The Council of Australian Tour Operators has revealed Flight Centre Travel Group’s Ashleigh Conwell as the second speaker at its International Women’s Day Luncheon in Melbourne on 6 March 2025 alongside headliner Olympic gold medallist Noémie Fox with CATO Board Director Ingrid Berthelsen on MC duties.
With her compelling backstory as a widowed mother of triplets, Conwell embodies this year’s CATO IWD theme of ‘Emotional Resilience’, highlighting the achievements of women in the travel industry and beyond.
Conwell is a well-known industry figure and longtime champion of women, co-host of the Just Life & Lemons podcast and founder of Yellow Falcon, both platforms where she inspires women to transform challenges into opportunities for growth by sharing her journey of empowerment.
Evolution Travel Collective Managing Director Ingrid Berthelsen will serve as event MC, bringing more than 20 years’ industry and leadership experience to the stage, including with Travel Industry Mentor Experience (TIME) for the last 10 years.
CATO Managing Director Brett Jardine said: “Having Ashleigh and Ingrid at our event is a perfect match for this year’s theme.”
“Their experiences and insights will undoubtedly enrich our discussions and inspire all attendees. Their leadership and advocacy align seamlessly with our commitment to support the remarkable women in our industry.”
Opportunities for collaboration
Organisations are invited to partner with the IWD event through the ‘Brands for a Cause’ initiative. These partnerships offer a chance to stand alongside other like-minded brands in championing resilience and empowerment.
Partnership opportunities are still available. To learn more, email cato@cato.travel
Tickets are $185pp or $1,850 for a table of 10.
For more info and tickets, visit cato.travel/IWD2025
