Our Team
Experienced travel industry leaders
Travel Talent Academy has been built by experienced travel industry leaders who share a belief that the industry deserves stronger pathways into employment.
Founders
Andrew Cefai is co-founder and CEO of Travel Talent Academy. He has spent more than two decades building businesses across the travel, advertising and financial services sectors, with a career spanning Asia Pacific and global markets. Including over a decade at Hilton where he was head of marketing and loyalty for Asia Pacific. He co-founded Travel Talent Academy to address a structural gap in workforce preparation for the global travel industry and leads the Academy's strategy, product development, commercial partnerships and investor relations.
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David Powell has more than 30 years' experience across the travel and financial services industries, including senior leadership positions at American Express and Thomas Cook. As Chair, David leads investor relations, corporate governance and strategic industry engagement while helping shape the Academy's long-term commercial direction.
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Former President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Board Member of British Airways and Iberia. Former Chief of Staff, IAG. Former Senior Adviser to the UK Prime Minister. Former Director at the Home Office and Department for Education and Employment.
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Former senior executive at Expedia Group, Agoda, Viber, DAZN Japan and Merlin Entertainments. Specialist in market entry, business expansion and cross-border growth strategy across Asia Pacific.
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Former VisitBritain executive and adviser to national tourism boards. Specialist in tourism strategy and public-private collaboration.
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Former Travel Editor at the Daily Mail with a deep global media network. Specialist in media influence and content strategy.
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