We are proud to celebrate Julie Timms, our Retail Sales & Service Manager, who won Outstanding Customer Service for an Individual at the 2026 Northern Territory Export & Business Greater Darwin Regional Awards before progressing to the Territory-wide awards as a finalist.
Julie’s regional win is wonderful recognition of the care and commitment she brings to AANT members every day and we are delighted to see her efforts acknowledged beyond our organisation.
Julie joined AANT in February 2017 and, for nearly ten years, has helped members navigate everything from insurance questions to Roadside Assistance options. As our Retail Sales & Service Manager, Julie leads our close-knit retail team, working alongside her colleagues to help members and ensure they receive the care and support they need every day. She takes pride in making complicated information easier to understand and helping members feel confident in their decisions, while ensuring her team is well placed to deliver the same level of care and service.
“Excellent customer service is about more than simply providing an answer; it is about taking the time to understand each member’s individual needs, offering practical solutions and making the process as simple, stress-free and positive as possible,” Julie says.
For Julie, that commitment sometimes means going well beyond what is expected.
When two AANT members travelling from Alice Springs needed International Driving Permits for an unexpected overseas trip, they were transiting through Darwin on a Saturday, when our branch was closed. Recognising the urgency of their situation, Julie came into the branch on her day off to arrange their permits, helping them continue their journey without unnecessary stress.
On another occasion, a family who had hired a rental car through AANT discovered the rental company had no baby seats available. Julie contacted a local business that hired out baby seats and arranged for them to meet the family at the airport, ensuring they could safely transport their baby and continue their trip with peace of mind.
“For me, these situations reflect what outstanding customer service is all about: taking ownership, thinking outside the box and finding solutions when unexpected challenges arise,” Julie explains.
“Winning this award and being recognised by my peers at a Territory level is a tremendous honour and means the world to me. I strive every day to ensure our members feel valued, supported and confident that we genuinely care about their needs. I’m proud to be part of an organisation that values its members and the service we provide, and making a positive difference in their lives is something I genuinely love”.
It is this thoughtful, practical approach to helping people that makes Julie such a valued member of our team. Her award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the difference she makes, and we are so proud to see her work recognised across the NT.
Congratulations, Julie, on this well-deserved achievement!
