Harish Sodha
Chair
With over 35 years’ experience in the travel industry, specialising in the charity and not-for-profit sectors, Harish was instrumental in the creation of the UK’s first charity travel contracts with major international airlines. He works closely with the Board of Directors, steering the strategic direction of the business, in line with it’s core principles and beliefs.
Christopher Airey
Managing Director
Christopher has worked in the travel industry for over 25 years. As a founder of Diversity Travel, Christopher leads the Senior Management Team to ensure Diversity Travel continues to provide outstanding levels of service and value for money to its charity and university clients.
Sam Whittle
Commercial Director
Sam joins Diversity Travel with over 25 years experience in the industry, 10 within the not-for-profit sector. Leading our global customer engagement strategy, Sam is focused on new and existing customer relationships, from the initial contact with our Business Partners, implementation of the partnership, service and ongoing success and management of their travel programme.
Matthew Truin
Director of Global Supplier Relations
Matthew is responsible for relationships with our third party suppliers. He is focussed on securing the widest breadth of content whilst adding value to our clients through continual improvement of the contracts we negotiate on their behalf.. Matthew has many years’ experience looking after clients in the third sector and understands the particular challenges faced by not-for-profit organisations.
Eddie Shaw
Finance Director
Eddie is a highly experienced senior finance professional, who having graduated from the University of Manchester, has held executive positions in the telecomms and logistics industries. Eddie helps deliver the strategy of the finance function and brings a finance viewpoint and business acumen gained from his experience of different industries and company sizes to help the board steer Diversity Travel to the next stage of its very exciting journey.
Stu Booy
Customer Service Director
Stu brings 25 years of leadership in customer roles having worked for such companies as STA Travel, The Monarch Group and most recently as Customer Operations Director for Hoseasons and Cottages.com parent, Awaze.
Jen Herbert
Head of Operations - UK & Global
Jen is responsible for UK & Global Operations, and oversees reservations, rail and ticketing with our London and Manchester locations. With 10 years’ experience in the travel industry, Jen brings a wealth of experience within the not for profit sector, and in her personal life is committed to the third sector, currently holding various volunteer positions.
David Coe
Sales Director & Head of Environmental Action
David leads Diversity Travel’s New Business team, bringing over 11 years of travel and aviation industry experience to the organization, and helps consult with our clients to deliver the best results. He has worked in the specialist INGO travel sector for over 5 years and previously in the aircraft charter sector working with government and humanitarian organisations.
Jamie Anderson
Marketing & Communications Director
Jamie leads Diversity Travel’s marketing and communications team. An award-winning expert with over 15 years of experience, Jamie’s focus is to grow the Diversity Travel and Diversity Study Trips brands whilst always ensuring effective and industry-leading marketing communications.
Jo Strange
Director of Account Management
Jo has 18 years’ experience in business travel management, most recently in the not-for-profit sector. She is passionate about delivering industry leading customer service and account management expertise and will assist our customers to navigate through complex travel requirements and duty of care expectations increased in the current environment. Jo leads the account management and implementation teams to ensure travel programmes maximise their value and drive on contract, therefore visible, reportable spend.
Kate Erskine
Head of Diversity Study Trips
Kate leads our Academic Student groups provision bringing over 13 years of experience in educational travel.
She is proud to be leading a team of specialist travel experts who are passionate in creating bespoke, activity packed travel itineraries to help students cement their learning in exciting ways.
Jamie De Freitas
SVP - Sales & Account Management, EU
Jamie joined our team to lead our European business. He has been working with the non-profit community for the past 10 years, across both travel and technology sectors. His priority is to raise awareness of our work in mainland Europe, so we can grow and nurture the number of organisations we support with our specialist products and services.