1. travel

Lindsay Garvey Jones – Web/coms
Lindsay Garvey-Jones has lived in the travel industry for 28 years. A well
connected, passionate, of sound mind individual with a great sense of industry
and humour. Having held such glamorous roles such as a Butlin’s Redcoat, overseas children’s
entertainer and transfer rep gave me the grounding, strategic thinking and people skills I carried forward
to my senior roles: Regional Sales Manager, Sales and Marketing Manager and National Sales Manager.
Hoping to use my passion and knowledge in social media as well as memberships to support AWTE
exposure. A great influencer and persuader, conversationalist and listener. “I would be an awesome
ambassador for AWTE. I believe in equality and diversity having just taken a panel position with TTG for
their LGBT initiative and have an inclusive working ethic. I thrive on being able to grow awareness and
exposure for brands as I have done for Holiday Extras over the last 3 years”.
Yolanda Stewart – Vice Chair
Yolanda has made a career of working in customer facing roles within the travel &
tourism, hospitality and business service sectors for over 25 years – ranging from
blue chip companies, membership organisations and running her own businesses.
Coming from an entrepreneurial family, she learnt first-hand how to build and adapt businesses.
Yolanda has worked within the Marketing Department at British Airways and an Account Director at
boutique Travel & Tourism Ad Agency, Senior King. For a number of years Yolanda ran her own Italian
style restaurant and now runs a Marketing Communications Consultancy. Having also worked at the
London Chamber of Commerce, Yolanda understands the challenges faced by membership and not-forprofit organisations.
Yolanda is passionate about travel and has a desire to continually develop and grow the AWTE, helping
women gain confidence to flourish in their careers in travel. Having served four years on the board in
both PR and Events Director roles, she has been instrumental in building the successful delivery of the
annual Christmas Lunch and introducing informal and friendly Networking Evenings. Yolanda would
relish the opportunity to continue assisting the Chair and Board to deliver a long-term sustainable legacy
strategy for the AWTE.
Tracy Sharp - Events
Having worked in the travel industry for over 23 years, starting out as a holiday
representative, then heading up a busy Overseas Operations Department for a large
award winning tour operator, and now as Head of the Commercial & Product
department of a successful online travel agency. Tracy has a real passion for the
industry. Known as ‘the organiser’ one of her qualities is to oversee a project from start to finish in a
calm and unflappable manner. She loves a challenge!
Understanding the importance of investing time and energy to develop a strong network of contacts and
building relationships, she has attended many events over the years, and would relish the opportunity
to continue playing a part in promoting the AWTE services and events, and support woman in fulfilling
their career ambitions. Tracy is keen to encourage those who have just started out in travel to work
towards achieving a fairer balance of men and women in leadership roles in this wonderful industry.
Being a part of the AWTE board Tracy would be committed to raising awareness of the aims and vision
of the association, as well as being hands on where needed. After a year in the role of AWTE secretary,
Tracy would now like to be considered for one of the Events Directors roles, as her experience would be
put to the best use planning of the many events that AWTE organise throughout the year.
Kylie Mather - Project and partnership
As a founding partner of the travel specialist law firm Travlaw LLP, Kylie has
worked exclusively with the travel industry for ten years. Kylie hopes to bring her
down to earth commercial experience to the board for another term, and to
continue to strive for modernisation and expansion of the association. Her
company has a high percentage of females at management level, and Kylie is already setting a strong
example in promoting the interests of women in business.
Kylie would be delighted to have the opportunity to continue developing and shaping her current role of
Project and Partnership Director, building on the exciting research project that is now being undertaken
by the University of East London, in addition to coming up with new and innovative ideas for reaching
out to women in travel. Not forgetting to have plenty of fun along the way, in keeping with the spirit of
AWTE!
Jayne Peirce – Vice Chair
Jayne feels that she can significantly contribute and add value to the Association
given her proven background and success from both working directly in the travel
industry and as a service provider to the industry in the form of her own business,
Jayne Peirce Recruitment
Prior to opening her own business 4 years ago, Jayne worked for various tour operators and knows only
too well how challenging the travel industry can be. Given her position within travel recruitment she
feels well placed to succeed as a Board Member. Her business operates in the area of middle to senior
management across leisure, corporate, events and hospitality and therefore is already engaging with the
many senior figures in the industry. Having been on the AWTE Board for 2 years and successfully
increasing the awareness of the Association with record memberships levels, Jayne feels strongly and
passionately about the association and believes that she can continue to build on the foundations made
already. With her nomination for Vice Chair, she has contributed to the strategy and has some great
ideas to enhance the overall offering to AWTE existing and new members for the future.
Andrea Clayton – Treasurer
Andrea has worked in travel (an industry that I’m passionate about) for almost 20
years. In that time she have been most fortunate to meet and work with many
inspirational people. Her role as Insurance Ambassador at Holiday Extras may make
her sound like a bit of an anorak but please don’t let that put you off - Andrea has
a big personality and can hold a conversation about most topics!
Andrea spends most of her time away from the office meeting or attending conferences with key
distribution partners and feels that she can put her operational / organisations skills to good use
working with the team at AWTE. By her own admission Andrea is a well-practised plate-spinner and has
a strong sense of fair play. She also has a keen commercial brain and can be quite creative when it
comes to fund-raising. Working as part of a team towards a common goal is her preferred approach, but
she is also happy to take sole responsibility for a project when required. Andreas favourite saying is by
the Dalia Lama - “when you talk, you are only repeating what you already know; but when you listen,
you may learn something new”
Claire Riches – PR
Claire Riches has been an active member of the AWTE since 2008 and has previously
supported the Board with running successful seminars on Understanding Social
Media. Claire is very keen to join the Board in 2015 and undertake the role of Public
Relations to support the AWTE in raising their profile within the travel industry.
Claire runs her own marketing consultancy, Travel Waves Marketing. A business that she established in
2011 after a successful career in marketing for leading retailers including B&Q and PC World and, in
travel, with Norwegian Cruise Line. Claire provides marketing & PR support for businesses in travel and
tourism, has great contacts with the travel and trade press and a wealth of experience that she’d like to
share with the team.
Claire says, “I’d like to bring my hands-on approach to the Board and get involved to help raise the
profile of the AWTE even more with the trade press. I'm keen to ensure that we continue to grow
awareness not only of what we do but also our current members and their travel businesses. I’d very
much appreciate your vote and the opportunity to support the AWTE in the role of Public Relations."
Sarah Clayton-Turner – Web/coms
Sarah has worked in the travel industry for over 18 years and is very passionate
about the industry and those who work within it. Having worked in marketing for
companies such as Unijet, Libra Holidays and Octopus Travel, Sarah set up her own
marketing consultancy over five years ago providing SME’s with a marketing
resource including brand development, web site traffic growth, advertising, communications, PR and
event management and has helped many of her clients (getabed.co.uk, Rock Insurance, Affordable Car
Hire, CWT Digital) become award winners.
Sarah has always been a strong advocate of the value of networking, and has been known to attend an
event or two in her time! Having sat on the board for the past year as Web & Communications
Director, Sarah has been instrumental in improving communications to our members with involvement
in the new website. During the past year we have seen record numbers at events and improved
member numbers, which is testament to our revised communication strategy. Sarah would love to join
the board for another year to ensure that the AWTE remains a voice at the forefront of our industry and
help women further their career as much as possible. With the AWTE entering an exciting new phase
with a new Chair, Sarah would very much like to continue to be involved in taking the AWTE forward and
achieving yet more success for women in travel.
Susan Byrne – Secretary
Susan worked for TUI UK for over 25 years, her most recent role heading up
the company’s operations centre and health and Safety functions. Following
this she spent 5 years at ABTA before recently returning to specialist tour
operating. Recent roles have included project management, professional
development and HR responsibilities. These challenging roles demanded highly effective planning,
organisational, communication and relationship management skills so she thrives under pressure and
really enjoys working alongside passionate and driven colleagues, who share her love this industry
Her breadth of experience means Susan has contacts across many sectors of the industry and associated
partners. She recognises the fantastic job that AWTE does in supporting women in their careers and
businesses by providing a range of opportunities through networking and other events, as well as
professional development,. Susan would love to play in part in the associations continued growth and
success next year.
Susan would relish the opportunity of being a member of the AWTE board and very much hopes that her
background and experience would add real value to the team, and would like to be considered for the
role of Board secretary
Debbee Dale – Chair
Debbee has worked in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector for 27 years. Her
company leads the way in human resources consultancy, training and development
for business, providing solutions that add a competitive edge to delivering quality
service and meeting business objectives with the practicality of the working environment. In 2010
Debbee Dale was awarded the Microbusiness of the Year Award from SHINE People & Places and the
AWTE Business Innovation Award. In 2011 Debbee Dale was named as one of the Travel, Tourism and
Hospitality sector’s top 100 most influential women and was a finalist in the Small Business of the Year
category in the 2014 Women 1st Awards. She has served on the Board of the AWTE for the past few and
has been instrumental in changing the membership tiers, look and feel of the Association.
Debbee's motivation for the future of AWTE is in line with the changing face of women in business and
how AWTE can help develop, motivate and encourage business within the network of members. She has
been working on the future strategy which, with the board, will enhance the benefits of members.
Simone Roche – Events
Simone Roche is founder of NorthernPowerWomen, Managing Director of Events
1st, Co-founder TEDxWhitehallWomen and Director of Women 1st. During
the International Festival of Business in 2014, Simone curated Women Inspiring
the Economy event to highlight the business case for gender diversity. The event
was a huge success and hosted leaders and officials including Jenny Willott MP, Marion King, President,
Mastercard, Melanie Richards, Partner & vice Chair, KPMG & Andy Woodfield, Partner PwC.
Simone began her career in the Royal Navy, where she spent nearly four years as a radio operator
before being promoted to lieutenant. Simone’s time in the Navy gave her the discipline and
commitment to succeed in management roles at Aintree Racecourse, Southport Theatre and Floral Hall
Complex, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the ACC Liverpool Arena as it was undergoing construction for
Liverpool's year as European ‘Capital of Culture'. Simone is passionate about connecting people and
bringing about positive change. Her work encompasses everything from curating events such as the
annual Women 1st Conference, Shine Awards and TEDxWhitehallwomen events to meeting
inspirational people from across the visitor economy to promote gender diversity and support women in
business.
Alison Jarvis – Membership
Alison has worked across a number of sectors in travel, including transport,
ancillaries, and the online/wholesale arena. She has a strong commercial
background and is experienced in negotiation, managing teams, delivering
budgets and understands the changes and the challenges facing the industry
today. Alison is currently Regional Manager for the UK & Ireland at the TotalStay Group, a role that
means she is already working with key companies and senior figures across both the leisure and
corporate markets.
She is passionate about travel and people, believing that growing the AWTE membership not only gives
more women access to professional development and support, but it also adds to the strength and
depth of experience and skills that we can offer to the next generation of women travel executives.
Having been a member for 2 years and enjoyed attending many of the events, she feels well placed to
take a place on the board and promote AWTE membership by sharing her own experience of the
opportunities and support that it can offer. The AWTE is at an exciting point in its history and Alison
would love to join the board and contribute to its growth and success.