News

INDEPENDENT Options business development director Sue Foxall has vowed to fight for women in the industry as she kicks off her bid to become the next ABTA president.

Outspoken Foxall - who is one of only two women standing for a board position in the current ABTA elections - is determined to rid the association of its reputation as an 'old boys' club', which she says fails to reflect the make-up of the travel trade.

"Women are employed in more than 70% of the industry's jobs yet [we] are very poorly represented at the top," she said. "If we don't make a stand nothing will change."

Ironically, Foxall - a director of Birmingham-based JTA Platinum Travel Services - is up against the only other female candidate in the elections. Doreen MacKenzie, owner of Knock Travel in Belfast, is also standing in the 'agent up to £10 million turnover' category.

Currently only two other women are board members - Christine Blocksidge, of Taylor Travel in Preston and Hoseasons travel trade director Yvonne Borg.

"I want to be president to shake things up. An ABTA president has to be prepared to tour the regions and listen to members and I'm ready to put in the effort," said Foxall.