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AFTA Education revamp

AFTA has flagged a more direct involvement in the education and training sector, with the appointment of a new dedicated Head of Education & Training. The recruitment for the role is currently under way, with the senior role reporting directly to AFTA CEO Jayson Westbury as a key influencer in the Australian travel industry. "We need an expert who knows how to advocate for change, navigate the complex government landscape, forge and foster key relationships, achieve outcomes for members and the industry and above all, do it with a passion for people, the workforce and the industry," according to the formal job description.

AFTA has flagged a more direct involvement in the education and training sector, with the appointment of a new dedicated Head of Education & Training. The recruitment for the role is currently under way, with the senior role reporting directly to AFTA CEO Jayson Westbury as a key influencer in the Australian travel industry. “We need an expert who knows how to advocate for change, navigate the complex government landscape, forge and foster key relationships, achieve outcomes for members and the industry and above all, do it with a passion for people, the workforce and the industry,” according to the formal job description.

Last month AFTA also convened a Travel Skills Round Table, with senior human resources staff from a range of key industry employers including Flight Centre, Helloworld, Corporate Travel Management and more, aiming to discuss the appropriate settings for Certificate III Travel and a yet-to-be-confirmed Certificate IV Travel. “AFTA knows how important skills training and the settings that the government deploys are for hte future of travel agency owners and those whom may wish to join the industry, and this is why we have embedded ourselves more directly, with members’ interests in mind,” according to Westbury.

The move signals a significant shift for AFTA and follows a change in its membership on the government’s Skills IQ Industry Reference Committee to in-house Head of Strategy & Finance, Courtney Duddleston, who replaces long-time representative Rick Myatt. “We would like to thank Rick Myatt for his service to AFTA in this role over many years and wish him well,” Westbury said.

AFTA skills roundtable, from left: Andrea Joseph, Global Chief People Officer, Corporate Travel Management; Graham Staples, business consultant; AFTA Head of Strategy & Finance, Courtney Duddleston; Flight Centre Travel Group Global Peopleworks Leader, Carole Cooper; AFTA CEO Jayson Westbury; Lisa Story, Founding Partner Orbit World Travel; Kelley Matson, Helloworld Travel National Training Manager; Nicola Strudwick, GM Sales Travellers Choice; Kylie Conboy, Flight Centre Travel Group Accredited Training Leader; and Christine Tilston, American Express Global Business Travel Operations Manager.

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