Dr Birgit Trauer

My Mission

I am dedicated to promote a relational and peace-orientated culture at home, at work, and in the world at large. I aim to bridge the widening gap in our individualistic culture and our human need and desire for meaningful connection and healthy relationships.

My Vision

I envision a world where curiosity, courage and commitment are seen as the way to extend our comfort zones and practice the breadth of human skills. I believe that with greater insight and skills in Relational CORE Fitness, we all can make better-informed and conscious decisions that elevate meaningful connections, love, happiness, and well-being.

Who I Am

I am a social psychologist grounded in positive psychology with a specialisation in travel and tourism. I draw on my extensive insight and expertise gained in my professional roles and my personal life experiences. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with as many people as possible.

What I Do

• I have collated and continue to collate research-based insight from a variety of knowledge domains to inform my understanding and practice of Relational CORE Fitness.
• I facilitate face-to-face group learning events in the form of workshops, seminars, retreats, and keynote presentations with a focus on Relational CORE Fitness
• I offer real-time in-person events for everyone curious to develop their Relational CORE Fitness – at home, at work, in business, in society at large.
• I collaborate and cooperate with like-minded and like-hearted individuals, organisations, and institutions to foster a relational and peace-oriented culture.

My Core Values

• Kindness: I believe in fostering a greater appreciation of our shared humanity across cultures.
• Mutuality: I strive to create environments for individual, relational, and collective well-being.
• Integrity: I am committed to acting on the values I proclaim in all relationships.
• Peace: I encourage a spirit of lifelong learning for inner and outer peace.

Come and join me on a new adventure: Develop your Relational CORE Fitness and reap the rewards of feeling empowered as a relational champion in all your relationships.

Get in touch. Let’s connect. I value your feedback and inquiries. Reach out for general information and detailed discussions about co-operative events. See my CONTACT PAGE and leave your details

My curiosity and passion for life remain my constant companions. They inspire me to be courageous and explore not only the world around me but also the depth of my deepest yearnings and fears, my joys and heartaches, my sense of identity, and my aspirations for the here and now and the future.

Like for many of us, all my personal experiences and my many emotional life chapters have been and remain my most ardent teachers. I am grateful for all the experiences and insights that have, and still to this day, nourish my motivation as I continue my life’s adventurous journey.

My life has taught me that there is so much for all of us to learn about relationships in general, relationships at work, and relationships with family members and our significant others. They all carry special meaning in our lives. I believe that we all can expand our comfort zones and keep our hearts and minds open and the joy of love alive – in ourselves, in our relationships with others, and in the world at large.

I was born and grew up in Bremen, Germany, until the age of 19, when I migrated, freshly married, to Australia. I have two beautiful adult children who reside on the opposite sides of the globe. My daughter, who is married, lives in Sydney, Australia, and my son who has now made Innsbruck, Austria, his new home.

Apart from my passion for reading, research, and writing, I immensely enjoy the sound of music, dancing, outdoor recreation, exploring nature and cityscapes, interior decorating, and renovating homes and gardens.

Most of all, I treasure conversations and experiences with kindred spirits from different backgrounds who welcome inspiring discussions and exchanges. Feeling the enriching human energy is what feeds my soul.

My professional engagements, developments, and achievements

As a mature-age, single female, I ventured onto my higher educational journey. This started with a Bachelor in Leisure Management at Griffith University and concluded with being awarded a PhD in Tourism Management in 2005 at the University of Queensland, Australia.

In my thesis, I explored behavioural, cognitive, and affective involvement, risk perception, and identity formation in adventure tourism as a way to conceptualise Special Interest Tourism.

My studies resulted in a late academic career, which led me to live and work in a few different countries around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Sweden, England, Austria, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates. My most recent academic appointment was at Semester at Sea, Spring 2022 – Mediterranean Exploration.

Before this, I worked in the international airline industry, in retail and wholesale travel agencies, in tourism resorts, as a tour guide, as an office manager, and as a trainer and coach in the health and fitness industry.

I have published in top international academic journals and academic textbooks, including the chapter on Special Interest Tourism in The SAGE International Encyclopaedia of Travel and Tourism (2017). At the end of 2020 I published my book entitled The Way of the Peaceful Traveller – Dare to Care and Connect.

I am a board member of the InstituteTourism – Voices for Insight and Change, a founding member of the World Tourism Network (WTN), a charter member of the International Institute of Peace through Tourism (IIPT), and a member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP).

As a behavioural scientist with a specialisation in travel and tourism management, I draw on my background in social psychology and positive psychology, along with insights from other relevant domains, including the relatively new field of neuroscience. My continuous research and further education, including online and in-person courses, provide valuable additional information to all my work and my approach, which include the following topic areas:

• Emotional Intelligence and Agility, Romantic Competence, Relational Life Therapy, Relational Mindfulness/Intelligence/Wellness, Nonviolent Communication, Love Languages, Intimate Conversations, Narcissism, and many others.

It is the culmination of all my insights that inspired me to now focus on what I have called Relational CORE Fitness..

Come and join me on a new adventure and develop your Relational CORE Fitness.

Get in touch. Let’s connect. I value your feedback and inquiries. Reach out for general information and detailed discussions about co-operative events. See my CONTACT PAGE and leave your details