Hayley Baillie

Director

Hayley Baillie is passionate about travel and adventure. As the daughter of Australia’s most recognised adventurer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dick Smith, one might say it’s in the blood. Hayley was exposed from an early age to Dick’s passion for Australia, preserving its natural heritage and showcasing it to the world, and by his indomitable curiosity for the wild and beautiful planet around us.

As a young adult Hayley sought adventure, spending more than a decade as a naturalist guide onboard the world’s leading expedition ships. From the North to the South Pole and across the oceans in-between Hayley contributed to guests’ nature experiences with her work as an underwater adventure specialist, scuba instructor and film maker.

In 2003, Hayley created Baillie Lodges with life and business partner James Baillie with a vision to develop a premium portfolio of contemporary accommodation experiences in Australia. Baillie Lodges has since introduced standout locations of unique natural significance to its boutique collection of luxury lodges, appealing to the discerning traveller and setting new benchmarks for experiential travel.

Capella Lodge on World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island launched the Baillie Lodges collection in 2004, followed in 2008 by the award-winning Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island. Acclaimed desert ‘camp’ Longitude 131° which overlooks Uluru and Kata Tjuta joined the portfolio in 2013. In 2018 Baillie Lodges entered into a joint venture with an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL) heralding an exciting new chapter in Baillie Lodges’ quest to deliver premium experiential travel with a distinctly Australian style. Silky Oaks Lodge in Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest was the first property to join Baillie Lodges following the new partnership agreement. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Canada’s Vancouver Island was the first overseas property to join the portfolio, followed by the ‘grand-daddy’ of luxury lodging, Huka Lodge in New Zealand. Most recently, The Louise in South Australia’s Barossa Valley joined the growing collection.

Since Baillie Lodges assumed management of Longitude 131°, Hayley has worked directly with the First Nations artists and ceramists at Ernabella Arts Inc in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (APY Lands) in remote South Australia to commission works for the main guest tents and lounge areas at the lodge. Since 2016, Baillie Lodges has provided $250,000 to support the income of a dedicated ceramist to train and mentor the artists with the aim of helping the community to become economically self-sufficient and culturally robust.

Hayley is a strong believer in philanthropy and supports several charities and not-for-profit initiatives through her family foundation including the Australian Red Cross Society of Women Leaders and the Sapphire Project for marine conservation. She is a board member of the National Portrait Gallery, Australian String Quartet and Australian Ballet Foundation.

In November 2015, Hayley was appointed to the board of Tourism Australia a position she passionately embraced and held for two terms, drawing on her practical experience as a hotelier to bring about positive change for the industry.

Hayley holds a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) from Southern Cross University (2002).