CATO AGM elects new Vice-Chair

LisA Pagotto from Crooked Compass was last night elected as the Vice-Chair of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO), during the organisation’s annual general meeting in Sydney.

Six out of ten board positions were open for election this year including the Vice-Chair role, with Pagotto now taking the position for a two-year term replacing former Vice-Chair Liz Anderson from Sundowners Overland, who remains on the CATO Board.

Other open board positions were filled by Brad McDonnell from Entire Travel Group; Sno’n’Ski Holidays’ David Walker; and Sean Martin of G Adventures.

They join incumbents who are halfway through their twoyear term including Chairman Dennis Bunnik (pictured inset with Pagotto); Julie King from Julie King & Associates; Brett Mitchell of Intrepid Group; and James O’Donnell from The Travel Corporation.

During the meeting CATO MD Brett Jardine provided an overview of activity over the last 12 months, including a priority on advocacy for the land-supply sector as well as education to support the rebuild and recovery of the industry.

“The ongoing collaborative efforts with AFTA and ATEC have played a major role in securing the third round of government funding from the Consumer Travel Support Program,” Jardine claimed, adding that CATO membership numbers had recently exceeded 200.

Bunnik told members the organisation was committed to emerge from the pandemic in a strong position.

“I look forward to working in the year ahead with the newly appointed Board, as we emerge from the global pandemic with continued challenges, to ensure we provide much needed support to our members and collaborate to build a more sustainable industry,” he added.

Members also heard from David Walker, Chair of CATO offshoot Student Educational Travel Organisation (SETO), on how the educational travel sector is rebounding from COVID-19.