Spencer Corporate Travel’s Karen McGilvray Champions Industry Leadership Through ‘TIME’
Strong industries are built on experience. That message was clear at the recent Travel Industry Mentor Experience (TIME) graduation and induction evening, where Spencer Corporate Travel’s General Manager, Karen McGilvray, joined travel industry peers to celebrate the next wave of travel leaders stepping forward.
Hosted by Cover-More Travel Insurance, the event marked 11 graduations and welcomed 13 new inductees into the program. It was a powerful reminder of how committed the Australian travel community is to developing its future leaders.
For Karen, the evening was personal. Watching her mentee Julia McLean not only graduate but also emcee the event was a proud moment. Their mentor-mentee partnership reflects what TIME does best: enable space for honest conversations, create shared experience and nurture professional growth.
“Being a mentor in the TIME program isn’t just about guiding others, it’s about believing in potential, investing in growth, and taking pride in helping others to achieve their goals. I could not be prouder of Julia and of that she has achieved throughout the program”, said Karen.
Across the night, graduation speeches spoke openly about lessons learned, resilience built and confidence gained. Industry leader Shelley Poten shared her own career journey, encouraging attendees to back themselves and remember that people genuinely want to help.
What TIME stands for
Established in 2009, TIME is a not-for-profit mentoring program designed to accelerate the careers of ambitious professionals across travel, tourism, hospitality, cruise and aviation.
It is built on a structured six-month framework that pairs emerging leaders with experienced senior mentors. The model is mentee-driven. Mentors provide accountability, challenge thinking, offer new perspectives and build confidence through constructive guidance.
Participants commit to:
- A detailed matching process to ensure alignment of skills and goals
- A formal induction
- Fortnightly mentoring sessions over six months
- Ongoing progress reviews and reporting
- A formal evaluation and graduation process
In total, each mentoring partnership delivers 24 hours of one-on-one leadership development.
Behind the scenes, TIME is governed by a dedicated Board and supported by respected industry leaders, while funding is made possible through industry partnerships and the commitment of organisations across the travel sector.
It is a serious investment in the long-term strength of our industry.
Why leadership development matters to the travel industry
Business travel continues to evolve at pace. Distribution is shifting. Technology is transforming service models. Customer expectations are rising.
In that environment, technical capability alone is not enough; leadership capability is critical to continuity, resilience and trust.
For Spencer Corporate Travel, Karen’s involvement as a TIME mentor reflects a broader commitment to industry stewardship. Supporting emerging leaders strengthens the entire travel ecosystem, building confidence, capability and commercial maturity for the industry and the customers we serve.
