AFTER six years at the
helm, June Crawford
will step down as
ceo of the Board of Airline
Representatives of SA
(Barsa), effective April.
She leaves the
post having built key
relationships with the
industry, helping restore
Barsa’s place in the
aviation, travel and tourism
communities.
“I was asked back
to Barsa to attend to
governance matters that
required urgent attention.
Close relationships with
key stakeholders have
been the key to success,
says June.
“This has been achieved
with my role in aviation
and tourism entities as
well as our active
participation in forums that
are determining the way
forward for the industry.”
But more needs to be
done, she says.
“The industry has
progressed but surveys
reflect that the primary
inhibitor of growth in the
aviation industry is that
private and public entities
work in silos, each with
its own agenda. So much
more could be done and
should be done if we
can dismantle the ‘own
agenda’ syndrome and
replace it with the ‘aviation
agenda’.”
This also applies to travel
agents and airlines.
“Travel agents and
airlines need each other.
Aside from the specific
airline/agent contractual
relationships, as a whole
the collective relationship
needs to be improved.”
June is leaving her
position to spend more
time with her family in
Australia but will continue
to serve on the board
of Barsa from May 1 to
support the incoming ceo,
for whom the search will
commence shortly.
