Carnival UK leader named on 2026 Women to Watch list

We’re proud to share that Helen Adams, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Carnival UK, has been recognised in the 2026 Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail (WiHTL) Index. 

Helen was recognised externally and nominated following her recent appointment as CFO, recognising her progression to executive leadership within a traditionally male-dominated function and sector. Her role and visibility at the top of a leading travel and leisure organisation make her a strong role model for women aspiring to senior leadership careers across the industry. 

Now in its eighth year, the Women to Watch Index celebrates over 100 senior women leaders who are shaping the future of the hospitality, travel, leisure and retail sectors, recognising their impact, leadership and influence across the industry. You can read the full report here (or skip to p.7 to find out more about Helen). 

Helen’s inclusion reflects her strategic leadership at Carnival UK and the role she plays in supporting sustainable growth, strong governance and inclusive decision making across the business. As CFO, she continues to make a significant contribution to how we navigate complexity, invest for the future and deliver for our people and our guests. 

“I’m really proud to be included in the 2026 Women to Watch Index. This recognition reflects the support and collaboration of the brilliant teams I work with across Carnival UK, and the importance of creating environments where diverse leadership can thrive. Visible role models matter, and I’m passionate about encouraging and supporting the next generation of leaders.” 

Helen Adams, Chief Financial Officer 

The Index highlights the importance of visibility and representation at senior levels, aiming to inspire future leaders and accelerate progress towards greater gender balance across the industry. 

Helen’s advice to women building a career in hospitality, travel and leisure
Helen has clear advice for women who want to build a career in hospitality, travel and leisure: be open to learning and ask questions, keep evolving your perspective in an industry that never stands still, and say yes to opportunities as they arise, even if they feel stretching.

She also believes our sector will continue to see people investing more in experiences, which means getting even smarter about understanding our guests and tailoring every detail of their time with us.

Congratulations to Helen on this well deserved achievement! 

Inclusion and gender balance at Carnival UK
Carnival UK is committed to creating a place where everyone can belong and thrive. Our teams represent over 100 nationalities across ship and shore, and we actively celebrate diversity in every part of the business.

We support inclusion and gender balance through:

• Clear Core Values, including Speak Up, Respect and Protect, Listen and Learn and Better Together, which shape how we work together.
• Colleague‑led inclusion networks such as Athena (gender equality), Reach (race and ethnicity), Spectrum (LGBTQ+ inclusion) and m’power (disability and accessibility).
• Leadership development, mentoring and learning resources that help people grow their careers at every stage.
• A focus on wellbeing, flexibility and support for parents and carers, both on board and shoreside.

We know representation at senior levels matters. Leaders like Helen play a key part in showing what’s possible and in creating space for the next generation to follow.

Building your leadership career with Carnival UK
Whether you’re starting out or ready for your next senior move, Carnival UK offers a wide range of careers across finance, technology, commercial, operations and many more specialisms, both in our Southampton head office and with our ships’ company.

At Carnival UK you’ll find structured learning, from apprenticeships to leadership programmes; supportive line managers and a culture that encourages feedback and growth; opportunities to move across roles, brands and locations as your career develops; a focus on wellbeing, flexibility and a modern, inclusive workplace.

If you’re inspired by Helen’s story and want to grow your own leadership career in travel, we’d love to hear from you.