A new ‘male ambassador’ has been announced by the Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) UK chapter.
Phil Gardner, chief commercial officer at Ambassador Cruise Lines, who was the 2019 winner of the AWTE male ambassador award, has been appointed.
The position “can provide the support needed for the implementation of change in businesses looking to offer greater inclusivity, diversity, and equality within their structure, according to the organisation.
Gardner said: “Now more than ever, diversity and inclusion need to be a way of life rather than a topical slogan and I embrace the opportunity to learn from the experience of AWTE.
“I have committed to being able to use these learnings in my day-to-day experiences, share them with those around me in the industry, and help create a safe space for all individuals regardless of background.”
His role was confirmed as a new board of directors was confirmed.
Former vice-chair Lindsay Garvey-Jones stepped up to chair after a three-year tenure by Claire Osborne who stands down from the board after five years. Michelle Laverick was named vice-chair.
Gail Kenny has joined as partnerships director and Barbro McAusland as new benevolent director to succeed Aphrodite Burton, who stepped down after ten years.
The association has maintained its membership fee at £80 a year for an individual membership and £200 for a company membership for 2022-23.
Tickets are on sale for all events due to take place this year including a summer barbecue, new wellness walks and swims and the Christmas lunch and annual awards, which will be combined for the second year running.
Garvey Jones said: “I am really looking forward to taking on this new role because I see so many new opportunities as the travel industry is building back more innovatively than ever before.
“We’ve recently had an opportunity to step back and look at the changes the association has made since 1964, and we are continuing to look at how we will evolve to support the industry for wider inclusivity, diversity, and equality.
“For 2022, we already have a host of new opportunities to support our members from a mental health and personal development perspective and we will continue to build on this.”
The new board of directors:
- Chair – Lindsay Garvey-Jones
- Vice-chair – Michelle Laverick
- Secretary and special projects director– Linzi Barber
- Finance director – Helen Tustin
- Communications directors – Lindsay Garvey-Jones and Emma-Jane Nutbrown
- Events directors –Jane Pinfold and Lynette Dungey
- PR director – Michelle Laverick
- Membership director – Lisa Henning
- Website director – Wendy Missenden
- Partnerships director – Gail Kenny
- Benevolent director – Barbro McAusland