Lynda Ugarte-Carral

Independent Director

Lynda Ugarte-Carral joined the SaCSA board on 30 October 2024. Lynda is a member of the SaCSA Nominations Committee and Chairs the SaCSA Hospitality SWAG.

Lynda is an experienced business executive with human resources expertise across various sectors within hospitality including Hotel/Motel, Restaurants and Hospitality Education.

From 2014 and 2024, Lynda was Head of Human Resources with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for Japan, Australasia and the Pacific. Working as part of the Executive Leadership team based in Australia, she was responsible for the design and delivery of the people strategy across 10 countries, 130 hotels with 14,0000 colleagues. She has been at the forefront of industry impact and change post Covid and has created innovative talent solutions and programs to support significant growth and business performance within IHG.

From 2006 to 2013, Lynda held executive leadership roles with IHG specialising in Recruitment, Learning and Development and Hotel HR Operations within Australasia.  Between 2019 to 2024, Lynda was also Chair of the National Advisory Council for Employment within Accommodation Australia.

Prior to joining IHG, Lynda worked in Hotel School education as Senior Lecturer and created Career Management Programs in partnership with industry.

Lynda is a passionate, values based, solutions driven and future orientated industry advocate and business leader who continues her significant industry contribution in advisory and board roles.