Four business travel industry leaders, from four different countries, received the Association of Corporate Travel Executives' (ACTE) highest awards for performance and dedication to the profession, and for commitment to the environment. According to the association’s Executive Director Susan Gurley, the presentations were made before 1,000 business travel managers assembled in Rome for ACTE’s final 20th Anniversary Global Education Conference.

Margaret Hansen, from the United States, Global Procurement Director of Corporate Travel for A.T. Kearney, Inc., and Margrethe Sagevik, from France, Senior Advisor, Sustainable Development for the International Union of Railroads, were each recipients of the Corporate Social Responsibility Award. This award, the first of its kind in the industry, is presented to business travel executives who incorporate an eco-sensitive approach to conservation or environmental rejuvenation with their travel programs.

Margaret Hansen was honored for building a sustainability program from the ground up. Under her direction, the program measured and offset carbon emissions derived from travel, and set new standards for carbon reporting. This was in accordance with a corporate pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by the end of 2009.

Margrethe Sagevik was acknowledged for developing the EcoPassenger Tool, which measures CO2 and exhaust atmospheric emissions of different transport modes for all European routes.  It was built on the successful methodology and experience with the EconTransit Freight tool.

ACTE’s Advancing the Industry Award is presented to travel management practitioners who advocate and promote innovation and progress throughout the profession. This year’s recipient was Herman Mensink, Vice President EMEA Prism Group, Inc., for years of service in dealing with the European Union, in interpreting trends and developments for ACTE, and for promoting ACTE’s principles as the basic tenets of international travel.  Mr. Mensink is from the Netherlands.

The President’s Award – the highest award conferred by the association – was presented to Catherine Lundberg, Principal & Senior Consultant, CMM Consulting, for her dedication and commitment to ACTE. Speaker, panelist, leader, and advisor, Lundberg, who is from Sweden, is always a visible presence in the forefront of ACTE events. She has played a pivotal role in ACTE education both in regional forums and in global conferences.

“This association, and this industry, is fortunate to draw upon this caliber of executives and to honor them for their dedication, expertise and leadership,” said Gurley. “We’re proud to publicly acknowledge their efforts today, and to make these award presentations a part of ACTE’s 20th Anniversary celebration.”