Flight Centre Travel Group gm New Zealand Heidi Walker says she has returned from a women’s expedition in Nepal with Intrepid Travel, with a more realistic view on equitable leadership and the importance of empathy.
The Nepalese adventure was hosted by a female leader and the group hike with an all-female porter crew.
Experiences along the way included a cooking class at Sungabha Nepal, an organisation that socially and economically empowers marginalised women in Nepal through education programs.
There was also a visit to NGO Days for Girls, which focuses on menstrual health education projects and eliminating the Chhaupadi practice in Nepal, which prevents women from being involved in activities whilst menstruating.
. . . Impact
Walker says the trip showed her that equity and leadership are grounded in understanding people’s lived realities, not assumptions.
“Meeting women in Nepal who are driving grassroots change, especially through organisations like Women for Days and Sungabha, reminded me that equity looks different depending on the barriers people face.”
On travelling with an all-women group, she says there was an immediate sense of openness, and a real camaraderie formed.
“Whether we were processing difficult stories from the organisations we visited, or facing yet another hill to climb, someone was always there to encourage you, check in, or simply walk beside you.”
Walker also added that travelling with an all-female group highlighted how important psychological safety is, with trust forming quickly.
“It made me reflect on how differently teams show up when they feel genuinely safe and seen.”
Overall, she says the trip showed her that when tourism is designed thoughtfully, travellers can become part of the solution, not the problem. “It reinforced that responsible travel isn’t just about reducing harm it’s about creating real, positive impact for the places we visit.”
. . . FCTG Gives
Flight Centre Travel Group has partnered with The Intrepid Foundation to launch a global giving program, FCTG Gives, which allows Flight Centre the ability to fundraise, volunteer and give back to communities around the world.
Agents will be able to participate in Intrepid’s annual industry campaigns, such as the Blue Dragon Marathon Walk, and launch their own fundraising campaigns.
Walker says the Flight Centre Foundation has been active in New Zealand for many years, but this new framework allows people around the world to get involved, no matter where they live or work.
More information on Intrepid’s women-only expeditions can be found HERE, and on FCTG Gives HERE.
