AFTA has today confirmed Nina Hedges as the successful applicant for the Compliance Manager role. Ms Hedges joins AFTA after 5 years as Customer Liaison and Risk Manager at Flight Centre Travel Group, and brings extensive experience in building relationships at every stage of the travel ecosystem, Australian Consumer Law, dispute resolution, and both travel agency management and mentoring from her previous roles.
She brings a proven track record in travel business with a career spanning 17 years.
Ms Hedges will join AFTA today, 4 October.
AFTA’s Head of Compliance and Operations Naomi Menon is leaving on October 16 2022 for an exciting new position outside of the Travel Sector. Naomi first joined AFTA in April 2016 as National Manager – Compliance and Membership.
Quotes attributable to AFTA CEO Dean Long
“I’m pleased to be welcoming Nina to the AFTA team. It was critical we chose the candidate who understood that as a member based organisation getting to know AFTA’s members and build mutually beneficial relationships was vital for this role.”
“We’ve found that in Nina. Her proven record in managing a variety of stakeholder relationships with business, industry and government will support AFTA in supporting our members in our ongoing efforts to uphold our code and charter, and maintaining the value of booking with ATAS accredited travel professionals and businesses.”
“While it’s sad to be farewelling Naomi after 6 and a half years of exemplary service, including as an essential member of the team that kept AFTA running during COVID, I am so excited to see her progress in her career. I know the Board and members feel exactly the same way. I would like to thank her for her outstanding contribution during her time here.”
Quotes attributable to AFTA Head of Compliance and Operations Naomi Menon
“The last 2 and a half years have been extremely challenging for the industry and I am honoured to have been able to support members throughout the myriad of challenges faced. I would like to thank the AFTA team for their support, Dean and the AFTA Board, in particularly the amazing Chair, Mr Tom Manwaring, who it has been an absolute privilege to have worked with.”
“It had always been my intent to move to a new challenge once I was admitted as a lawyer, and I am excited for the new chapter ahead.”
Quotes attributable to incoming Compliance Manager Nina Hedges
“I’m delighted to be stepping into this new role as we transition into a post-covid golden age of travel professionals. Having worked my way up through the industry from an individual branch manager into global sales and more recently Customer Liaison and Risk Management, I’m passionate about travel and travel businesses and understand the challenges AFTA members face across multiple levels.”
“In my new role I’m committed to building on the great work AFTA is already doing in growing awareness of the benefits for consumers that only come from booking with an ATAS accredited travel business.”
“I look forward to meeting and engaging with AFTA members as we work together to maintain the integrity of the ATAS scheme in the evolving travel landscape.”
