Our Mission
WiTR+ are launching a NEW mentoring programme for WiTR+ members via the WiTR+ Global network to encourage colleagues to mentor our growing industry to support, care, share knowledge, experience and wisdom with individuals in our industry. We welcome mentors from across the industry and all sexes are welcome.
Benefits of the WiTR+ Mentoring Programme
What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is a reciprocal and collaborative at-will relationship for the purpose of the mentee’s growth, learning, and career development.
Mentoring is a learning relationship, generally focused on long term career development. The primary purpose is to drive personal growth, building skills, knowledge and understanding. Mentors may use coaching skills in their conversations, but usually the mentor role is wider than that of a coach and may include opening doors, making connections, and sharing experiences.
Being a Mentor
A mentor is…
Why become a mentor?
Being a Mentee
WiTR+ Mentee Benefits
Mentee Process
Mentor Profiles
Brittany Williams Leverett
Founder and CEO of Legacy Consulting Group LLC
Brittany Williams Leverett is a seasoned entrepreneur and business coach with a robust
background in project management, people management, and consulting. She holds
both a Doctorate in Organizational Development & Change and an MBA focusing on
Consumer Behaviour, Strategic Management, and Leadership.
Brittany is the Founder and CEO of Legacy Consulting Group LLC, an ACDBE and HUB
certified business known for its commitment to inclusivity, trust, and teamwork.
Brittany’s late aunt and mentor, Claudia Williams, was a minority business owner who
operated ACDBE certified duty-free stores out of Orlando and Fort Lauderdale airports
for several years. Inspired by this, Brittany urged her to seek independent opportunities,
leading them to embark on a collaborative duty-free venture in Melbourne, FL before her
aunt’s passing in 2020. Founded to continue Claudia’s legacy, the company thrives
under Brittany’s leadership, offering top-tier consulting services aimed at enhancing
both external and internal corporate partnerships and streamlining processes.
Brittany’s recent achievements include securing a contract for her business Core Plus
Duty Free to serve as the duty-free retailer at Orlando Melbourne International Airport,
with plans to expand these services to other regional airports across the United States.
The success of her store not only exemplifies her passion for exceptional product
selection and innovation, but honors the roots of her journey into the industry.
Known for her business savvy as an industry disruptor, Brittany is dedicated to
empowering women and aiding businesses in their growth. Through dedicated coaching
she leverages her vast knowledge and experience to help her clients achieve their
dreams.
Her commitment to service and excellence makes her a trusted mentor and
consultant, guiding both businesses and individuals through their entrepreneurial and
life ventures.
“I love traveling and enjoy going to theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios. I am passionate about helping women in business and sharing any knowledge I have. The coolest place I’ve been to is Ko Tao in Thailand”.
Mentoring Specialities
- Tool to help the WiTR+ community thrive.
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
- To provide guidance with topics such as public speaking, difficult conversations, personal branding and work life balance
Edward Verté
Co-owner and CEO | DPT Antwerp
Edward Verté began his career as a corporate finance lawyer at Freshfields before transitioning to strategy consulting at Roland Berger. In 2013, he co-founded DPT Antwerp – Diamanti Per Tutti with his wife, Stephanie, and former RB colleague Floris, a civil engineer with a background in rocket science. They were driven by the belief that natural diamond jewelry should be an affordable everyday luxury.
Today, DPT operates stores in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Antwerp, is sold in 200+ retail locations (including John Lewis and El Corte Inglés), and is present in nearly 20 airports and over 60 cruise ships, with 12 more opening in 2025. Having entered travel retail with DFS and Emirates in 2019 and opened its first cruise location in May 2022, DPT is now a rising force in the sector.
Beyond DPT, Edward is a director and co-owner of several Belgian lifestyle brands (including Wouters & Hendrix, Kaai Bags, etc), sharing a passion for quiet luxury. In his spare time, he loves traveling with Stephanie and their three daughters, playing golf, and discovering new wines.
Mentoring Specialties:
- Tool to help the WiTR+ community thrive.
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
Elena Bloothoofd
Elena Bloothoofd is a dynamic and passionate brand ambassador with over two decades of experience directing fashion, beauty and lifestyle brand expansion in Global markets.
Elena created her specialist agency Brands of Style in 2015, paving the way for up-and-coming sustainable brands to find new avenues of revenue through an extensive network in international distribution and domestic retail.
With increasing business in the travel retail sector, Brands of Style launched the B2B discovery platform Travel Retail Bespoke in 2023. Elena believes the selection of challenger brands represent the answer to a changing demand in a market that is reshaping itself. With responsible high-end products that offer something unique in combination with their compelling creator stories Travel Retail Bespoke is paving the road to a bright and successful future.
Travel is truly in my DNA, which is why I’m so passionate about the Travel Retail sector. One of my favorite travel destinations has been Brazil, where I can indulge in sun-soaked holidays. My bucket list keeps growing, but ultimately, any location shared with my husband is ideal.
Beyond travel, I’m currently working on a deeply personal project: writing my mother’s memoirs. Her journey from Russia to Uganda to build a new life was remarkable, and I’m eager to share her story.
Another passion of mine is food. I’ve had the pleasure of volunteering as a cook at my husband’s lodge, and I’ve even been asked to cook privately for special occasions like birthday dinners. Cooking allows me to connect with people and cultures in a meaningful way, much like travel does.
Mentoring Specialities
- Building real, supportive, and transparent networks within the travel retail sector
- How to break through buyer barriers and navigate difficult relationships
- Ensuring that the community truly embraces entrepreneurs and voices from smaller, founder-led companies, regardless of size or ranking
- Leadership development, with a focus on resilience and breaking through closed doors
Farah Barhorst
Director of Onboard Revenue, Holland America Line & Seabourn
Farah is a seasoned cruise industry professional with two decades of expertise in luxury travel and onboard revenue operations. Farah is deeply passionate about integrating retail into the guest experience journey. Drawing from both operational and strategic perspectives, she offers valuable insights on creating seamless retail experiences that resonate with guests while maximizing brand value and revenue potential.
Beginning her 15-year seafaring career as a facialist with Holland America Line in 2005, Farah quickly became enamored with life at sea. Transitioning to Entertainment as an Event Manager in 2011 gave her fresh perspective on cruise programming and its impact on guest flow and revenue generation. Before concluding her maritime career, Farah served as Business and Brand Manager, overseeing all aspects of Onboard Revenue and Marketing. Her noteworthy favourite destinations include New Zealand, Croatia, and Norway. Today, Farah leverages her comprehensive experience to oversee Retail, Spa, Art, Communications, and Celebrations departments, bringing valuable industry insights to her mentoring approach. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband (who also works at sea!), horse-riding and walks in the countryside.
Mentoring Specialties:
- Share expertise on cruise-specific merchandising strategies that maximize limited retail space
- Guide mentees through the unique logistics of inventory management in maritime environments
- Advise on building effective relationships with cruise line executives and decision-makers
- Offer guidance on navigating international regulations affecting onboard retail operations
- Provide expertise on creating compelling retail experiences that complement the overall cruise journey
- Adapting retail strategies for different cruise itineraries and destinations
- Mentor on developing exclusive product offerings that appeal to cruise passengers
- Support on sustainability initiatives in cruise retail operations
- Use of data analysis and utilizing guest information to drive retail decisions
Francess Dharmamulya
Sr Manager Duty Free Americas | EMEA & Global Duty Free
Born and raised in Indonesia, educated in the US, currently living between Paris and Hong Kong, no other industry is a better match for her background even if she arrived in Travel Retail by chance.
Francess began her career in auditing at Ernst & Young in New York. After several years, she moved to Paris and joined a French company specializing in City of Light souvenirs. There, she managed retail operations across iconic locations like Carrousel du Louvre, Opéra, Champs Elysées, and high-end department stores, overseeing profitability, visual merchandising, customer service, and staff hiring, mentoring, and training. It is also with this company that she had her first experience exhibiting at TFWA Cannes in 2011.
In 2017, Francess co-founded Stevia Distribution with her husband and business partner. The company is a distributor of European confectionery, wine, and spirits to Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and America, focusing on premium and artisanal brands with strong identities and originality. Leveraging its extensive network, Stevia Distribution introduces these still lesser-known products that are not always available in the domestic markets to major travel retail operators and luxury hotels.
She considers herself fortunate that her work, which involves traveling to meet clients and sourcing products, has taken her to amazing places and introduced her to wonderful people. In her spare time, she enjoys capturing stunning destination photos for her Instagram and cooking for large gatherings of friends, creating beautiful tablescapes to complement her meals.
Mentoring Specialities
- Add my own perspective as an entrepreneur in travel retail angle.
- Tool to help the WiTR+ community thrive.
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
- To provide guidance with topics such as public speaking, difficult conversations, personal branding and work life balance
Gerry Munday
Vice Chair | WiTR+
I had 34 years fantastic years in the TR/DF industry all in the fashion sector. During those years I launched 3 brands to the world of Travel Retail – Bally (Head of Travel Retail), MCM (Travel Retail Director) and lastly Furla (Global Travel Retail Director) where I retired from in December 2018. I also had the honor of serving on the TFWA Management Committee and the TFWA Board and becoming Vice Chair of WiTR+ (Women in Travel Retail +) a position I still hold today and of course am very involved in.
After taking a short time out, I started my own consultancy business – GM Travel Retail Consultancy so pulling on my 34 years experience, I have been helping and advising brands who wish to enter the world of TR, sourcing brands for airport operators and working with them to gain the right mix for their airport, it is very different from anything I have done over the years but extremely rewarding, but I have made sure it is not a full time job, so you could say I am semi-retired which also allows me to at last spend time with my husband of 41 years and we have taken up walking, taking more holidays, gardening, I have also taken up keep fit (never had time before or the energy) – so life is good.
Mentoring Specialities
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail
- Harness long standing relationships
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities
- To provide guidance with topics such as public speaking, difficult conversations, personal branding and work life balance
Gina Kothari
Global Head of Lagardere & Aer Rianta | Diageo
Gina’s romance with global travel started 2 and half years ago, having transferred back to the UK from Australia. She has held a range of roles in her tenure from commercial, digital, category and strategic partnerships. However, the biggest achievement has been chairing the diversity and inclusion team across Diageo to ensure all employees can bring their authentic selves to work and are truly represented. Her passion for diversity and inclusion stems back to childhood, having grown up in a diverse family. She also is a huge advocate for mentoring and supporting individuals to navigate squiggly careers in companies, networking and ultimately achieving their goals.
Hobbies are: travelling (of course- I’ve travelled across Italy, Ireland, Middle East, India), playing tennis and netball, trying out new restaurants and most importantly spending quality time with friends and family.
Mentoring Specialities
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
Helen Chater
Head of Sales | TRBusiness
Publishing has been my career choice for the last 31 years in many different sectors from oil and gas to baking! My favourite has been, and continues to be, Travel Retail.
I have had roles in telesales, field sales as a publisher of DFNI and now am loving the Head of Sales role with TRBusiness. Some of these roles have involved managing teams from 4 people to 10 people across departments and in my own team.
I love my career and I am also lucky enough to be a grandma to 4 beautiful girls all under the age of 5. This means I like to help out with the girls as much as I can so work, life balance is very important to me.
My other passion is working for the Samaritans. I look after the recruitment for my local branch, I’m on the training team and I mentor newly qualified Samaritans.
I also love ciroc dancing, baking and amateur dramatics.
Mentoring Specialities
- Help women who have been promoted to roles which require them to manage people if they haven’t had that responsibility before
- Ways to deal with imposter syndrome
- Women in sales roles for the first time and how to build sustainable business relationships
- Managing upwards
Juan Pablo Salorio
Director Combustible Cigarettes Category at PMI Global Travel Retail
Introducing Juan Pablo Salorio, a dynamic and accomplished professional who has
demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovative thinking throughout his career.
Juan Pablo, known affectionately as JP, embarked on his journey with PMI in 2011,
transitioning seamlessly from the Spirits Industry. His impressive tenure as Marketing
Manager Duty Free at Casa Cuervo saw him expertly managing prestigious brands such
as Tequila Don Julio and Tequila Maestro Tequilero Dobel. JP further honed his portfolio
and category management skills at Pernod Ricard, overseeing globally recognized
whiskey brands including Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, Glenlivet, Jameson, and
Ballantines.
At PMI, JP’s career trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable. Starting as Marlboro
Manager, he quickly ascended through various cross-functional roles encompassing
Consumer Experience, Finance, and Sales. His adeptness in Consumer Engagement,
Strategic Planning & Business Development, and Sales Field Operations culminated in
his role as Director of Combustible Category in PMI Mexico. Today, JP leads globally the
Combustible Category for PMI Global Travel Retail, where he is instrumental in driving
functional strategy, global portfolio management, communications strategy, and
consumer experience. His efforts ensure competitive superiority and the execution of
marketing propositions that excel and build brand equity.
JP’s extensive commercial expertise, deep business profile, collaborative approach,
curiosity, and strong leadership skills make him an invaluable asset. He boasts a
successful track record in FMCGs, adeptly leading various areas across Marketing,
Sales, and Finance with innovation, courage, and creativity.
A true world citizen, JP is a sports enthusiast, naturally curious, and a passionate
change agent driven by family values. Fluent in Spanish and English, JP is eagerly looking
forward to mastering French.
Mentoring Specialities:
- Tool to help the WiTR+ community thrive.
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
- To provide guidance with topics such as public speaking, difficult conversations, personal branding and work life balance
Judit Balardi
Shopper Marketing Manager, IMEA Travel Retail | Suntory Global Spirits
Judit brings over 16 years of experience in multinational marketing (Nestle, PMI, Hershey’s), excelling in crafting and executing strategies that amplify brand presence and drive substantial growth. As the Shopper Marketing Manager for the IMEA region in Travel Retail at Suntory Global Spirits, she leads innovative marketing activations, elevating brand visibility and driving impactful results.
She is actively involved in coaching and mentoring. Having successfully navigated a major career transition from Hungary to Dubai with the support of her mentors and coaches, Judit balances her professional life with her role as a mother of two young girls, alongside her husband.
Hobby: Theater (Latest favorite show was Hamilton that I saw in San Francisco), yoga, fine dining,
Favourite travel destination: Milan, Italy (partially because we have family there, but also because it means amazing food and great fashion)
Mentoring Specialities
- Tool to help the WiTR+ community thrive.
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
- Adjusting to international career moves
- Work-Life Balance / Mental Health First Aid
Kapila Ireland
Editor at DFNI-Frontier
Kapila Ireland is Editor at DFNI-Frontier, which has a 40-year heritage in informing, connecting and inspiring travel retail executives & buyers, brands, landlords and distributors.
With over 20 years’ experience as a journalist and editor, Kapila leads the editorial content strategy across a portfolio of print, digital, research and events, including the annual DFNI Conference and renowned Frontier Awards, at DFNI-Frontier. Kapila is an experienced speaker, having moderated multiple industry conferences and panels.
Prior to joining DFNI, Kapila gained considerable experience as a business journalist in the financial sector at posts in London, New York, Hong Kong and Cape Town.
Mentoring Specialities
- Tool to help the WiTR+ community thrive.
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
- To provide guidance with topics such as public speaking, difficult conversations, personal branding and work life balance
Karl Walter
As for favourite destination it is always the next new unknown one – so for me it will be Ho Chi Minh Trinity
Karl is a polyglot, proficient in seven European languages, with deep ties to Portugal and a rich German and Swiss heritage.
After completing his education at the German school in Lisbon, he pursued a bachelor’s degree at the prestigious Lausanne Hotel Management School in Switzerland.
With over 16 years of experience at Dufry, the world’s largest travel retailer, Karl held several key leadership roles.
His journey began at the Swiss Nuance Group Head Office (now Dufry) in 2003, where he quickly rose through the ranks in the commercial department. In 2008, he was appointed to lead the Swedish business unit, and in 2012, took on the responsibility for flagship operations in Switzerland (Geneva & Zurich).
In 2016, Karl returned to Sweden to oversee the Nordic operations, managing Duty-Free, Multi-, Monobrand, and Specialty stores across 12 airports and leading a team of 600 people.
Following a year-long sabbatical, Karl joined the Business Development Consulting company Blueprint in 2020. He also serves on advisory boards for companies in the European retail and hospitality sectors and is an active board member of The Nordic Travel Retail Group, representing travel retail interests in the Nordic and Baltic regions.
In work and life Karl is full of contrasts. He finds peace sitting on a frozen lake in minus 15°C, patiently waiting for fish that may or may not show up and spends his nights chasing the endless beauty of the Northern Lights. He’s just as at home on a calm golf course as he is on a rollercoaster ride or a full day of downhill skiing. He loves being on mission at Travel Retail events around the world, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, just as much as he enjoys working behind his screen on a presentation or Excel sheet. Whether in quiet reflection or moments of excitement, Karl finds joy in both the serenity and the excitement that family, work and life altogether have to offer.
Mentoring Specialities
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance with topics such as public speaking, difficult conversations, personal branding and work life balance
Karla Nedeski
Director of Merchandising, Starboard Group
Karla is a global retail leader with extensive experience across beauty, spirits, and kids’ categories in cruise, airport, and luxury vacation retail. As Director of Merchandising at Starboard Group, she leads the strategy and execution of innovative retail experiences both at sea and on land.
She is widely recognized for bringing first-at-sea concepts to life through strategic partnerships with iconic brands like Dior,and Chanel. Always with a focus on curating intentional assortments, driving profitability, and creating emotional guest connections through storytelling and retailtainment.
Beyond the product, Karla is passionate about people. She is a strong advocate for women in leadership, known for mentoring and developing rising talent, and for championing a collaborative, purpose-driven approach to retail. Her leadership is grounded in empathy, commercial acumen, and a relentless drive to push the industry forward.
My favorite travel destination is Europe — a place where I can embrace incredible food and unforgettable destinations. I’m a foodie and coffee lover at heart, so anywhere that allows me to pause and enjoy a great cup of coffee is my kind of paradise.
Outside of work, I’m a proud mom, fully dedicated to my family. When I’m with my kids, they get my undivided attention — that’s my grounding space and my greatest joy.
Mentoring Specialties
-
- Develop high-impact retail strategies by guiding mentees through category visioning, assortment curation, and vendor negotiations.
- Lead with empathy while driving results, sharing how to manage teams with both heart and accountability.
- Transform consumer insights into retail storytelling, helping mentees create meaningful, guest-centric experiences.
- Build strong vendor partnerships, teaching how to navigate strategic relationships that go beyond transactions.
- Support career transitions into leadership, offering real-world guidance on stepping into expanded roles.
- Promote leadership development and personal branding, including public speaking, executive presence, and navigating tough conversations.
- Foster industry connections and global networking, opening doors and making introductions to expand their impact.
Karolina Vozgirdaite
Director Multi-Category CX & Digital in PMI Global Travel Retail
Karolina began her journey at PMI in 2005 as a Market Research Analyst. Over the years,
she has built an impressive track record across various commercial functions in
multiple markets, including the Baltics, the Middle East, and Germany. As the Director of
Consumer Experience for the German market, Karolina played a pivotal role in
establishing the Consumer Experience function before transitioning to the role as
Director of Consumer Experience Retention in PM Japan, the market with the largest
Legal age user base in PMI.
Currently, Karolina leads the Multi-Category end-to-end consumer experience and
digital ecosystem, supporting PMI Global Travel Retail’s consumer journey.
With 20 years of experience in leading international companies, Karolina’s expertise
spans Market Research, Brand Building, Marketing Strategy, Commercialization,
Consumer Experience, and Digital. She is a driving force behind internal transformation
and cultural change, passionate about consumer and employee centricity, and lifelong
learning. Karolina acts with empathy, curiosity, and respect, seamlessly balancing a
happy family life with personal and professional growth.
Mentoring Specialities:
- Tool to help the WiTR+ community thrive.
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career
development. - To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
- To provide guidance with topics such as public speaking, difficult conversations,
personal branding and work life balance - Advice on multi-cultural and cross-country life and work experience, diversity and
inclusion
Martine Larroque
Managing Partner at Larroque Horizon FZE
Martine Larroque is a proven leader with over 30 years of global experience, including more than a decade in travel retail. For the past 17 years, she served as Managing Director for Maui Jim Middle East & Africa, where she led the brand’s expansion across EMEA, restructured regional operations, and launched the South Africa office—driving sustainable growth in diverse markets.
Throughout her career, Martine has actively mentored startups and young professionals, offering strategic insight, international perspective, and a deep commitment to helping others unlock their full potential. As a mentor, she is dedicated to empowering women in travel retail to grow confidently, lead boldly, and thrive in their careers.
Beyond the professional sphere, Martine is an accomplished mountaineer, having climbed five of the Seven Summits—including Mount Everest—and led expeditions to Pakistan. These personal achievements reflect the resilience, focus, and determination she brings to leadership and mentorship. She continues to embrace outdoor challenges such as trekking , skiing, mountaineering.
Mentoring Specialities:
- Tool to help the WiTR+ community thrive.
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
- To provide guidance with topics such as public speaking, difficult conversations, personal branding and work life balance
Natalie Fernandez
Sr Manager Duty Free Americas | EMEA & Global Duty Free
Natalie has over 20 years’ experience in the beverage & retail resale industries, in various commercially focused roles managing numerous global brands in domestic and global markets. She is currently a Senior Duty-Free Manager for Heineken and manages the strategic development of key commercial areas for the duty-free channel in cruises, travel retail, airlines, and military within the Americas region. Natalie resides in Houston, Texas and when she is not selling beer, she enjoys exercising, cooking, the outdoors and visiting new places with her husband and two sons.
Natalie is passionate about helping others in their personal growth and professional development. Her areas of expertise are organization, business & consumer analytics, strategic thinking & planning, problem solving, sales & marketing, FMCG, merchandising, account management, training, organization, work/life fit, and health & wellness.
Mentoring Specialities
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance with topics such as public speaking, difficult conversations, personal branding and work life balance
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
Steve Savory
Steve is a dynamic and strategic retail expert that has been a leader in Buying, Merchandising, Visual Merchandising and Product Development/Design as well as Warehousing and Supply Chain through his career. Having worked across the UK High Street; WHSmith (Merchandising) and Habitat (Visual Merchandising) Steve has been part of and led on all manner of innovation and automation over the past 30+ years. Steve has also held a number of positions within the UK leisure and Historic Properties sector at English Heritage Trust, where he rose to Head of Retail Operations and managed the team through, and back to work post Covid.
Steve has a wealth of coaching, development, and team management experience and is focussed on driving success through the teams that he guides and works hard not to micro-manage, so the staff within his team shine and grow as they get the results (and credit) they have strived for.
Steve is also a Mental Health first aider and passionately believes in work life balance and wellbeing.
“I guess there are a couple of significant things personally to know about me:
-
- I have in the past decade or so, been a somewhat driven runner, completing 49 Half Marathons and 50 Marathons (20 of those marathons run in just 346 days) and 2025 will see me finishing my 50th Half Marathon too.
- If you ever meet me on Teams, you will probably see I am a massive Prince fan with over 500 vinyl records and a mass of other memorabilia in my office behind my desk!”
Mentoring Specialities
- Tool to help the WiTR+ community thrive.
- Empowerment and coaching as a tool for team growth and development
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To provide guidance, support, and career growth opportunities.
- To provide guidance with topics such as public speaking, difficult conversations, and work life balance
Sue Kelly
Sue started her travel retail career at ARI’s operation at the Eurotunnel in Folkestone & Calais in the 1990. Since then, she has built up over 20 years’ experience in travel retail, working primarily in the Buying and Business Development functions. She has held both regional and global roles such as; Luxury & Fashion Buyer, Global P&C Buyer, Head of Buying – ARI Ireland and ARI North America and Head of Planning and Category Strategy. She now heads up ARI’s business development programme, building winning customer centric strategies and proposals for new businesses. She has been instrumental in ARI’s prestigious contract wins such as; ARI’s Abu Dhabi Zayad International Airport Beauty & Sunglasses concession award and ANA Aeroportos de Portugal Joint Venture for Duty Free Retail operations at 8 international airports in Portugal.
Sue is a complete swimming bore and will happily chat for hours about swimming – in the sea, in lakes and in pools. A running joke with her friends is: “How do you know Sue has been for a swim? Don’t worry she’ll tell you…”
Her current favourite travel destinations don’t require flying – she does enough of that with work and she loves to relax in South Kerry – where yes, she communes with the jellyfish daily.
Mentoring Specialities
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
- To provide female to female support and encouragement
Suzanne Mahoney
Head of Retail at MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys
Suzanne has 30+ years’ experience in Travel Retail. She started her TR career with Pernod Ricard’s World Brands Duty Free in 1994 before joining World Duty Free in 2000. Since that time, she has worked both with luxury brands in TR such as Lanson Champagne & The Edrington Group in the US, before joining Harding+ in 2014 where she was Director of Buying & Merchandising. During the pandemic, Suzanne cofounded and raised £500k+ of investment for LiBi Retail, a hospitality tech innovator that connects luxury and hotel quality brands with the owner of boutique hotels and short-term rentals and their guests. Suzanne remains on the Board of LiBi Retail
Suzanne has 2 grown up children in the UK and has just relocated to Geneva where she is enjoying exploring Switzerland! Favourite hobbies include messing about on the water (when it’s warm) and walking/hiking – both of which are super easy to do in Geneva.
Mentoring Specialities
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
Tanya Leivers
Australia Country Commercial Manager | Avolta
Tanya has an extensive industry background, with over 25 years of experience navigating various sectors including travel retail, department stores, FMCG, and supermarkets. This includes management of a wide range of luxury and mass brands across different categories, demonstrating expertise in product design, development and sourcing, buying, planning, marketing, online, digital, data, operations, and HR.
Staying ahead of retail transformations, particularly with the rise of digital and data, Tanya’s passion lies in building strategies focusing on both current and future customers, recognizing new opportunities and challenging existing ways in order to drive value.
Moreover, Tanya excels in leading and building teams that align with organizational culture and strategy and has a reputation for building high-quality, trusting relationships both internally and externally.
Outside of her professional life, she cherishes traveling with her family and exploring new places and cultures.
Mentoring Specialties:
- Tool to help the WiTR+ community thrive.
- Support global networking.
- Support new generations coming into Travel retail.
- Harness long standing relationships.
- To actively promote leadership growth, learning & building skills, and career development.
- To build connections by introducing useful contacts and networking opportunities.
- To provide guidance, support, and sponsorship in career & growth opportunities.
Tracy Ross
Projects & Design Manager, Sustainability Champion, LEED Green Associate
Tracy has 34 years experience in the Interior Design industry, spanning across all market sectors from corporate, commercial, downtown and travel retail to hospitality projects.
Her design career has carried her from her home in South Africa, to Mauritius for 2 years and onto the Middle East for the past 27 years, of which 20 of those years, have been dedicated to the Aviation and Travel Retail industry, as Projects and Design Manager with ARIME, based in Bahrain, leading internal and external design and project consultantancy teams, which has afforded her the opportunity of directing designs for more than 50 global airports in 25 countries. This extensive, diversified experience, has developed a cultural sensitivity to working within new countries, environments, different nationalities and several project teams. Coupled with her strong design direction skills and well-rounded knowledge on sustainability, are her project management skills, ensuring that each project is delivered according to budgets, programs and stakeholder expectations, communicating efficiently and professionally with all stakeholders and project team members, from gathering of project data, transferring this information to the relevant team members, ensuring outputs capture the inputs, finishes, fixtures and materials specifications, reviewing and approving project drawings, managing documentation, budgets, submissions project reporting and presenting.
While her sustainability focus is on Green building design, implementation, supplier guidelines and reviews, as a qualified LEED Green Associate with US Green Building Council as well as Estidama trained under the UAE Green Building regulations, she also has a well rounded knowledge and understanding of Corporate Sustainability, ESG Strategies and Circular Economy having recently obtained a certification with the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. As sustainability is constantly evolving and advancing, Tracy aims to continue her ongoing education in this field.
Tracy also leads ACI’s ANARA (Non-Aeronautical Revenue) Sustainability working group 6 (WG6), having recently completed a draft white paper outline for the group and industry, which was published on ACI’s website in April This group meets quarterly to discuss the progress and challenges of Sustainability within our industry. She is actively involved with the TR Business Sustainability Forum since 2021, partaking in several Sustainability panel discussion and supplier sustainability judging sessions.Tracy recently completed and ACI Certification on “Airport Sustainability and Environment Management”. Passionate about sustainability Tracy aims to continue sustainability discussions with industry colleagues, on an on-going basis, whereby ever evolving information, materials, legislation, processes, challenges and achievements are shared on a GTR Sustainability platform, recognising the importance of collaboartion and sharing for the greater good of industry progress.
Mentoring Specialities
- Confident Communication & Public speaking
- Presentation skills
- Personal branding
- On-going personal growth & development
- Work life balance
- Mental wellness first responder
- Finding your passion
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What our members have to say
“Joining Women in Travel Retail has been without any doubt a very rewarding decision. This community has offered more than just networking opportunities— It has connected me with an incredible community of women—from emerging talent to senior leaders—across brands, retailers, and regions. What makes this network especially meaningful is the unique space it creates for women in a fast-paced, often male-dominated industry. It offers a rare sense of support, openness, and shared ambition—where collaboration thrives and new perspectives are welcomed.
Through Women in Travel Retail, I’ve been introduced to emerging brands, deepened my industry knowledge, and built lasting connections. Most importantly, I’ve seen how a strong, supportive community can drive real change. The more we grow, the greater our collective impact—and together, we’re not just expanding opportunities, we’re shaping the future of travel retail for women everywhere and how cool is that!”
Noelle Goris
La Prairie
“I joined WiTR+ in its early days when women were still very unrepresented within the duty-free/travel retail industry at executive level and above. As a supportive community it has helped hundreds of women over the years to share experiences, challenges and success with like-minded individuals whilst raising funds for many deserving charity projects – where true results can be seen. For me, WiTR+ events have provided new connections that have led to professional partnerships and new friendships.”
Row Holland
Essential Communications – Managing Director