of life on the island of Mallorca - the people, the socialising, the beach and the great food! Jan is great with people and we are sure you will enjoy dealing with him as much as we appreciate having him on board!.

Maro Kockovic
Manager - Croatia

Maro is our representative for Croatia. Sometimes in life you meet people who just ‘fit’ with your style, energy, outlook and ethos. We knew as soon as we found Maro that he was a perfect fit. He signifies all that Amazing Spaces is about: integrity and honesty with a lovely calm energy and commitment to what is good: in service and in life. Maro is hard-working and energetic, and all the while you know that you’re in the presence of someone who has an old soul. We feel very fortunate to have Maro representing our brand in Croatia.