SPEAKERS

Debra Almason is currently Director of University of California’s Travel Management Services. She joined UC in 2008 as a project manager responsible for implementing ten campuses, five medical centers and Office of the President transitioning from a decentralized to managed travel program.  As director, Debra is responsible for strategic initiatives, travel supplier relationships, utilization growth and program savings.

Debra has been a travel industry professional for over three decades. She spent her first five years in the industry focused on professional sports and entertainment travel, and the past 27 years have been dedicated to business and academic travel.

Debra’s experiences as both the supplier and buyer have given her a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities presented in the dynamic world of academic travel, and provided Debra with endless possibilities ranging from innovation with cutting-edge business practices, to striking the right balance between system cost management and the customer experience.  Debra’s reputation and expansive industry knowledge has earned her appointments on a number of supplier advisory boards.