Board of Airline Representatives of SA (Barsa) CEO June Crawford has announced that she will be stepping down from her role, effective April 30.

She has held the position since 2014 and is leaving to be able to spend more time with her family in Australia. Crawford will continue to serve on the board of Barsa from May 1 to support the incoming CEO. “The search for a new CEO will commence shortly,” she said.

Crawford has previously held positions at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and been appointed by the then  Minister of Transport to the position on a non-executive director of Air Traffic and Navigation Services (2008-2012), before becoming CEO of ATNS.

She is also currently Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, a board member of the International Women’s Forum of South Africa, she chairs the Aviation Working Group of the South African BRICS Business Council and is a director of Aviation Co-ordination Services.

“It has been my pleasure to serve the international and African member airlines of Barsa, as well as the aviation and tourism industries in a full-time capacity,” she said. “I will continue to support the board, my successor and the team at Barsa – albeit from afar – and look forward to my regular visits back to South Africa.”

Carla da Silva, Barsa Chair, said it had been a pleasure to work closely with a “dynamic and seasoned professional” like Crawford. “She is a woman of excellence, who is extremely passionate about aviation, tourism, corporate governance – and enabling the growth of other women. I am delighted that she will stay on as a Barsa board member, as her wealth of knowledge will continue to add tremendous value,” she commented.

“The Barsa board and team wish to thank June for her incredible work at the helm of the organisation and for always being a proud ambassador for South Africa – and for the aviation and tourism industry.”