World Expeditions Travel Group is proud to announce that CEO Sue Badyari has been inducted into the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) Hall of Fame, one of the Australian travel industry's highest honours.
Sue received the award at the CATO Members Dinner and Hall of Fame Awards in Sydney on Thursday evening, recognising more than three decades of leadership and her significant contribution to Australian adventure travel and responsible tourism.
The induction follows a series of major industry accolades for Sue, including Executive Leader of the Year and Woman of the Year at the 2025 Australian Women in Travel Awards, and Sustainable Champion of the Year at the 2024 Women in Travel Awards.
Joining World Expeditions in 1986, Sue progressed through the business from reception to CEO, taking the helm in 1999. Since then, she has overseen the transformation of World Expeditions from a single-brand adventure travel company into a global travel group comprising 17 specialist travel brands operating across multiple international markets.
Under Sue's leadership, World Expeditions has become widely recognised as a leader in responsible travel. She has driven industry-leading initiatives including the introduction of porter, child and animal welfare policies, carbon offsetting, community-based tourism programs and the company's Responsible Travel Guidebook. She also established the World Expeditions Foundation, which supports education, environmental and community projects in destinations around the world.
The company has achieved numerous milestones during Sue's tenure, including becoming the first commercial operator of the full 1,700-kilometre Nepal traverse of the Great Himalaya Trail, establishing Australia's first Charity Challenge with The Fred Hollows Foundation, developing the award-winning eco-comfort camps on the Larapinta Trail, and expanding through brands including UTracks, Tasmanian Expeditions, Adventure South NZ and Sherpa Expeditions.
Accepting the award, Sue thanked her colleagues and global partners for their support.
"I am incredibly honoured and humbled to receive this recognition. Adventure travel has changed enormously since I joined World Expeditions in 1986, but the values that underpin it have not. Meaningful experiences, respect for local communities and protecting the natural environment remain at the heart of everything we do. I proudly accept this award on behalf of our wonderful team at World Expeditions Travel Group and our partners around the world."
Beyond the growth of World Expeditions Travel Group, Sue has been a respected advocate for responsible tourism, sustainable business practices and community partnership throughout the travel industry. She has also championed opportunities for women in leadership and helped foster the next generation of adventure travel professionals.
Sue's induction into the CATO Hall of Fame recognises a career that has helped shape Australia's adventure travel sector while demonstrating that commercial success and responsible tourism can go hand in hand.