Meet the Diversity Travel Team: Eddie Shaw

This month’s sixty seconds is with our new Finance Director, Eddie Shaw. He gives an insight into his role, reveals what attracted him to join the Diversity Travel team and shares his top travel spots of California.

What does your job involve?

I lead the Finance team, and I see my role as being twofold: one to set and help deliver the strategy of the Finance function and ensure that they are a team that goes beyond just producing the numbers and really adds value to the business; secondly to bring a Finance viewpoint and business acumen gained from my experience of different industries and company sizes to help the board steer Diversity to the next stage of it’s very exciting journey.

What are you working on at the moment?

Being new to the travel industry, one of the first things I am doing is gaining an understanding of this complex industry. Beyond that a couple of my early priorities are looking at the risk management strategy of the company, including our tax and foreign exchange risk, and preparing to start the annual budgeting process.

What made you want to join the Diversity Travel team?

A couple of reasons. Firstly I wanted to join a growing company, both for the buzz in the office and for the professional opportunities it provides. Secondly I liked the idea of helping charities, Finance can be a slightly mercenary profession and so recently I have steered my career towards businesses that make the world a better place.

What is the best destination you have travelled to?

California, it has so much to offer. Small homerun B&Bs in the sleepy wine country of Napa Valley, the culture and history of San Francisco (Alcatraz sends shivers down your spine), the spectacular drive down the coast on Route 1, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood & LA, the really chilled out beach vibe of San Diego, the awesome views of the mountains driving through the desert for a quick stop off in Vegas!

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take three things, what would they be?

A smart phone, so that I could keep up to date with the footy scores. A Swiss army knife – presumably that would be all I would need to build a 3 storey mansion like they did in Swiss Family Robinson (is that why it’s called a Swiss army knife?). A volleyball (from a particular sports brand) so that I would have someone to talk to.