Webjet’s Katrina Barry has returned to the board of the Australian Travel
Industry Association (ATIA) after a two-and-a-half year absence.
The experienced travel executive and current chief of Webjet B2C replaced her colleague Shelley Beasley as a Director on the high-profile industry body.
The transition follows recent changes at Webjet, which this week saw shareholders overwhelmingly approve a demerger proposal.
Being on a board is hardly new territory for Barry, who has served in several director positions over the years, including a stint with ATIA (then AFTA) until she departed in March 2022.
Barry brings with her more 15 years of experience as a non-executive director across the tourism, fintech, and financial services sectors, with ATIA indicating Barry’s extensive experience and deep understanding of the travel industry will be invaluable to the association as it continues to advocate for members.
Reflecting upon her time at ATIA, outgoing Director Beasley said it had been an “incredible honour” to serve on the board.
“Joining in the midst of COVID allowed me to truly appreciate the creativity, resilience, and commitment that exists within this industry, and I am filled with pride when reflecting on the way we came together to support each other,” she said.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Tom Manwaring for his exceptional leadership as Chair, a role he held for the majority of my time on the board.
“His leadership and dedication were critical in delivering the positive outcomes that ATIA was able to achieve during these tough times,” Beasley added.
ATIA Chair Christian Hunter said Beasley’s contributions during the acute challenges of the pandemic were “instrumental” in guiding the association through the turbulence of the last four years.
Hunter also said the board was delighted to welcome Barry back.
“Katrina’s extensive experience and leadership within the travel and tourism sector will be a tremendous asset to our association as we continue to navigate the complexities of the industry,” Hunter said.
Barry added that she is looking forward to once again contributing to ATIA during what she dsecribed as a “pivotal time” for the industry.
