Gavin Smith re-appointed chairman of CLIA Australasia

Royal Caribbean International's Harmony of the Seas, the world's largest and newest cruise ship, previews in Barcelona, Spain.Gavin Smith, SVP, International.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has announced the appointment of Gavin Smith as its new chairman following the association’s annual general meeting in Sydney today.

The managing director for Australia and New Zealand at Royal Caribbean International, Smith takes over from outgoing chairman Sture Myrmell, president of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia, who has concluded his two-year term.

It marks a return to the role for Smith, having previously served as CLIA Australasia chairman from 2011 to 2015. He was also on the board of CLIA Europe from 2016 to 2019.

CLIA Australasia managing director Joel Katz said Smith brings exceptional industry experience and leadership to the association at a time when the cruise sector is working to establish a new foundation for its future operations.

“Gavin Smith has been a well-known and respected leader for our industry for several decades, having been a key player in the growth and evolution of cruising in Australasia and the South Pacific,” Katz said.

“He will provide invaluable guidance for our organisation as we work to confront the unprecedented challenges ahead of us and rebuild confidence through the new health measures cruise lines are developing.”

Katz thanked Myrmell for his dedication to CLIA and paid tribute to his work as chairman.

“Sture Myrmell has been a committed and authoritative leader for CLIA as our industry capped off an exceptional period of growth and development within Australasia,” Katz said.

“He has been a big part of our success as an industry and will continue to be an important contributor to CLIA as we address the testing environment of this new decade.”

As CLIA Australasia chairman, Smith leads a newly formed executive committee that also comprises Stuart Allison (Princess Cruises), Ben Angell (Norwegian Cruise Line), Sarina Bratton (Ponant), Lynne Clarke (MSC Cruises), Steve Odell (Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises), Andrew Millmore (Windstar Cruises and Virgin Voyages), and Sture Myrmell (P&O Cruises Australia).

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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