TIA Team

Rebecca Ingram

Chief Executive

Rebecca Ingram was appointed to the role of Chief Executive at TIA in March 2022.

Rebecca joined TIA from seven years at Tourism New Zealand (TNZ), where she held various roles including General Manager of New Zealand and Government Relations. She was previously responsible for TNZ’s PR and Major Events, leading a global team across 10 markets in showcasing the best of what New Zealand has to offer to visitors.

Rebecca has 20 years of leadership, marketing and communications expertise, with proven experience delivering successful business strategies, engagement and advocacy programmes and leading complex transformation in her time at both Spark (then Telecom) and Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.

Rebecca is excited to be joining TIA at a critical time in the tourism industry’s history and is looking forward to playing an active role in the re-emergence of tourism for the benefit of Aotearoa.

Bruce Bassett

Strategy and Policy Manager

Mobile: 021 609 674

Email: bruce.bassett@tia.org.nz

Bruce joined the TIA advocacy team in July 2015. He is responsible for providing thought leadership to assist TIA in identifying future trends and the responses required from the tourism industry.

Adrienne Delahunty

Membership Coordinator

DDI: 04 499 0104

Email: adrienne.delahunty@tia.org.nz

Adrienne is a key part of our membership team. She is the person for members to get in touch with about changes to contact details, new cardholders, help with login updates to member listings on the TIA website and requests to be included in TIA email distribution lists.

Steve Hanrahan

Advocacy and Engagement Manager

Mobile: 027 912 2624

Email: steve.hanrahan@tia.org.nz

What do you do at TIA?
As Advocacy and Engagement Manager I work with the team on the ‘near and present danger’ for members, aiming to ensure their views are heard loud and clear by central and local government on the immediate issues facing their businesses. This includes talking and meeting with members, and working with the many government agencies whose work impacts on tourism including MBIE, Immigration NZ, DoC and WorkSafe.

What's your career background?
During my career I’ve worked in senior management positions across the tourism and hospitality industry. I commenced in hotels working in NZ and Fiji, and was with an Industry Training Organisation (ITO) for more than a decade before joining TIA in 2014.

What do you do for fun?
Outside of work I enjoy fishing and recently took up golf. I also love dining out (degustation is my favourite culinary term!).

Who’s in your family?
I’m married to Davina and we have two daughters in their mid-20’s.

Ann-Marie Johnson

Communications Manager

DDI: 04 499 0104

Mobile: 0276 004 565

Email: ann-marie.johnson@tia.org.nz

What do you do at TIA?
I communicate TIA’s work to members, and promote the economic and social value of the visitor industry to the wider public through working with media, TIA newsletters, websites, social media and other tools.

What's your career background?
Before joining TIA in 2005, I was a newspaper journalist for many years. I worked at the Rotorua Daily Post, the Otago Daily Times and the Evening Post/Dominion Post in Wellington.

What do you do for fun?
In my spare time, I enjoy dining out as often as possible, going to the cinema and theatre and gigs, and travel in New Zealand and further afield.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?
It would have to be (a pre-Botox) Nicole Kidman – we share the same curls!

Lori Keller

Industry Advocate

DDI: 04 499 0104

Email: lori.keller@tia.org.nz

What do you do at TIA?
As an Industry Advocate my role is to listen, support, and keep abreast of changes in the tourism industry.

What's your career background?
I’ve been a sanitary technician, a mixologist, an art curator and general ‘Jenny-on the spot’. I’ve also owned a sea kayaking company, managed a geothermal attraction, and had the privilege of working with our national taonga at the Kiwi Birdlife Park.

What do you do for fun?
Fish, ski, tramp and enjoy a whiskey tasting or two.

What's something unique about you?
I’ve been barbed by a stingray and lived to tell the tale.

Shelley Lancaster

Financial Controller

DDI: 04 499 0104

Email: shelley.lancaster@tia.org.nz

What do you do at TIA?
I look after TIA’s finances, along with those of several smaller organisations whose accounts TIA looks after.

What's your career background?
I started off as a lab technician, then a stockbroking analyst, prior to completing a Bachelor of Business Studies in Finance (extramurally) at Massey University which led me into accountancy.

What do you do for fun?
I love to travel – we have just bought a campervan so looking forward to seeing more of New Zealand in that. I also love to tramp and have completed 9 of the 10 Great Walks so far with the final one booked for February 2022.

What is your favourite place to go tramping?
My favourite was the Kepler Track, possibly due to the stunning weather we were lucky to have.

Jan Lang

Business Services Administrator

DDI: 04 499 0104

Email: jan.lang@tia.org.nz

What do you do at TIA?
I provide office support to the team and ensure the smooth running of the business. I am also the Health & Safety Coordinator, I help TIA implement OSH in the workplace.

What's your career background?
I have always been in hospitality, love being involved with people face to face in a variety of ways.

What do you do for fun?
Play football (Tawa AFC). Watch movies, listen to music. Love the outdoors, including camping, walking and the beach. And spending time with family and friends.

What’s one thing every visitor to New Zealand should do?
Go and walk the Tongariro Crossing.

Chris McGeown

Business Services Manager

DDI: 04 499 0104

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.

Melissa Pollard

Events and Marketing Specialist

What do you do at TIA?
I help plan and coordinate all things events for TIA! This can range from member webinars, the Tourism Summit and Awards and then TRENZ which is New Zealand’s biggest annual business-to-business travel and trade event.

What's your career background?Prior to joining TIA, I was a Member Services Coordinator at the New Zealand Law Society l Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa where my main responsibility was in facilitating and organising member events and seminars. Before this, I spent some time abroad in London doing my OE and travelling around Europe.

What do you do for fun?
In my spare time you will find me either on the Netball court (GA 😊) or eating my way around Wellington! Brunch is my favourite meal of the day so love to check out new cafes in the city.

If you could be on any reality TV show, what would it be?
The Block – me and my partner are keen (amateur) renovators and helped do up the parents' house in the past! He doesn’t think I have it in me and will give up in week one but I’m always up to a challenge to prove him wrong.

Gisela Purcell

Sustainability Advocate

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.

Di Reid

Industry Advocate

DDI: 04 499 0104

Email: diane.reid@tia.org.nz

What do you do at TIA?
Being part of the Advocacy and Engagement team, I listen to, speak with and visit our members on a regular basis to make sure that TIA are representing their current views and needs. I'm also co-president of the TIA Breakfast Club!

What's your career background?
Before TIA, I spent 14 years with the i-SITE Visitor Centre Network, looking after the Auckland and Queenstown centres.

What do you do for fun?
I love food and wine, music and concerts, and travelling around the countryside! I also seem to be chief organiser of social events wherever I go!

What's one thing no one knows about you?
One thing nobody at TIA knew about me was that I once fought in a charity boxing match! I came second...

Harriet Riley

HR Manager

DDI: 04 499 0104

What do you do at TIA?
I provide the team with HR and recruitment support.
What's your career background?
I studied human resources at Victoria University and since then I've worked in a range of HR, communications and change management roles. I also run my own business with my mum which is lots of fun and learning for us both.

What do you do for fun?
I love the process of making things with my hands and outside of work I spend a lot of time either at my sewing machine drafting a new dress design or in the kitchen making something (hopefully) delicious for my flatmates.

Would you rather sing or dance in front of a crowd?
I wouldn't subject you to my singing but I've been known to bust out some moves when the occasion arises.

Lynn Robinson

Events and Marketing Manager

DDI: 04 499 0104

Email: lynn.robinson@tia.org.nz

Lynn has been with TIA since June 2018, initially as a Sustainability Advocate before taking on the role of Events and Marketing Manager in January 2021.

Tania Rook

Senior Events & Marketing Specialist

DDI: 04 595 4914

Email: tania.rook@tia.org.nz

What do you do at TIA?
I look after the TIA events programme, including New Zealand Tourism Awards, Tourism Summit Aotearoa and Discussing Tourism events including the webinar programme.

What's your career background?
Prior to TIA I was a senior marketer at the Institute of Directors, and before that I was the communications and events coordinator at the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.

What do you do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with family, reading and gardening and I'm involved with the local football club.

What's one thing you're doing in pursuit of sustainability?
I've switched to a sustainable gin!

Brooke Tomoana

Business Systems Specialist

DDI: 04 499 0104

Email: brooke.tomoana@tia.org.nz

Brooke joined TIA in September 2017 as our IT Specialist, supporting the team in ensuring all our technology related platforms are implemented, operate efficiently and are fit for purpose.

Cheryl Whitfield

Communications and Brand Specialist

DDI: 04 499 0104

Mobile: 021 195 7293

Email: cheryl.whitfield@tia.org.nz

What do you do at TIA?
I communicate TIA’s key messages to the industry, the government and our members. I'm also the guardian of the TIA brand.

What's your career background?
Before TIA, I was an Editor and Digital Communications Manager in the education sector. Prior to that I was a children’s book editor in the UK, proving my English Literature degree wasn't useless after all.

What do you do for fun?
I love horror movies, making my own clothes and championing the board game revival. At the weekend I can be found scouring Wellington's op shops for a sustainable steal or hunting for the city's best vegetarian takeaway.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
The ability to speak all languages, including animal. I'd make millions as a translator and could retire to the woods with my one-eyed cat Hex.

Megan Williams

Sustainability Advocate

DDI: 04 499 0104

Email: megan.williams@tia.org.nz

What do you do at TIA?
As a Sustainability Advocate, I’m here to champion and assist the industry work towards a more regenerative tourism system. We must transition to a lower carbon future and ensure that tourism benefits New Zealand communities.

What's your career background?
I’ve been involved in tourism and community development forever. I’ve enjoyed the balance of working on grass roots environmental and social projects as well as running tourism businesses.

What do you do for fun?
I love getting into the outdoors – skiing, biking and tramping. I’m also keen on hanging with friends and enjoy a good boogie on the dance floor

What’s one thing you’re doing in pursuit of sustainability?
I’m trying hard to reduce plastic packaging, but it’s so tricky at the supermarket! My current mission is creating new habits around refilling those good old glass jars.

TIA Team

Thanks to our strategic partners