Maureen Wheeler

Maureen Wheeler was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and moved to London at the age 20, where she met her future husband, Tony.

Tony Wheeler says: "Although we've continually refined the information organisation, and in 2004 pushed through a complete reorganisation and redesign, the pattern we established with that first serious book has remained remarkably consistent to the present day.

"[1] Australia became their permanent home during the 1970s, but Maureen was convinced that they could never support themselves through Lonely Planet and began study at La Trobe University in February 1976 and completed a Bachelor of Social Work in 1980.

[3] Over the next few decades Lonely Planet became a major publishing house, with offices in Melbourne, London and Oakland, over 500 staff members and 300 authors.

[6][7] Wheeler has been the driving force behind Lonely Planet's corporate contributions programme established to provide financial assistance for humanitarian projects in developing countries.