Last updated on March 5th, 2025
empowering women and accelerating diversity and inclusion
JourneyWoman Women’s Speaker’s Bureau
We created our Women’s Speaker’s Bureau in August 2023 to respond to an urgent need — to do our part and help shift stereotypes and bring the issues of ageism, accessibility, safety and diversity to the forefront. Women are integral to travel and make 85% of all travel decisions. However, JourneyWoman’s December 2022 study, “The Influence and Affluence of the Solo Female Traveler Over 50”, showed that 70% of women over 50 felt ignored and undervalued by the travel industry, despite representing trillions in spending power. Women over 50 are the fastest-growing demographic over the next 10 years, according to a recent study.
We’ve noticed that there isn’t enough representation of women at webinars, conferences and events, and we want to change that. As travellers, entrepreneurs, teachers, educators, writers and activists, we can use our voices to create positive change and accelerate inclusion and diversity in travel. We welcome and invite submissions from all women to join our Women’s Speaker’s Bureau and invite those planning events, conferences and webinars to include women. Together, we can make a difference.
Women’s Safety, Accessibility and Inclusion

Brenda Holder
Women in Indigenous Tourism

Alexandra Adams
The UK's first Deaf/Blind Doctor

Stephanie M. Jones
Advocate for Black + Brown Small Businesses

Tanzila Khan
Accessible Solo Travel

Lola Akinmade Akerstrom
Award-winning Visual Storyteller

Jan Bonville
Inclusive Nature Travel

Tracey Breeden
Women's Safety, LGBTQ+ Advocate

Paige Hanson
Cybersecurity + Safety Expert

Natalie Preddie
BIPOC Travel + Responsible Tourism

Watcharapon (Sia) Kukaewkasem
Women's Empowerment in SE Asia

Ruth Rathblott
Accessible Travel

Ginny Lunn
Adventure in Midlife and After Loss

Carolyn Pearson
Travel Safety and Security

Jackie Roby
Inclusion in Travel
Travel at Any Age

Diana Eden
Travel for Women Over 80

Joyce Perrin
Adventure At Any Age

Adriane G. Berg
The Ageless Traveller

Jeannie Ralston
Solo Travel For Older Women

Kathy Buckworth
Multi-Generational Travel

Mary Beth McCabe
5 Steps to Solo Travel

Elaine Lee
African American Travel + Solo Travel

Mary Charleson
Adventure Travel For 50+

Julie Lewis
Adventure Travel at Any Age

Karen Gershowitz
Solo Travel + Mobility

Penny Sadler
Travel Over 60

Debbie Dotson
Senior Travel

Kat Medina
Solo Travel

Barbara Talisman
Solo Travel for Women 60+

Sinead Kennedy
Solo Travel Expert
Sustainable + Transformational Travel

Anna Pollock
Sustainabiltiy + Regenerative Tourism

Catherine Germier-Hamel
Sustainable Tourism Development

Vicky Smith
Sustainable Tourism + Entrepreneurship

Dawn Booker
Entrepreneur and Fearless Traveler

Tonya Fitzpatrick, Esq.
Transformative Travel

Timathea Workman
Humanitarian Travel

Rupi Mangat
Wildlife Conservation & Wildlife Safaris

Nora Livingstone
Conservation + Wildlife Ethics

Laine Gonzales
Volunteering + Wildlife Conservation

Ana Ines Figueroa
Responsible Travel

Carolyn Ray
CEO, JourneyWoman Women's Empowerment + Entrepreneur

Phyllis Stoller
Expertise in Women's Travel

Casey Hanisko
Leadership With Purpose

Gina Jardine
Women in Leadership

Habiba El Kasri
Women's Empowerment + Entrepreneurship

Joy Sherman
Female Yacht Captain

Valérie Besanceney
International Education & Transition Consultant

Nelanthini Rajesan
Women's Empowerment

Anietra Hamper
Women in the Outdoors

Monika Lewicka
Women Empowerment + Life Transitions

Lucy Reynolds
Empowering Women for Lasting Transformation

Nicole Alexander
Global Insights on Ethical Leadership

Sunniva Sorby
Adventure with Purpose + Leadership
Wellness and Health

Rona Maynard
Finding Joy and Purpose

Sallie Fraenkel
Expert in Wellness Travel and Tourism

Alana Van Der Sluys
Freedom with Food and Fitness

Shawna Robins
Midlife Health + Wellness

Libby Wildman
Safeguarding Your Financial Future

Monique Toonen
Become Financially Independent

Susan Sommers
Health and Fitness for Women

Colleen Miniuk
Creativity, Freedom, and Fulfillment + Outdoor Adventures

Crystal Carnahan
(W)holistic Well-being

Stella Kamba
Fitness & Adventure Travel

Heather Morton
Yoga Expert + Life in India & Asia

Cassandra Washington
Wellness Travel For Women 50+

Meg Kissinger
Breaking the Shame of Mental Illness

Dr Hazel Aranha
Infectious Diseases + Travel
Cultural Immersion

Caryl Dolinko
Global Travel + Cultural Diversity

Dr Angela Clark
Exploration + Cross-Cultural Experiences

Dee Gibson
Design and Culture

Paula Mohammed
Exploring Cultures Through Food

Kris Rudolph
Culinary Tourism

Lise Hines
Culinary Tourism + Memorable Experiences

Vanessa Marino
Community Based Tourism

Judith von Prockl
Culinary Tourism
Destination + Group Travel Experts

Cathy Gotfried
Southeast Asia and Group Travel

Regina Winkle-Bryan
Walking Spain's Camino de Santiago

Mariellen Ward
India Travel Expert

Nikki Padilla Rivera
Group Tours + Tour Guides

Talek Nantes
Expert on Cuba and Travel Planning

Zoe Disigny
European Travel + Art History

Siham Lahmine
Leading Tours + Travel Organization

Doni Belau
Women-Only Tourism

Karin Jones
African Safari + Sustainable Tourism

Laura Simpson
Safaris to Tanzania

Kathy Wood
European Travel + Cultural Immersion