Our Team
Please meet your Focus Central team below – combined we have over 195 years of business travel experience working for both independent and global TMCs.
Abby Penston
Chief Executive Officer
Location: Felixstowe
When and where did you join the travel industry: In 1996 I started in the hotel sector, then took a break into Technical Service for eight years before joining a Travel Management Company in 2012.
Superpower: Talent spotting which is massively reflective in my Central Team
Biggest weakness: Bradley Walsh
Hot drink choice: Cup of tea every time
Favourite quote: ‘You live but once, you may as well be amusing!’ Coco Chanel
Favourite country to visit: Italy- Amazing culture, steeped in history and the arts with amazing food and wine – what more could a girl want!
Anne Marie Crawford
Business Development Manager
Location: Staffordshire
When and where did you join the travel industry: Birmingham 1992
Superpower: Memory for people and places – can lead to embarrassment when people don’t remember me as well as I remember them! When it comes to places – when I’ve been once I can go again even without the Satnav!
Biggest weakness: Chocolate and my children
Hot drink choice: Tea
Favourite quote: ’The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Albert Einstein!’
Favourite country to visit: USA
Averil Hooper
Business Solution Manager
Location: St Albans, Hertfordshire
When and where did you join the travel industry: I started at AA Travel (back in the day when they had retail on the high street, yup don’t do the maths) issuing camping carnets and international driving permits along with the traditional retail bookings. I have been really lucky to have worked in some amazing roles in travel ever since, crossing every area of the industry.
Superpower: Making the impossible seem possible.
Biggest weakness: Planning the next holiday adventure.
Hot drink choice: A proper flat white.
Favourite quote: ’Do what you’ve always done, get what you’ve always got ‘
Favourite country to visit: Cambodia. Full of surprises. And the nicest people you could ever meet.
Barry Higgott
Technical Support Executive
Location: Northumberland
When and where did you join the travel industry: I started working for British Rail in 1990, initially in the ticket office before moving into Corporate Travel with Turista in 1995.
Superpower: Organisation skills
Biggest weakness: I love hot curries
Hot drink choice: Coffee
Favourite quote: ‘Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer’
Favourite country to visit: Kauai (Small Island Paradise only 20 minutes away from Honolulu). I visited when I managed to get cheap flights in the summer school holiday period and travelled to Lihue, Honolulu, Los Angeles and then up to Seattle. We didn’t know what to expect and in hindsight would have stayed in Kauai for the full holiday as it was so amazing!
Dani Ives
Partnership Project Manager
Location: South East London
When and where did you join the travel industry: I started at Instone Marine Travel, Brentwood, Essex in 2009 as a junior consultant and making tea!
Superpower: Extreme organisation skills and keeping a calm head
Biggest weakness: Animals, especially dogs!
Hot drink choice: Earl grey tea with milk
Favourite quote: ‘In a world where you can be anything, be kind’
Favourite country to visit: Spain! Good weather, beautiful culture as well as amazing food and wine. If you haven’t been, head to Valencia!
Gillian Keir
Online Support and Training Manager
Location: East Kilbride, Glasgow, Bonnie Scotland
When and where did you join the travel industry: Started as a modern apprentice at Thomas Cook in May 2000 (thanks to one of our current Focus Partner’s employees who recruited me into this role). I love the buzz of travel, booking it, experiencing it and just talking about it!
Superpower: Me! I am my own superpower, being able to find the positive in almost anything.
Biggest weakness: Primark, I can never just buy what I went in for!
Hot drink choice: Decaffeinated tea with one sugar and a coo (milk) – or a mulled wine at Christmas
Favourite quote: ‘Everything happens for a reason’
Favourite country to visit: USA – my bucket list is to visit every State. I have already ticked off the smallest one.
Hazel Dawson
Commercial Manager
Location: Whyteleafe, Surrey
When and where did you join the travel industry: Officially in 1988 when I became a Tour Guide with Contiki 18-30 coach touring holidays and later joined the corporate travel industry in 1994 as a PA.
Superpower: Looking at the detail and keeping organised
Biggest weakness: Handbags, backpacks and suitcases – I get bored of them quite quickly
Hot drink choice: Black coffee in the morning to kick-start and relaxing peppermint tea in the afternoon
Favourite quote: ‘A sprinkle of fairy dust’
Favourite country to visit: Dubai – I just never tire of the ever-changing architecture .. but the sun and high quality of hotels helps too!
Joanne Emerson
PR & Marketing Executive
Location: Sunny Sussex
When and where did you join the travel industry: 1994 as a trainee with Thomas Cook in Streatham High Road! Then onto American Express Travel, Fleet Street Travel, and Uniglobe Travel in Brighton & London. I also had a little break from the industry working for The National Trust and in the Legal sector.
Superpower: Multi-tasking, and I have a song in my head for every occasion in life, just don’t ask me to sing!
Biggest weakness: Dipping my spoon into a jar of Nutella.
Hot drink choice: Earl grey with milk and sugar.
Favourite quote: ‘My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.’ — Maya Angelou
Favourite country to visit: It’s between Australia and the USA, and I still have lots more to explore.
Laura Currie
Business and Fares Support Executive
Location: Kent
When and where did you join the travel industry: I started at Amex in 1997 in the fares team, auditing PNRs to achieve cheaper fares.
Superpower: A quick learner
Biggest weakness: Hand-picked blackberries with yoghurt
Hot drink choice: Pukka’s aniseed, fennel and cardamom tea
Favourite quote: ‘Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain’
Favourite country to visit: Canada, I love the big open spaces, fresh air, mountains and the lovely people.
Tracey Pearce
Partnership Support Executive
Location: Hersham Surrey
When and where did you join the travel industry: 1993
Superpower: I remember all words from songs
Biggest weakness: Chocolate
Hot drink choice: Decaff tea
Favourite quote: ‘Don’t look back, you’re not going that way’
Favourite country to visit: US.