Rudd, who served as home secretary for just shy of two years between July 2016 and April 2018, will share "crucial insight and anecdotes" from her time in Westminster.
After leaving the Home Office, Rudd was appointed secretary of state for work and pensions. She stood down as MP for Hastings and Rye at the December 2019 general election.
Also appearing is Nikki da Costa, who served as director of legislative affairs at 10 Downing Street under both Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
Da Costa will be offering delegates advice on how travel businesses can prepare for the next general election, as well as her perspective on how the travel industry can forge a stronger working relationship with the UK government and opposition.
Other speakers include Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer and director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge, leaders from across the aviation and tour operating sectors, industry experts and sustainability leads.
Travel Matters will take place this year on 22 June, almost a year to the day since "Travel Day of Action", the industry-wide rally which took place at Parliament Square. It will be moderated by LBC’s Tom Swarbrick. The theme will be "an agenda for recovery and renewal".
Abta said it would be a "timely opportunity to reflect on what lessons can be learnt from the pandemic", explore how travel leaders can effectively manage their businesses in an ever-changing landscape, and what the industry needs from its future relationship with the UK government.
"As the travel industry continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic, there are many critical challenges ahead, including rebuilding consumer confidence, attracting talent back to the industry and withstanding geopolitical turbulence," said Petherbridge.
"Constructive and regular engagement between industry and government will be required to successfully tackle these challenges, and I’m looking forward to hearing industry leaders and political experts outline their views on the way ahead for travel at Abta’s Travel Matters conference on 22 June.”
Speakers include:
- Mark Tanzer, chief executive, Abta
- Karen Dee, chief executive, Airport Operators Association (AOA)
- Simon McNamara, UK and Ireland country manager, International Air Transport Association (IATA)
- Alistair Rowland, chair, Abta
- Tim Alderslade, chief executive, Airlines UK
- Martin Alcock, director, Travel Trade Consultancy
- Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs, Abta
- Giles Hawke, chief executive, Cosmos
- Brian Young, managing director EMEA, G Adventures
- Prue Stone, group head of sustainability, Hotelplan
- Susan Deer, director of industry relations, Abta
- Andy Janes, group director of operations, Intertek
