Marketing Radar commercial director Michelle Laverick steps into the top role, taking over from Holiday Extras national sales manager Lindsay Garvey-Jones, who departs the board after 10 years.

Debbie O’Neill, managing director of Jules Verne, becomes vice-chair, while Scott Dunn head of sales Jane Pinfold returns to the board, reprising her role as one of two AWTE events directors. Pinfold will work alongside Aito events manager Yvonne Kinder, who takes up a like role on the board.

Julie Murphy, All Nippon Airways’ country sales manager, joins the board as partnerships director, while TTG 30 Under 30 alumnus Ella Dunham, head of marketing at Exsus Travel, becomes the AWTE’s marketing director.

Elsewhere, Classic Collection marketing manager Manisha Blair assumes the role of membership director.

Laverick paid tribute to Garvey-Jones’s contribution to AWTE over the past decade, and her "invaluable" leadership during her two-year tenure as the association’s chair. "She will definitely be missed," said Laverick.

"We are welcoming five new board members this year marking an exciting new chapter as we adapt the AWTE to meet the evolving needs of women in the travel industry," Laverick continued. "It’s crucial we extend our support to the younger generation as they navigate their careers in travel."

Laverick said the new-look board would be developing new events and activities to support the new vision, as well as rolling out its personal development programme launched last month.

The programme’s first lunch and learn event was hosted by O’Neill, who is also the AWTE’s development director, last month, with a second scheduled for 24 April. A full launch will take place in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, tickets are on sale for the AWTE’s summer benevolent lunch and tickets will shortly go on sale for its annual Christmas lunch and awards, which will be held on Friday 29 November at Church House in London’s Westminster.