In Person: Michelle Peden, Manager, Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Michelle Peden's Christmas was not a routine affair. The most recently appointed member of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) spent the festive period chasing roofing contractors and browsing Orlando's DIY shops after her holiday home in Florida came off worst from four rounds with various hurricanes.

It might not have been a traditional turkey-and-telly break, but it was an apt illustration of the hard-work ethic that has seen her through almost two decades of success in the industry. It's a career that has taken Michelle literally all around the world and witnessed no end of trends and shake-ups. But as she gets her feet settled under the table in what is her second stint with the HKTB, it comes as no small surprise to discover that she began her …