Crooked Compass founder Lisa Pagotto has announced she has stepped down from the board of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO), as well as her role as Vice Chair.
The announcement this morning saw CATO laud Pagotto for her “significant role in helping to evolve [its] strategic direction and deepen member engagement” during her five years on the board.
CATO Chair Dennis Bunnik said the industry body was “saddened” to see Lisa leave.
“Lisa’s impact on CATO and its members cannot be overstated – she was a mentor and advisor to many of our smaller members, supporting them through challenges large and small.”
Bunnik added that he “greatly valued her opinions and input”, and thanked Pagotto for her dedication over her tenure.
Pagotto said the reason for the departure was “to focus on a new chapter and ventures that require my full attention”.
Recently, Pagotto has been in the headlines for multiple reasons, including Crooked Compass relaunching Adventures by Air earlier this year, before the business became a maiden partner of Brett Harvey’s Altura Travel Group just last month.
In a LinkedIn post, Pagotto wrote, “This isn’t about time pressure, it is about energy, impact, and the next chapter.
“As a founder and entrepreneur, I am stepping into a season of growth with new ventures that need my full focus as they evolve and scale,” she said.
A CATO spokesperson told travelBulletin an interim Vice Chair will be confirmed at the next CATO Board meeting on 03 Sep, and will serve through to the 2026 AGM, at which point the position will be open for nominations from eligible members.
