CATO celebrated the changing of the guard at an emotionally charged dinner last night following its AGM, with both Sue Badyari and Dennis Bunnik’s induction into the CATO Hall of Fame alongside the appointment of Brett Jardine as a Life Member.
Bunnik, the co-CEO of Bunnik Tours, who was also made a Life Member, steps down after 14 years on the board and 11 as chair, to focus on his family business with his brother Sacha Bunnik and FCTG’s Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner sending their praise via video message. Meanwhile, Jardine has stepped away as general manager to continue his recovery from a third bout of prostate cancer which he has been fighting since being first diagnosed 2011. Jardine also announced the good news that he is finishing his treatment at the end of July.
In addition, CATO announced the appointment of Sean Martin, G Adventures managing director Australia and New Zealand, as chair of the newly formed CATO Committee, ushering in a new chapter for the touring sector following CATO’s merger with the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA). Martin succeeds former chair Bunnik with Aaron Zoanetti, Frontera Law and the Green & Gold Army, appointed as vice chair. Zoanetti was not present as he is currently leading a group of 500-plus Socceroos fans following the World Cup 2026.
The CATO Committee replaces the former CATO Board of Directors and will continue to provide strategic leadership and advocacy for Australia’s touring and wholesale community within the broader ATIA framework.
This week, CATO members also elected three new members to join the Committee: Michelle Davies, Club Med; Shelley Poten, Albatross Tours; and Yvette Thompson, Intrepid Travel Group.
They join existing Committee members: Zoanetti; Brad McDonnell, Entire Travel Group; James O’Donnell, The Travel Corporation; Chris Hall, Globus Family of Brands; and Ingrid Berthelsen, Evolution Travel Collective.
Martin said the new Committee represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen the voice of the touring sector while contributing to the broader travel industry agenda.
“The merger with ATIA provides our sector with a stronger platform and greater influence than ever before,” he said. “As Chair of the CATO Committee, I look forward to ensuring the interests of tour operators and wholesalers remain front and centre as we work together to grow and strengthen Australia’s travel industry.”
Martin also thanked outgoing chair Dennis Bunnik for his leadership and dedication to CATO over the past decade.
“CATO has built a strong legacy as the voice of Australia’s touring industry. Our role now is to build on that foundation and ensure our members continue to have a dedicated forum and strong representation within a united industry body.”
World Expeditions Travel Group CEO Badyari’s inspiring speech relayed her love of travel, built over adventurous family holidays, plus entering her first job at the age of 20, knowing she wanted to share that love with others.
Jardine’s achievements meanwhile were also numerous, building CATO from 85 members to close to the 200 that it is today. He thanked an array of supporters, both past and present, including Bunnik, who he said was now like a brother, alongside Julie King, Martin Edwards and David Walker who said called him every day of his treatment. Praise was also heaped in Lisa Maroun, Josie Gruber and Mira Yates for their support and hard work. Jardine saved his final thanks for wife Lisa Pagotto – at home nursing their sick cat – whom he met after he first joined CATO and she was on the board.
“I would like say thank you to Covid and CATO for bringing us together,” he said, then spoke via video, streaming him live to Pagotto. “Thank you. I love you.”
The ‘New’ CATO
Both Jardine and Bunnik built such a significant amount of the trust that CATO members recently voted unanimously to combine forces with ATIA.
The CATO dinner marked the first full gathering of members after the merger with the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), to deliver a single, unified peak body for Australia’s travel agents, tour operators, wholesalers and travel management companies. At the dinner, Christian Hunter also thanked CATO members for supporting the vote.
From 1 July 2026, the CATO division will be embedded in the ATIA constitution and can only be dissolved by a joint vote of both CATO division members and ATIA members.
As for the ‘New CATO’, nothing will change with events such as the famous CATO Christmas Lunch, the Hall of Fame dinner, Womens’ Day Lunch and networking drinks all remaining.
“Above all we want to assure you that CATO continues to be a really loud voice,” Sean Martin said, with foreign-owned DMCs next on the fight card.
