HBAA has announced major changes to its structure as it shares its vision for 2021
The role of chair, the executive committee and all its specialist committees have been discontinued. Instead it will be driven by its board which has just been expanded.
At the beginning of 2020 current chair Lex Butler announced a year of review and regeneration, the changes are a reflection of this.
Butler said: “It unexpectedly turned into an extremely challenging period for our industry and it became even more apparent while fighting for our industry’s survival and supporting our members, that our plans to restructure and spread the workload of effecting change were essential.”
As part of the vision, HBAA has created three new roles for its volunteer board, including two executive director roles which have been filled by Julie Shorrock, managing director of Hotel Travel Solutions, and Callum McLean, director of Business Partnerships at Capita Travel and Events, while former Grass Roots MD David Taylor is taking on an advisory role.
The association also has plans to spearhead representation to government and policymakers, elevating a sector voice and championing change and sustainable economic health.
Butler, who will move into the new role of strategy director from next year, added: “We have recruited our new board for their specialist areas of expertise, to better represent our breadth of membership and give us a stronger collective voice.
“Our strategic partnerships and industry collaboration have continued to grow and develop in 2020 as we have worked to form a united voice across the sector for the sustainability of our industry. This will remain very much part of our plans for 2021 and beyond.”
HBAA’s renewed vision will be driven by four pillars: resilience, innovation, ethics and quality, “to ensure it is fit for purpose and ready to help the industry bounce back.”
Other appointments include Beckie Towle, founder of The Events Raccoon, as marketing director, while Angie Mason will continue as treasurer and Sian Sayward as governance director.
Beckie Towle said: “Since joining a year ago, the HBAA has given me so much help, support and guidance with navigating TOMS, Brexit and most recently COVID-19 and I’m not quite sure where we’d be without that. Through taking this role I am hoping, in turn, to give something back.”
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
