Who we are
Meet our Global Hive Mind

Caroline Strachan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Festive Road, an independent consultancy providing consulting and outsourcing services globally to travel and expense buyers.
Her career spans leadership roles at American Express, AstraZeneca, Yahoo, and Cisco, giving her an unparalleled perspective across the entire travel supply chain. At AstraZeneca, she led the global travel programme to win Best Travel Team at the UK Business Travel Awards, before co-founding Festive Road in 2016 to help organisations and the people within them Create Better travel and meetings strategies.
Caroline’s leadership and impact have been recognised through multiple honours, including Business Travel News Top 25 Most Influential People, the IBM iX everywoman Entrepreneur of the Year, and the Goldman Sachs | Bloomberg Small Business Leader “Would Most Want on My Board” Award. Under her guidance, Festive Road and Scania were named 2025 European Travel Team of the Year, reflecting the firm’s traveller-centric and tech-forward approach to transformation.
Caroline is a passionate advocate for equality in the workplace. She sits on the GBTA Foundation Board, co-founded LEVEL Women and Women At Work, and delivered a TEDx Talk titled “Why Gender Equality Is Not Just About Women.”
She leads with clarity, curiosity, and care, combining strategic insight with empathy to help ambitious leaders and their teams Create Better. Caroline resides in Kent with her husband and twin daughters, balancing her love of netball and home baking with an enduring drive to make business travel better for everyone.


Rich leads the Client Solutions function at Festive Road. He joined the company from CWT, where he was Global Vice President of its consulting arm, Solutions Group. With over 13 years of experience in corporate travel — most of it in international leadership roles — he brings deep expertise in strategy, transformation and client advisory.
At CWT, Rich led consulting teams across EMEA, the Americas and APAC, based variously in London, Singapore and Sydney. Earlier in his career, he held consulting, sales and delivery roles at American Express Global Business Travel.
He developed a strong foundation in payments, procurement and supplier management through positions at American Express and Anglo American — experience that continues to shape his approach to travel programme optimisation.
Rich holds a degree in Business from the University of East Anglia and is MCIPS-qualified. At Festive Road, he helps shape and bring to market the firm’s services and thought leadership, supporting organisations to design and deliver travel and meetings programmes that are more effective, efficient and purposeful.
Off stage, Rich can be found walking his dogs or at the gym.

Prior to this Louise was the Travel Buyer/Manager for corporates across a variety of industry sectors including Procter & Gamble, Infor and IBM. In each of these companies she was responsible for sourcing and managing TMC’s and other travel related services.
In addition to these roles, Louise has played an active role in the industry, sitting on the Board of the ITM and on various industry committees. She is a regular contributor to industry events both speaking and moderating sessions.

Today, Mike is part of Festive Road’s global leadership team, with a dual passion: powering People & Performance within the business and helping clients create better travel and expense strategies that deliver genuinely better outcomes for all. He’s known for combining strategic challenge with data and empathy, ensuring that “better” means better for our people, our clients, and the industry.
A strong advocate for industry progress, Mike sits on the GBTA APAC Advisory Board and helped establish the GBTA Australian Advisory Board, reigniting GBTA’s presence in Australia.
Originally from the UK and now based in Sydney, Mike is a lover of great wine, cricket and joyful travel. (He even met his wife under Concorde – fitting for someone who’s spent his life in travel.)

Most recently she comes from Oracle as Principal Category Manager, Global Travel Sourcing where she managed the global sourcing cycle, project management, identified strategies and global opportunities, delivered solutions to improve workflows and processes to drive automation. She led strategic supplier reviews, identified cost savings, collaborated with internal stakeholders to support their priorities, and aligned with Global Corporate Safety & Security Policies. She also spent another eight years as a Team Lead for the Oracle VIP Travel Desk while at Rosenbluth International.
Over the last 14 years, Barbara has held several roles for the Silicon Valley Business Travel Association, including Professional Development Director, VP, President, and Chairman.
Barbara is based outside the Silicon Valley in Northern California where she and her husband spend much of their free time with their two adult children and spouses, or with extended family and friends relaxing in the mountains.

A graduate of University of Virginia with a degree in International Relations and History, she left politics behind for a career in travel starting as a logistics coordinator for international DJs, crisscrossing the world for shows and festivals. After moving to Los Angeles, she delved deeper into the fast-paced world of entertainment as a Travel Consultant and Operations Specialist for world-renowned studios like ITV, Netflix, and Apple TV+. During her time in production travel, she worked on Oscar-winning productions and became an expert at balancing the needs of VIP talent, crew, and employees within the framework of a corporate travel program.
Outside of work, Sarah-Wynne finds peace being active in nature. She loves cuddling with her husband and their dog, Effie. She also enjoys participating in Sally's baking challenge, watching reality shows like Top Chef, Survivor, and Love Island, and drinking funky natural wines.

Traci has worked in the travel industry for more than 20 years, holding positions on both the corporate and consulting side. Prior to joining Festive Road, Traci was Senior Manager of Global Travel at RELX. She has held previous positions at Accenture, CenturyLink and WorldCom in the areas of category management, procurement, operations, and meetings and events.
With a passion for improving the traveler experience and continuing to evolve a corporate travel program to be best in class, Traci has the keen ability to envision the big picture of how a corporation’s travel program could look, while also having the detail-oriented ability to dive into the project specifics.
Traci is based near Orlando, where she enjoys traveling, relaxing on the many Florida beaches, and spending time with family and friends.


Katie then joined AMEX GBT as an Event Manager, later developing into a Client Account Manager. During her time at GBT, Katie helped spearhead a new conference offering which showcased GBT at industry events as a modern exciting partner. Known for her adaptability and relationship building, Katie quickly progressed through the ranks to be to a Client Account Manager, working with a variety of key clients across European markets. Her most recent role with CIBT/Newland Chase saw Katie working across various roles such as Client Services Manager, Technology Solutions Manager, and as a Senior Client Relationship Manager/UK Team Lead. Devising and implementing successful market strategies for large global clients by leading teams to strive to not only make change but be the change.
Katie lives in North London with her husband and Labrador, Dexter. Katie is a big music fan, who loves to explore the great outdoors as well as diverse cultures and countries. She can normally be found either exploring the countryside or at rock gigs.

Kristen lives in Southern California’s wine country with her teenage daughter, a Frenchie named Radar, an orange tabby named Nani, and a bearded dragon named Mushu, who runs the zoo. She enjoys spending time with her daughters, travelling, reading, and (of course) sampling the local wines.

With a passion for customer satisfaction and a tenacious approach to all of her work, she has earned a reputation for integrating seamlessly into established teams and delivering success in the areas of travel technology, crisis management, traveller engagement, process improvement and optimisation.
Abi is based in Manchester where she lives with her partner, two young children and Juno the cat. Abi loves spending time outdoors with the family, dinning out with friends and at weekends can be found watching her other love in life - Football!

She has advised public and private companies on a variety of finance and legal issues throughout her career, including a number of large UK inbound and US outbound listed groups. Specialising in international taxes, Fenella’s work has encompassed the increasingly high profile areas of tax compliance, tax advisory and tax controversy.
Her most recent role was EMEA Tax Manager for Jones Lang Lasalle Inc, a role she excelled in, before taking a career ‘break’ to raise her two small children.
Based in Royal Tunbridge Wells, she is happiest enjoying long walks in the countryside with her family (despite the protestations from little legs!), but now marries this with her alter - ego as ‘Fenella Finance’ – another important asset in the Festive Road family.

She has an analytical and data lead approach to monitor performance and to recommend and help create the strategy to meet the client’s objectives and a proven track record of negotiating rates and closing complex contracts with global suppliers.
Keeping up-to-date on the latest disruptive technology in the travel space, Sandra has an extensive product and industry knowledge, and has helped global brands deliver complex projects in fast paced environments. She believes in creating strong business relationships based on open and honest communication, a high attention to detail and accuracy, and focusing on achieving objectives that meet the client’s needs.

In her recent role at a unicorn fintech startup, Nicole established a communications department from the ground up and spearheaded the company's communications and public relations efforts. Prior, during her seven-year tenure at Goldman Sachs she expertly managed intricate workplace experience strategies, forging valuable partnerships across divisions and tailoring programming to meet specific business goals. Notably, she led communication campaigns for corporate real estate and business services projects spanning the Americas and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), with New York and London as her operational hubs.
Nicole's journey is underscored by an unwavering commitment to excellence, adaptability in the face of change, and a fervent dedication to effective communication. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and History from The George Washington University.
Fueling her zest for life, Nicole is an avid globetrotter and enjoys exploring the great outdoors, fine food and wine, watching live music, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Outside of work, Toby loves all things travel; she takes small groups to places that she has been. So far, Spain, France, Colombia and Provence. Her next adventure is Italy for pizza making and floating in the Adriatic!

Elise is also an award-winning interior designer, known for her exceptional work in property staging and design. She authored the coffee table edition 'Cushion Me' and leads a property staging membership group through House Wow! Elise is married with two daughters and enjoys family time with their jackapoo, Marley.

As a strategic CX leader, Brittany orchestrates the vital connections between people, processes, tools, and systems to create comprehensive experience strategies. She guides global teams through customer-centric transformations, translating complex user insights into actionable solutions that drive business growth. Her commitment to authenticity and bar-raising service helps organizations embed CX principles into their core strategy and culture, elevating transactional brand interactions into transformative relationships.
Brittany is based in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US, where she enjoys camping (okay… it’s “glamping”) and other outdoor adventures with her husband and 2 daughters.

What’s your professional background in a nutshell?
With over 15 years of experience in travel operations and procurement, I’ve had the opportunity to lead transformative travel programs and global vendor strategies across APAC, EMEA, and beyond at EY GDS and Cognizant. My career has centred around creating efficiencies, driving meaningful innovations, and delivering seamless, top-tier experiences for both travellers and stakeholders.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I’m a passionate traveller and dedicated foodie. Whether I’m trekking along scenic routes, discovering offbeat trails on my motorbike, or sampling new cuisines, I love experiences that broaden my perspective and keep my curiosity alive.
What key areas/responsibilities will you cover in your new role, and how will you be looking to Create Better?
In this role, I’ll focus on streamlining APAC travel operations for Amazon and enhancing vendor relationships. My goal is to create a journey that’s not just seamless but enriching for travellers while advancing service quality through innovative, data-driven solutions.
What’s your favourite way to unwind after a long day?
For cricket fans: I love “bowling to my daughter to get her bowled out!” If not that, you’ll probably find me out on a motorbike ride around Bengaluru’s outskirts or going for a refreshing run—each a great way to recharge depending on the day and mood.
What’s a fun fact about you that might surprise people?
Here’s one: I once took a course just to communicate better with my technology stakeholders! It’s a reminder to myself (and others) that we can always learn something new, especially in the art of connecting with others.

Based near Milton Keynes, Vicky enjoys spending quality time with her husband, two sons and French Bulldog. Whenever possible, loves both planning, researching and travelling to new destinations.

What’s your professional background in a nutshell?
I have a background in computer engineering with a bachelor’s degree in the field. Prior to joining Festive Road, I worked at Expedia Group as a Technical Program Manager, where I focused on delivering partner-facing products.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I love trying new things! I’m an avid fan of Pilates and hot yoga, and I’ve recently started running with the goal of completing a marathon next year. I’ve also developed a passion for photography and carry my camera everywhere! Capturing moments is a creative outlet for me and a way to document memories:)
What key areas / responsibilities will you cover in your new role and how will you be looking to Create Better?
In my role as a Technical Program Manager for the Travel & Events team at Amazon, I’m excited to collaborate with the team to find innovative ways to enhance the digital travel experience for Amazonians. Drawing on my experience at Expedia Group, I plan to leverage the lessons learned from my previous roles to create new solutions while utilizing data and streamlined processes to drive success as a TPM. I’m excited to not only deliver new features but also contribute to improving existing systems by identifying and resolving current travel pain points!
What’s your favourite way to unwind after a long day?
My favorite way to unwind after a long day is going for a run/workout class to clear my mind, then relaxing with a good show while enjoying dinner and a hot cup of tea.
What’s a fun fact about you that might surprise people?
This might not be the most surprising fact, but I’m actually an only child! Many people are surprised by this because I tend to act like an older sibling haha!

What’s your professional background in a nutshell?
With over 30 years of experience in banking, procurement, and project management, LeeAnn has built a career she’s truly proud of. As a PMP-certified professional, she’s spent the last two decades at EY, focusing on making processes smoother, leading meaningful change, and bringing people together through effective communication. In her most recent role as Engagement and Messaging Lead, LeeAnn had the chance to showcase EY’s new offices and highlight her amazing team on platforms like VivaEngage and LinkedIn, helping to strengthen connections both inside and outside the organization.
What key areas / responsibilities will you cover in your new role and how will you be looking to Create Better?
In her new role as Internal Communications and Change Management Manager, LeeAnn is excited to bring her storytelling expertise and change leadership experience to the forefront. Her focus will be on crafting impactful communications and driving initiatives that inspire collaboration, alignment, and transformation.
What do you like to do outside of work?
When she’s not leading projects, LeeAnn treasures time with her family, including her twins, Dani and AJ, who both graduated in 2024. Dani, a proud University of Tennessee alumni (Vol for life!), is now thriving as a junior architect, while AJ, a Roger Williams University graduate, brings his talents to the NBA.
What’s your favourite way to unwind after a long day?
LeeAnn’s favorite ways to unwind after a long day include diving into a great book, enjoying outdoor adventures, or spending quality time with her husband, Alex, and their beloved furry trio—Loki, Miley, and Bandit.
What’s a fun fact about you that might surprise people?
A fun fact? LeeAnn is a sun worshiper, always chasing the warmth and energy it brings. For her, creating better isn’t just a goal—it’s how she approaches every part of life.

What’s your professional background in a nutshell?
Depending on who’s asking, I either like to call myself a Generalist or a Business Chameleon. I have worked across various industries (Coworking, Event Production, Business Services, Creative) across many roles (Ops, Community, Marketing, Finance). I mostly just really like getting things sorted and making things work well.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I’m big on the outdoors and travelling, dabble in a few creative endeavours (especially sound/music) and just love trying new things in general.
What key areas / responsibilities will you cover in your new role and how will you be looking to Create Better?
I’ll be covering the amazing Holly on her mat leave, ensuring our company records are accurate & tidy and keeping the numbers and information flowing smoothly between our departments. I’m always looking to Create Better by simplifying complicated things and using tools efficiently.
What’s your favourite way to unwind after a long day?
I love running and bouldering for movement and boardgames and books for stillness.
What’s a fun fact about you that might surprise people?
My Russian is really rusty but I can still read/write Cyrillic!

What’s your professional background in a nutshell?
Michelle is passionate about all things ‘People’, with a Masters in Human Resource Management and a knack for driving employee engagement, L&D, and performance. Michelle has experience across industries such as healthcare, media and tech, and thrives on building meaningful people strategies that support teams and align with business goals. Michelle is always aiming to create a workplace people love.
What key areas/responsibilities will you cover in your new role and how will you be looking to Create Better?
As People & Development Manager, Michelle’s focus will be on leading areas such as recruitment, onboarding, L&D, performance and engagement to name a few — and basically, helping employees take the wheel! Michelle’s goal is to create a workplace where employees hold the power to shape their own growth, spark creativity, and make work a place they actually want to be. Because when employees love where they work, they don’t just show up, they shine.
What’s your favourite way to unwind after a long day, and what do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Originally from Ireland, Michelle made the move across the pond to Manchester where she lives with her partner, Matthew. When Michelle is not deep diving into people projects, you’ll find her on a long run, blasting Shania Twain in her headphones, experimenting in the kitchen (some hits, some disasters), or diving into a thriller novel. She also loves exploring new places and soaking up new experiences, especially when they involve good food!
What’s a fun fact about you that might surprise people?
Michelle used to be a competitive ballet dancer in her younger days! Turns out, she realised she wasn’t quite as graceful as she thought – so she swapped the ballet shoes for running shoes. Unfortunately, the chances of her tripping over her own feet are still very much against her!

During her career, she has worked on a variety of engagements including hotel & air sourcing, programme management optimisation, policy redesign and change management projects.
Based in central London, Carol enjoys travelling, playing badminton, and loves nothing more than spending quality time with her family.

Beyond work, Cat is a maker. She loves learning and is currently learning to use her grandmother's 80-year-old Singer Sewing machine. She also gardens madly, refurnishes furniture, and explores the kitchen, always to various music. She takes breaks to pet her four cats and three dogs on a regular basis.

Throughout her career, Sarah has held Global and European management positions in consulting, client management, product and project management, supporting a variety of prestigious clients with their extensive and often complex travel requirements. Her well proven history of problem solving, client management, programme re-design and implementations gives her a comprehensive and broad outlook enabling her to identify and evaluate new solutions and strategies to increase customer satisfaction, streamline processes and/or reduce costs.
Sarah has been recognised for her strong leadership skills and is known for being forthright, fair, open, enthusiastic and honest.
Based in Holmfirth, Yorkshire with her husband, Sarah enjoys travelling and fine dining, preferring to combine the two whenever possible!

Jackie brings more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry. Most recently, Jackie was at American Express Global Business Travel, where she served as a Senior Consulting Manager. In addition, Jackie held roles at Apple Vacations and Rosenbluth International. Her experience encompasses client management, consulting, product management, business development, procurement, contract negotiations, and project management for some of the biggest companies in the world.
Jackie is based in Florida, where it is blue skies and white puffy clouds most days. In her free time, she enjoys biking, morning walks, beach and sand therapy, baseball, getting together with friends and family, and of course searching for that next travel adventure.



Amy has more than 20 years of experience in software architecture, development, training, and mentorship. She began her career in corporate travel technology 10 years ago at Concur where she was a Supervisor / Senior Technical Consultant responsible for Compleat implementations. She next worked with Atriis as a Customer Solutions Architect for GTP, and then continued as an independent consultant focused on mid-office and booking tool implementations for regional and multi-national TMCs. In all her roles, Amy specialized in the full software implementation lifecycle, from technical business analysis and solution design through configuration, testing, and delivery.
Amy is thrilled to be working alongside the brilliant Festive Road team (whom she's been fangirling for years). She feels fortunate to be in an innovative corporate travel technology space where relationships are valued and the "art of the possible" is the driving force.
Based in Dallas, Amy enjoys traveling with her family, finding hilly places to hike in flat north Texas, having her teenagers roll their eyes at her (she says she's a pro!), and tending her garden.


Most recently, he was a Business Intelligence Analyst at MWI Animal Health responsible for dashboard creation and KPI benchmarking. Prior to that he led a team of data analysts working on sourcing projects at HRG Consulting; and he has held data roles at American Express Global Business Travel and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
James is based in the UK and enjoys playing football, playing video games, travelling, and spending time with his family.