Jocks, a dog calendar and a traffic ticket

Tanya Sale, CEO, Outsource Financial 

Worst: I am afraid of heights – so my partner decided it was time I overcame this fear. The present was the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. I nearly passed out just suiting up! So up we went, and the biggest mistake I made was looking down. My legs went to jelly. I started hyperventilating and the poor instructor had to support me the whole way. I did get to the top, and I can assure you, I was the first to the bottom. It was the worst experience of my life!

Best: I have had many beautiful gifts over the years, but the one that will always stay in mind is a ‘mystery’ flight I received. When I arrived at the destination, I was blindfolded and driven to a secret venue. The blindfold came off and I was handed a beautiful little bundle: my first great niece, Indi. In my mind, family is the greatest gift!

Simone Tilley, general manager of retail broker distribution, ANZ

Worst: My worst gift was from my fiancé at the time. He bought me clothes that seriously missed the mark. I remember showing my mum and we both could not stop laughing. After that incident, I thought it might be a good idea to give him a discrete list of shops, and strongly suggested not to deviate from the list!

Best: The following year, he bought me the most stunning dress and I love wearing it to this very day.  

Peter White, executive director, FBAA

Worst: The yearly dog calendar from my late crazy aunt. 

Best: 750cc motorbike. 

John Flavell, CEO, Mortgage Choice

Worst: A hand-knitted jumper, but I won't tell you who it was from... 

Best: The birth of my nephew - he was born on Christmas Eve. 

Daniel Carde, general manager of third party distribution, Homeloans 

Worst: A diary… for the year that had just ended. 

Best: A bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. 

Mark Vilo, head of bank intermediaries, Suncorp

Worst: Last year I got a cookbook from my wife. I think it was a hint. (Don’t tell her.)

Best: I’ve had some great summer Christmases over the years in Sydney, but the best is yet to come. Christmas 2019 will be a white one travelling through Europe with my family and spending Christmas Day in my dad’s hometown in Estonia. 

Lisa Claes, CEO, CoreLogic 

Worst: A deep fryer – still in the box. 

Best: Tickets to Midnight Oil. 

Craig Mackenzie, executive head of product, CoreLogic

Worst: Socks and jocks.

Best: Bruce Springstein music.