AFTA director David Padman resigns
After a ten year tenure as a director of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), David Padman has resigned from the board.
He will continue to serve as a director until Tuesday concurrent with his resignation and departure from Helloworld Travel, where he served as group general manager of air tickets, independent and corporate networks.
Helloworld Travel will nominate a candidate to fill the board seat in due course.
The news follows last month’s shock resignation of board director Julie Primmer, who also worked for Helloworld, just days ahead of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) board elections results.
The results saw MTA’s Roy Merrick‘s election to the AFTA board.
Padman said it had been a pleasure to serve on the AFTA board.
“I’m incredibly proud to have been involved in the impressive achievements of our member-driven organisation, particularly over the last three years, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent travel agencies for a decade,” he said.
“I’m pleased to see both AFTA and AFTA members continuing to drive discussion with government at every level, with industry and with consumers on the increasingly important role travel professionals are playing in the new travel landscape.
“I warmly thank my fellow Directors for their support, mentoring and most of all their friendship, especially given the impact the pandemic had on us all. This experience has been immensely rewarding on both a professional and personal level.”
AFTA chair, Tom Manwaring thanked Padman for his advocacy and the dedication he has shown since joining as director in 2012.
“Like all travel businesses, over the last three years in particular we had to come together as a board to develop the solutions and strategies that ensured both AFTA and our members could overcome the significant challenges we faced,” Manwaring said.
“David played a key role in championing the inherent value and increasing importance of travel professionals in the eyes of so many stakeholders, and will be missed. We wish him only the very best and ongoing success in his next role.”
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
afta board david padman director helloworld tom manwaringLatest News
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