TIA Team

What do you do at TIA?
My role leads membership services, advocacy, policy and sustainability for TIA and is integral to ensuring we are delivering impact for our members and the industry.

What's your career background?
I have a background in marketing and market research along with developing the value propositions and service experience for different market segments. I then expanded my career to include corporate communications and stakeholder engagement. I’ve worked for significant New Zealand brands including Wellington Airport, Telecom, NZ Post and Outward Bound.

What do you do for fun?
My family would say that I spend a considerable amount of time on the water. I was one of the first people to do wingfoiling in the country and I also surf foil and windsurf. I also like skiing and mountain biking – pretty much anything outdoors that NZ has to offer.

What’s one thing every visitor to New Zealand should do?
This is a tough one but I’ll go with the place I love to holiday the most which is Wainui Beach in Tairawhiti Gisborne and then most recently we were on the West Coast of the South Island near Punakaiki which has both an amazing coastline and the Paparoa National Park.  

What do you do at TIA?
My role includes working with the media, providing interesting stories and information about our industry and promoting the great work TIA does. I do this both for the public at large and for our members.

What's your career background?
After a long period in journalism and writing for several key media outlets, I’ve been working in communications more recently and now am very pleased to help represent the tourism industry, an industry which is really resetting itself after COVID. It’s refreshing.

What do you think about travelling?
I love it! I’ve been fortunate to travel to a number of far-flung countries and salivate over the photos for years! It only stands to reason that I’d want the same for people coming to New Zealand. However, we know that travel has an impact, so the key is to not only make our tourism a great experience but regenerative – ie. leaves the place better for your arrival. I’m a big fan of slow travel.

What’s your favourite place in New Zealand?
I actually adore the Kapiti coastline, which is so beautiful from so many angles. However, if asked by an overseas visitor, I’d probably steer them to the South Island West Coast and Nelson for the stunning shorelines and natural beauty. You can see I’m a beach baby.

What do you do for fun?
I love hanging out with my family, op shopping and festival films (armchair travel!). I live in the beautiful Wairarapa where every season has something going on. So I’m often out enjoying events revolving around books, balloons, wine and the like.

What do you do at TIA?
As Membership Coordinator, I am the first point of contact for membership-related enquiries and requests. I also ensure our membership processes are streamlined, maintain data integrity within our IT systems and provide general support for the wider Membership and Advocacy Team and our wonderful Tourism Sustainability Commitment programme.

What's your career background?
My previous roles have included working for an inbound travel operator, a travel software company and I stepped away from tourism for a public sector role before returning to my tourism roots at TIA.

What do you do for fun?
Fun these days mostly revolves around small person appropriate activities; we mostly go for bike rides on our local cycle trails and bush and beach walks. Limited but dedicated 'me time' includes planting and maintaining our native garden, going to Qigong class and running my local 5km Park Run at 8am on Saturday morning!

What's one thing every visitor to New Zealand should do?
There is so much to see and do in Taranaki and the mountain is spectacular. Pukekura Park, particularly when the Festival of Lights is on, walking or biking the Coastal Walkway, doing a day walk at Mt Taranaki and a sunset climb up Paritutu Rock are must dos. Also, in my opinion, Fitzroy is home to the best mince and cheese pie in the country!

What do you do at TIA?
I look after TIA’s finances, IT platforms and provide a range of business support services to the rest of the TIA team.

What's your career background?
My background before joining TIA included running a tourism business in the Cook Islands and a law firm in Nelson.

What do you do for fun?
My passion is golf followed closely by travel and wining and dining. Often all three at once!

What is your NZ hidden gem?
The Motueka Golf Course – it’s been named NZ golf course of the year.

What do you do at TIA?
I’m a sustainability advocate – working to make tourism in NZ more sustainable. As well as considering environmental factors and reducing the carbon footprint of the sector, I also factor in the needs of our local communities, the visitors themselves and economic sustainability too.

What's your career background?
Most recently I was the destination manager for Te Tauihu (Nelson Tasman). I’ve also worked in regional wine marketing and for over a decade I ran my own business which was focussed on teaching a range of languages to children throughout New Zealand and Australia.

What do you do for fun?
I love to explore our national parks on foot, kayaks or bikes. Nelson Lakes National Park is my favourite for its wonderful (but often under-appreciated) mountains, freezing lakes and awesome mountain bike trails.

Do you have any pets or fur babies?
I have an elderly cat and a sweet young pup who I try to talk to in te reo. She gets “E kai” right every time, “E noho” and “E hikoi” are pretty good but “Hāere mai” needs a bit more training.

What do you do at TIA? 
I lead TIA’s Engagement and Partnerships team. This talented group looks after communications, marketing, commercial partnerships and all TIA’s amazing events including the New Zealand Tourism Awards, Tourism Summit Aotearoa and TRENZ

What's your career background? 
I started in the industry working for an inbound operator, and subsequently worked in sales and marketing in most sectors of the industry including attractions,. accommodation, transport and an RTO. I also have a strong background in events, including working on an Olympic Games, New Zealand National Fieldays and many large business events.

What do you do for fun? 
Anything that involves getting into nature and/or getting wet! I also enjoy spending time with my two daughters and my fur kid, Harry the terrier mix.

If you could be on any reality TV show, what would it be?
I would love to be on Travel Guides – visiting new places, having adventures and telling everyone about my experiences!

What do you do at TIA? 
I provide administration and coordination support for the engagement and partnerships team to plan and deliver TIA events. 

What’s your career background? 
I recently graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with degrees in Marketing and Tourism Management. My love for events emerged from working functions at a boutique hotel and later getting involved with events at Te Papa. 

What do you do for fun?
I absolutely love going on bush walks around New Zealand. Otherwise I’m a sucker for wine & cheese, op-shopping, board games and admittedly, reality tv. 

Would you rather sing or dance in front of a crowd?
If I’m in a group of people I’d happily do either (not a chance if it’s a solo performance)! Choir, musicals, kapa haka… you name it, I’m there.

What do you do at TIA?
I am the EA to the Chief Executive and also Governance Secretariat for TIA.

What's your career background?
I have 35 years' experience in a wide range of business sectors with experience as PA/EA, event organising, payroll administrator, office administrator - in both South Africa and New Zealand. Call me a 'Jane of all trades' – I have worked in the steel manufacturing industry, banking, civil engineering, automotive engineering and medical practices. My last position before moving to New Zealand was as a founder/director of a non-profit organisation in South Africa, juggling that with being a PA to the CEO of a Chamber of Commerce. Gaining the Kiwi experience I worked in a deli, local government, maintenance and construction and Central Government, all in different roles.

What do you do for fun?
My husband and I go for long walks in every park we can find in Wellington as well as spending hours on the beaches around our city – always having my camera with me. I am on the organising committee for quarterly dances and get together for South Africans in the Wellington area to meet up and make new friends. When the weather acts up, I spend time at home being creative.

If you could be on any reality TV show, what would it be?
I would love to be on Survivor!

What do you do at TIA?
As the Digital Communications Specialist I am responsible for ensuring that all digital content coming from TIA is accurate and useful to our community, ranging from the website through to our social channels.

What's your career background?
My career has been largely focused on marketing where I have worked in a variety of industries like property, entertainment, and film. 

What do you do for fun?
I love to get out for a hike and be among birdsong! I also enjoy creative writing as a fun way to get all of my ideas out into a tangible form.

Would you rather sing or dance in front of a crowd?
Both - I don't know why I haven't been signed to a label yet.