SPEAKERS
The conference sessions will feature speakers from the travel industry and beyond. Speakers are chosen for the diverse experience and insights they can share with delegates.
The following speakers are confirmed, with further announcements appearing in the regular conference e-flyers. i
MODERATOR
Jacqueline Dobson
President
Barrhead Travel Group
With over two decades of leadership experience within the travel industry, Jacqueline Dobson has been pivotal in shaping the Barrhead Travel Group into a UK-wide success story.
Jacqueline is a member of the Executive Leadership Team of Barrhead Travel’s parent organisation, Internova Travel Group. She has assumed the position of President of its leisure division, The Vacation Group, which, alongside the Barrhead Travel Group incorporates US-based brands Andrew Harper, Cruise Specialists, Cruise Specialists, The Vacation Group, Roadtrips and Bonotel.
From entering the industry as a trainee sales consultant to where she stands today, as President of the burgeoning travel group, Jacqueline’s considerable expertise now spans a multitude of business areas including commercial negotiations, business acquisition, marketing-communications and luxury travel.
Jacqueline’s Barrhead Travel journey began in 2000 when she was appointed as a senior luxury sales consultant. Shortly after joining, she established a standalone VIP division and led a new salesdepartment as the business continued to grow. With a keen eye for business development opportunities, Jacqueline also began to integrate a marketing strategy which she operated in tandem with her sales role.
As Barrhead Travel continued to expand, Jacqueline was tasked with the ambitious operation of opening the Glasgow superstore. The colossal space became Europe’s largest travel store at 22,000 square feet. This unprecedented move marked a new chapter for Barrhead Travel as it began to widen its retail network. Following a promotion to Cruise and Longhaul Director in 2003, Jacqueline’s priority migrated to driving commercial negotiations and forming meaningful relationships with worldwide tour operators and tourist boards to bolster business. During this time, she successfully positioned Barrhead Travel as the undisputed leader in the Scottish travel market and secured exclusive commercial deals and advertising partnerships. She also established a profitable tour-operation division with the launch of British Airways charters to the Mediterranean, resulting in a game-changing move for the Scottish business.
A management buyout in 2007 brought with it a new opportunity as Managing Director. It was a natural move for Jacqueline, now an astute and experienced leader who had played a crucial role in growing the commercial footprint of the now award-winning travel group. Jacqueline continued striving for innovation and opportunity and led a senior team through an aggressive series of branch expansions and business acquisitions, while simultaneously steadying the business through the UK’s disruptive and challenging recession.
Jacqueline has witnessed – and played a strategic role in - Scotland’s favourite travel brand blossoming from one single high street store in a Glasgow suburb to a UK-wide travel group. Following the acquisition of the group to one of North America’s largest travel companies, Internova Travel Group, Jacqueline was appointed president of Barrhead Travel in December 2018, taking over the reins from her friend and colleague, Sharon Munro. Since Jacqueline’s appointment at the helm, the group has brought UK expansion plans to fruition and now boasts a network of over 85 locations in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.
Navigating the Covid crisis remains one of the most challenging periods in Jacqueline’s career. Although no stranger to leading the business through crisis having worked through 9/11 and the Ash Cloud, Covid presented unthinkable challenges to the travel industry. Jacqueline became a vocal champion for travel and was a key driver for lobbying the government for support for travel, particularly in Scotland where she was instrumental in securing the vital Travel Agent fund which became a lifeline for many independent businesses.
In addition to leading Barrhead Travel, Jacqueline also currently serves as Vice President of the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA) and is due to take over the Presidency in January 2024 for a two-year term. In her capacity as Vice President, she ensures that travel agents of Scotland have a voice at industry and political forums.
Thanks to her proven track-record, ambition and innovative strategic decisions, Jacqueline’s story of success is well-known and admired amongst industry peers and senior business executives. Jacqueline has been widely commended across the business community and travel industry for her extraordinary leadership, having been named as Inspiring Business Woman of the Year at the prestigious Business Women Scotland Awards, receiving the Contribution to Travel Award at TTG’s Top 50 Awards in 2021, and most recently, being inducted into CLIA’s Hall of Fame in 2023.
Her grass-roots development from where she began to where she is now – as trainee to President of the leisure division of one of the world’s largest travel organisations– is echoed in her passion for mentorship. She leads and inspires a new generation of future business leaders through a dedicated coaching and one-to-one mentoring programmes.
BARONESS HAZARIKA
Broadcaster, comedian and writer
Baroness Hazarika is known for her insightful and witty opinions, and her informed observations on current affairs and politics.
Host of Times Radio every Friday (1-4pm), and Saturday and Sunday Drive (4-7pm), where she dissects the news and events across Westminster and beyond with a plethora of interesting and engaging guests, Ayesha is also a regular contributor on Question Time (BBC Two), Good Morning Britain (ITV), The Jeremy Vine Show (C5), The News Quiz (Radio 4), Lorraine (ITV), Have I Got News For You (BBC One), Richard Osman’s House Of Games (BBC Two), and Breaking The News (Radio Scotland).
In 2024, Ayesha Hazarika MBE, Political Commentator, Journalist and Broadcaster has been granted a prestigious lifetime Peerage and elevated to the House of Lords. Nominated by Labour and conferred by His Majesty.
Ayesha presents the hit podcast The Power Test, where they are asking if Labour can really change Britain for the better and analysing how they are going to deliver their missions. She also co-hosts Take on Tomorrow, the hugely successful podcast series produced by PwC, aiming to understand the role businesses can play in solving some of the biggest issues facing society today, now in its second series.
Ayesha is in high demand as a speaker and host due to her unique ability to combine laser-sharp political insight gleaned from the inside track at Westminster with her unique funny bones. She considers how politics works, how messages are communicated and how government policy is formed and influenced. She also addresses the future of culture, media and the creative industries in a climate of cuts and unequal opportunities. As well as a political overview and analysis, Ayesha looks at the role of women in politics and the challenges they often face in their careers interspersed with laugh-out-loud funnies. Ayesha has made a name for herself in the world of print by contributing to The Scotsman, The Independent, Financial Times, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, New Statesman, The iPaper and Grazia. She also co-authored Punch & Judy Politics, an in-depth, behind-the-scenes display of what happens during the preparation and run-up to the weekly Prime Ministers questions.
Born in Scotland to parents of Indian Muslim descent, Ayesha went onto study law, her first role being a press officer at the Department of Trade and Industry. She then took what she thought was a natural diversion into stand-up comedy, before pivoting back to politics as a Special Adviser for the Labour Party, working with them for eight years both in Government and Opposition. During her time in Westminster, she worked for Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband, advising them on Prime Minister’s Questions, speeches, media and policy as well as heading up initiatives on topics such as Women and Equality.Since leaving front line politics, Ayesha’s expertise has become a much sought after due to her unique position to analyse and comment on current affairs with her signature wit and insight. TV and Radio credits include: Politics Live (BBC2), The Talk (TalkTV), Sky Papers (Sky News), Newsnight (BBC2), Debate Night (BBC Scotland), The Media Show (Radio 4), The Today Programme (Radio 4) and CNN News.
As a comedian, she often parallels the current state of feminism with humour and honesty. She has so far toured 3 sell-out shows across the UK, including residencies at the prestigious Soho Theatre for each: Tales From The Pink Bus (2016), Girl On Girl – The Fight For Feminism (2018) and State Of The Nation (2022).
Jacqueline Dobson
President
Barrhead Travel Group
With over two decades of leadership experience within the travel industry, Jacqueline Dobson has been pivotal in shaping the Barrhead Travel Group into a UK-wide success story.
Jacqueline is a member of the Executive Leadership Team of Barrhead Travel’s parent organisation, Internova Travel Group. She has assumed the position of President of its leisure division, The Vacation Group, which, alongside the Barrhead Travel Group incorporates US-based brands Andrew Harper, Cruise Specialists, Cruise Specialists, The Vacation Group, Roadtrips and Bonotel.
From entering the industry as a trainee sales consultant to where she stands today, as President of the burgeoning travel group, Jacqueline’s considerable expertise now spans a multitude of business areas including commercial negotiations, business acquisition, marketing-communications and luxury travel.
Jacqueline’s Barrhead Travel journey began in 2000 when she was appointed as a senior luxury sales consultant. Shortly after joining, she established a standalone VIP division and led a new salesdepartment as the business continued to grow. With a keen eye for business development opportunities, Jacqueline also began to integrate a marketing strategy which she operated in tandem with her sales role.
As Barrhead Travel continued to expand, Jacqueline was tasked with the ambitious operation of opening the Glasgow superstore. The colossal space became Europe’s largest travel store at 22,000 square feet. This unprecedented move marked a new chapter for Barrhead Travel as it began to widen its retail network. Following a promotion to Cruise and Longhaul Director in 2003, Jacqueline’s priority migrated to driving commercial negotiations and forming meaningful relationships with worldwide tour operators and tourist boards to bolster business. During this time, she successfully positioned Barrhead Travel as the undisputed leader in the Scottish travel market and secured exclusive commercial deals and advertising partnerships. She also established a profitable tour-operation division with the launch of British Airways charters to the Mediterranean, resulting in a game-changing move for the Scottish business.
A management buyout in 2007 brought with it a new opportunity as Managing Director. It was a natural move for Jacqueline, now an astute and experienced leader who had played a crucial role in growing the commercial footprint of the now award-winning travel group. Jacqueline continued striving for innovation and opportunity and led a senior team through an aggressive series of branch expansions and business acquisitions, while simultaneously steadying the business through the UK’s disruptive and challenging recession.
Jacqueline has witnessed – and played a strategic role in - Scotland’s favourite travel brand blossoming from one single high street store in a Glasgow suburb to a UK-wide travel group. Following the acquisition of the group to one of North America’s largest travel companies, Internova Travel Group, Jacqueline was appointed president of Barrhead Travel in December 2018, taking over the reins from her friend and colleague, Sharon Munro. Since Jacqueline’s appointment at the helm, the group has brought UK expansion plans to fruition and now boasts a network of over 85 locations in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.
Navigating the Covid crisis remains one of the most challenging periods in Jacqueline’s career. Although no stranger to leading the business through crisis having worked through 9/11 and the Ash Cloud, Covid presented unthinkable challenges to the travel industry. Jacqueline became a vocal champion for travel and was a key driver for lobbying the government for support for travel, particularly in Scotland where she was instrumental in securing the vital Travel Agent fund which became a lifeline for many independent businesses.
In addition to leading Barrhead Travel, Jacqueline also currently serves as Vice President of the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA) and is due to take over the Presidency in January 2024 for a two-year term. In her capacity as Vice President, she ensures that travel agents of Scotland have a voice at industry and political forums.
Thanks to her proven track-record, ambition and innovative strategic decisions, Jacqueline’s story of success is well-known and admired amongst industry peers and senior business executives. Jacqueline has been widely commended across the business community and travel industry for her extraordinary leadership, having been named as Inspiring Business Woman of the Year at the prestigious Business Women Scotland Awards, receiving the Contribution to Travel Award at TTG’s Top 50 Awards in 2021, and most recently, being inducted into CLIA’s Hall of Fame in 2023.
Her grass-roots development from where she began to where she is now – as trainee to President of the leisure division of one of the world’s largest travel organisations– is echoed in her passion for mentorship. She leads and inspires a new generation of future business leaders through a dedicated coaching and one-to-one mentoring programmes.
SPEAKERS
KEN CAMPLING
Chief Financial Officer
HAYS TRAVEL
Ken has enjoyed a varied career in finance and management roles across fashion,
footwear, and health and leisure sectors before joining Hays Travel in June
2021.
He has always had a passion for family business and is an experienced
board director. As well as general finance and management Ken has accumulated
valuable experience in mergers and acquisitions over his time in the SME world
and more latterly at Sports Direct.com plc and as CFO at the Bannatyne Group.
Ken has led on acquisitions at Hays Travel including the recent purchases of Just Go Limited, The Original Travel House Limited and most recently Miles Away Limited (Miles Morgan Travel).
In addition, Ken is involve with promoting and developing the Hays Travel Franchise business under both the Hays Travel Retail and Explorer home working options.
Jacqueline Dobson
President
Barrhead Travel Group
With over two decades of leadership experience within the travel industry, Jacqueline Dobson has been pivotal in shaping the Barrhead Travel Group into a UK-wide success story.
Jacqueline is a member of the Executive Leadership Team of Barrhead Travel’s parent organisation, Internova Travel Group. She has assumed the position of President of its leisure division, The Vacation Group, which, alongside the Barrhead Travel Group incorporates US-based brands Andrew Harper, Cruise Specialists, Cruise Specialists, The Vacation Group, Roadtrips and Bonotel.
From entering the industry as a trainee sales consultant to where she stands today, as President of the burgeoning travel group, Jacqueline’s considerable expertise now spans a multitude of business areas including commercial negotiations, business acquisition, marketing-communications and luxury travel.
Jacqueline’s Barrhead Travel journey began in 2000 when she was appointed as a senior luxury sales consultant. Shortly after joining, she established a standalone VIP division and led a new salesdepartment as the business continued to grow. With a keen eye for business development opportunities, Jacqueline also began to integrate a marketing strategy which she operated in tandem with her sales role.
As Barrhead Travel continued to expand, Jacqueline was tasked with the ambitious operation of opening the Glasgow superstore. The colossal space became Europe’s largest travel store at 22,000 square feet. This unprecedented move marked a new chapter for Barrhead Travel as it began to widen its retail network. Following a promotion to Cruise and Longhaul Director in 2003, Jacqueline’s priority migrated to driving commercial negotiations and forming meaningful relationships with worldwide tour operators and tourist boards to bolster business. During this time, she successfully positioned Barrhead Travel as the undisputed leader in the Scottish travel market and secured exclusive commercial deals and advertising partnerships. She also established a profitable tour-operation division with the launch of British Airways charters to the Mediterranean, resulting in a game-changing move for the Scottish business.
A management buyout in 2007 brought with it a new opportunity as Managing Director. It was a natural move for Jacqueline, now an astute and experienced leader who had played a crucial role in growing the commercial footprint of the now award-winning travel group. Jacqueline continued striving for innovation and opportunity and led a senior team through an aggressive series of branch expansions and business acquisitions, while simultaneously steadying the business through the UK’s disruptive and challenging recession.
Jacqueline has witnessed – and played a strategic role in - Scotland’s favourite travel brand blossoming from one single high street store in a Glasgow suburb to a UK-wide travel group. Following the acquisition of the group to one of North America’s largest travel companies, Internova Travel Group, Jacqueline was appointed president of Barrhead Travel in December 2018, taking over the reins from her friend and colleague, Sharon Munro. Since Jacqueline’s appointment at the helm, the group has brought UK expansion plans to fruition and now boasts a network of over 85 locations in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.
Navigating the Covid crisis remains one of the most challenging periods in Jacqueline’s career. Although no stranger to leading the business through crisis having worked through 9/11 and the Ash Cloud, Covid presented unthinkable challenges to the travel industry. Jacqueline became a vocal champion for travel and was a key driver for lobbying the government for support for travel, particularly in Scotland where she was instrumental in securing the vital Travel Agent fund which became a lifeline for many independent businesses.
In addition to leading Barrhead Travel, Jacqueline also currently serves as Vice President of the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA) and is due to take over the Presidency in January 2024 for a two-year term. In her capacity as Vice President, she ensures that travel agents of Scotland have a voice at industry and political forums.
Thanks to her proven track-record, ambition and innovative strategic decisions, Jacqueline’s story of success is well-known and admired amongst industry peers and senior business executives. Jacqueline has been widely commended across the business community and travel industry for her extraordinary leadership, having been named as Inspiring Business Woman of the Year at the prestigious Business Women Scotland Awards, receiving the Contribution to Travel Award at TTG’s Top 50 Awards in 2021, and most recently, being inducted into CLIA’s Hall of Fame in 2023.
Her grass-roots development from where she began to where she is now – as trainee to President of the leisure division of one of the world’s largest travel organisations– is echoed in her passion for mentorship. She leads and inspires a new generation of future business leaders through a dedicated coaching and one-to-one mentoring programmes.
ken hughes
the king of customer experience
& lEADING cONSUMeR bEHAVIOURALIST
Ken Hughes, known as The King of Customer Experience, is now acknowledged as being one of the world’s leading authorities on consumer behaviour, blending his understanding of consumer & cyber psychology, digital anthropology, and retail futurology to explore the needs of the new consumer and predict changes to come.
Ken advises some of the biggest brands in the world on Customer & Employee Experience, Omnichannel Strategy, Artificial Intelligence, Retail Futurology, the Millennial / Gen Z shopper and the Peer-to-Peer Economy. As an accomplished author, TED speaker, part-time university professor and actor, his performances are not only insightful and thought-provoking, but are infamous for their sheer passion, energy and wit.
Frank Marini
President and CEO
Railbookers Group
Frank is the President and CEO of Railbookers Group (RBG), overseeing the company’s global travel brands, including Railbookers and Amtrak Vacations. In this leadership role, Frank directs the strategic vision, growth initiatives, operational efficiency, and overall performance of all RBG brands.
Frank is a leader in the worldwide travel community, as he currently serves on the Executive Committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council, as well as a member of the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, advising the Secretary of Commerce and other government leadership. He was also recently selected to the “Top 50 People in Travel & AI” list by Travel Trends.
His extensive leadership background in the travel industry includes serving as Vice President of Sales for Collette Vacations and as President of Contiki Holidays, part of The Travel Corporation.
An accomplished author, Frank wrote “Staying On Track: Lessons from a Customer-Focused Travel Disruptor,” which highlights his approach to achieving exceptional growth within RBG’s innovative, fully remote, work-from-home environment. His expertise and thought leadership have been featured in renowned publications such as Fortune, Chief Executive Magazine, Business Insider, Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, and TravelPulse.
Frank is a sought-after speaker at industry events and has received numerous accolades, including recognition in OC Metro’s “40 Under 40” and Providence Business News’ annual “Top 40 Under Forty,” both honoring emerging business leaders. Additionally, he has earned the Travvy Award for “Most Innovative Executive, Rail Travel.”
Committed to community and industry service, Frank has held board positions with the Pawtucket YMCA, the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Heart Association, and the Boys & Girls Club in Anaheim, CA. He is also a member of the U.S. Travel Association.
Frank earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island. He resides in Southern California with his wife and twin sons.
Bruce Poon Tip
Founder
G Adventures
Passionate about the power of travel to change the world for the better, Bruce Poon Tip is a global leader in social entrepreneurship, leadership, immersive travel, and innovation. He is best-known as the founder of G Adventures, the world's largest small group adventure travel company and pioneer of community tourism. Bruce’s first book, Looptail: How One Company Changed the World by Reinventing Business, became a New York Times Best Seller Bruce is also the executive producer of documentary film, The Last Tourist, which examines important issues facing travel and tourism, and empowers audiences with the knowledge to fundamentally change the way we travel. The Last Tourist was awarded with the ‘Special Jury Prize for Social Impact’ by the Canadian Documentary Jury at the Calgary International Film Festival. In 2023, Bruce was honoured as an Officer of the Order of Canada, making him the first person in the travel industry to receive the title of Officer in 34 years.
Lesley rollo
CEO
DNATA TRAVEL GROUP
Lesley is a highly experienced and well-respected commercial leader and CEO of dnata Travel UK. Promoted to the role in 2024, she has most recently led a strategic review of the group’s portfolio of tour operator and OTA businesses.
Under her leadership, Lesley oversees Travelbag and The Gold Medal Travel Group, as well as representing dnata on the Imagine Cruising Executive Board. She joined dnata in 2019 as Managing Director of Travelbag, where she led a full rebrand and strategic transformation of the business.
Lesley has an extensive network across the travel industry and over 12 years of experience within the TUI Specialist Division, including its evolution into Travelopia under private equity ownership by KKR. She began her career in Product and Purchasing, holding senior roles at Airtours, British Airways and Thomas Cook.
She brings deep breadth and depth of industry expertise, combining strategic insight with a strong track record of leadership across the travel sector
Rob shapland
Director
Cyonic Cyber
As Director of Cyonic Cyber, Rob Shapland is a renowned ethical hacker and cyber security expert who has spent his life breaking into companies worldwide to help them protect against criminal attacks. He specialises in physical intrusion – breaking into company offices by dressing up as a cleaner, a fake employee or even as a Hollywood film producer and then stealing a computer from right under their nose.
Rob's unique approach to cyber security has earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting consultants and keynote speakers in the industry. He is a seasoned speaker at events and conferences around Europe, and regularly appears on BBC TV and radio, Sky News, ITV, Channel 4 and others as a cyber security expert.
HOST
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VENUE
GALA DINNER
PURPLE PARTY
FAREWELL PARTY
TRADE MEDIA PARTNER
