Jardine to depart CLIA amid organisational shuffle

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The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia will bid farewell to longstanding Commercial Director, Brett Jardine late February.

The group today announced a number of organisational changes which it says “will further expand its support for the industry” amid cruise expansion reaching record levels down under.

CLIA Australasia Chairman Steve Odell said Jardine, who joined CLIA (then the International Cruise Council Australasia) in 2007, had played an important role in the organisation’s transition during a decade of extraordinary growth for the Australian cruise industry.

CLIA Commercial Director, Brett Jardine

“The board of CLIA thanks Brett for his commitment to both our cruise line and agent members over the past decade, and his work in supporting our industry at a time of exceptional growth,” Odell said.

A statement released today advised due to the expansion of CLIA over recent years, Jardine’s responsibilities was split across several roles covering marketing, membership, trade engagement and events – including the annual CLIA Cruise Industry Awards, which is set to take centre stage in Sydney on February 11.

The establishment of a new position focused on membership engagement, events and CLIA’s Executive Partner program has already been filled, and a separate announcement is expected in coming weeks.

In other developments, Odell welcomed new Managing Director, Joel Katz, whose appointment was announced in 2016 after former Managing Director Neil Linwood left the group in September 2016.

Odell said Mr Katz had assumed the role following a very successful year for the local cruise industry.

“There’s no doubt that after a strong 2016, CLIA is well positioned to support the continued growth and activity we’re expecting in 2017,” Odell said.

Other organisational changes include the appointment of Vera Huntink as CLIA Australasia Marketing Manager and will be responsible for conceiving and executing marketing strategies to support the association’s activities.

The group has also announced the creation of a new role of Advocacy Director to be filled by Dimity McCredie, most recently Carnival Australia’s General Counsel. McCredie will support the advocacy and regulatory activities of CLIA in the Australasian region, CLIA stated.

Meanwhile, Peter Kollar, Head of Training & Development – Australasia for the past five years, will take on additional global training responsibilities in 2017 and become Head of Training & Development – International.

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