Trent Bartlett has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Travellers Choice Board, effective immediately. Travellers Choice member shareholders elected Bartlett to the Chairman role at the company’s 2018 Annual General Meeting, held during the group’s Shareholders’ Conference in Cairns.
Bartlett has almost 20 years’ experience working at Board and CEO level, during which he has been involved in a range of industry sectors – from tourism and retailing to banking and agriculture – and a variety of business models. He brings to his new role specific expertise in member-owned/governed organisations, having worked with Co-operative Bulk Handling (Australia’s largest cooperative) and customer-owned Beyond Bank.
Bartlett’s connection with Travellers Choice extends back to 2001 when he was named Chief Executive of Perth-based automotive cooperative Capricorn Society, parent company of Capricorn Travel, which has been a Travellers Choice’s member for more than 30 years.
The new Chairman – who holds postgraduate qualifications in business and e-commerce and is a Faculty Member and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors – says he is delighted to be joining Australia’s leading independent retail travel company.
“Over the past six months I have had the opportunity to engage informally with a broad cross-section of Travellers Choice members across the country,” Bartlett says. “I have been struck by the passion they have for the Company, its unique culture and its dedication to helping them fulfil their individual needs.
“I look forward to working with the Board and Senior Management Group to ensure Travellers Choice continues to exceed the expectations of all our member shareholders.”
Bartlett replaces Trish Ridsdale who joined the Travellers Choice Board as an independent director in 2005 and served as Chairman for the past 11 years.
In thanking Ridsdale for her contribution, Travellers Choice Managing Director Christian Hunter told member shareholders it was difficult to overstate her impact on the organisation.
“Trish has been an exceptionally effective Chairman who has transformed the Company’s Board through an absolute focus on governance processes and a determination to ensure the Company is risk aware and strategically savvy,” says Hunter.
“Most importantly, she is someone who has always enjoyed the full backing and respect of Travellers Choice members.”
Travellers Choice is owned entirely by its member shareholders. The Company’s Board consists of four travel agency members, all directly elected by the group’s shareholders, along with two non-member directors.
IMAGE: Travellers Choice Chairman Trent Bartlett (L) with Managing Director Christian Hunter
