A new board of directors has been announced by the Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) UK chapter for its 70th year in 2024-25.
Holiday Extras national retail manager Lindsay Garvey-Jones is stepping down as chair after a two-year term.
Michelle Laverick, commercial director at Marketing Radar, becomes chair, with five new board members joining.
Jules Verne managing director Debbie O’Neill is named as vice-chair.
Scott Dunn sales manager Jane Pinfold returns to the board, reassuming her role as events director. Aito events manager Yvonne Kinder will join her as events director.
All Nippon Airways country sales manager Julie Murphy steps in as partnerships director.
Exsus Travel head of marketing Ella Dunham joins as marketing director for the association, while Classic Collection marketing manager Manisha Blair assumes the role of membership director.
Laverick said at the group’s annual meeting: “As I step into the role of chair for the AWTE, I’m honoured and thrilled for the opportunity to be working with such an incredible team of ladies as we enter our 70th year of supporting women in travel.
“Lindsay’s contributions over the past decade, particularly her leadership as chair over these last two years, has been invaluable and she will definitely be missed.
“We are welcoming five new board members, this year marking an exciting new chapter as we adapt the AWTE to meet the evolving needs of women in the travel industry.
“It’s crucial that we extend our support to the younger generation as they navigate their careers in travel.”
She added: “In the coming months, the new board and I will be charting our course with events and activities, including the rollout of our personal development programme, which was launched with tremendous success last month with the first ‘lunch and learn’ hosted by our development director Debbie O’Neill, with a second session taking place on April 24. Stay tuned for the full launch in the weeks ahead.”