Tourism Summit Speakers

David Altena

Strategic Engagement Manager, Quanton 

David Altena is a Strategic Engagement Manager at Quanton, and founding director of The Better SMB.  

Drawing on more than 30 years across technology, commercial leadership and business transformation, he helps organisations translate ambition and innovation into stronger commercial performance. 

His MBA research into New Zealand’s productivity challenge found that sustainable improvement depends not simply on adopting new technology, but on connecting leadership, strategy and execution. Through his work David helps leaders strengthen those foundations, make clearer choices about where to invest, and use data, AI and automation in ways that create measurable value. 

Jonas Bengtsson

Co-founder, Edge Impact

Jonas Bengtsson co-founded Edge Impact in 2008 and led it as CEO to more than 100 people across four countries before its sale to RSK Group in 2024. He now works independently through Klar Advisory, sits on the Steering Committee of the UNEP Life Cycle Initiative, and advises the New Zealand Green Building Council. Former President of the Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society. 

C.A. Clark

VP of AI, Miles Partnership

C.A. is the vice president of AI and is based in New Zealand. He has been with Miles for over 20 years and has experience in just about every facet of digital destination marketing. A former expert motorcycle road racer, C.A. began riding motorcycles with his family at age 8. He’s owned dozens of motorcycles of every kind and attended training in nearly every type of motorcycle discipline. 

In 2025, C.A. was named one of HSMAI's Top 25 Extraordinary Minds, a recognition that reflects his leadership in helping destinations and hospitality organizations navigate the practical implications of AI. 

Jenny-May Clarkson

MC 

Jenny-May Clarkson is a dynamic broadcaster, celebrated sportswoman, and advocate for community and cultural empowerment. With over 30 years of professional experience, she has excelled in roles spanning television and radio broadcasting, international sports, coaching, and social advocacy.
 
As a well-known face of New Zealand morning television, Jenny-May is renowned for her authenticity, empathy, and ability to connect with diverse audiences. She has reported on significant national and international events, earning accolades such as the Voyager Media Award for Best Shortform Video.
 
A former New Zealand netball and touch rugby representative, Jenny-May also served as Assistant Coach for the Northern Mystics, demonstrating her leadership both on and off the court. Her passion for fostering growth extends to her work as an Athlete Life Advisor and as a champion for women in leadership.
 
Away from the spotlight, Jenny-May is a proud mother to twin boys and stepmother to two daughters, sharing her life with her husband Dean. Her family is at the heart of her journey, grounding her in her values of resilience, connection, and kindness.
 
Jenny-May is deeply committed to her Māori heritage and community. She proudly represents her iwi, Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Kahu, and engages with kaupapa Māori initiatives to uplift and inspire others.
 
As an Ambassador for Save the Kiwi and Bowel Cancer NZ, Jenny-May leverages her platform to advocate for meaningful causes. Whether anchoring live broadcasts, speaking at events, or coaching teams, Jenny-May Clarkson embodies leadership, connection, and storytelling, leaving a lasting impact wherever she goes

George Cao 

Co-founder and CEO, Dragon Trail International

George Cao is Co-founder and CEO of Dragon Trail International and a globally recognised expert in tourism strategy, digital travel ecosystems, destination marketing, and traveller behaviour. In his keynote, George will share international insights on destination competitiveness, emerging traveller trends, the role of technology and distribution, and how destinations can create distinctive experiences that drive growth and conversion. 

Corin Dann

Political Journalist

Corin Dann is a senior journalist and broadcaster with over 25 years’ experience covering news, politics and economics. He currently works at RNZ hosting the flagship show Morning Report and co-hosting the new political history podcast Context. Highlights from Corin’s career include reporting live from the US Presidential election, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and behind the wire in Iraq. He lives in Wellington with his wife and sons. When not working Corin loves surfing, playing guitar and walking his black Labrador, Stanley. 

Peri Drysdale 

MBE, Founder and CEO, Untouched World

Peri Drysdale is the founder and CEO of sustainable lifestyle fashion brand Untouched World and Chair of the Untouched World Foundation. 

In 1981 with $200 in capital, she began a knitwear cottage industry at home. Later while travelling extensively exporting her knitwear, Peri became concerned about the ecological trajectory the planet was on. Untouched World was born in 1996 to push the boundaries to create a better tomorrow for people and planet. 

Untouched World gained global exposure in 1999 when, US president at the time, Bill Clinton was pictured wearing an Untouched World merino shirt at an APEC conference. Another US President, Barack Obama, was later pictured wearing an Untouched World sweater. Prince William this year is pictured wearing an Untouched World top as he does a charity ride on a tandem. 

Untouched World is the first fashion company in the world to be recognized by the UN for sustainability. The Untouched World Foundation which provides groundbreaking ‘Leadership for a Sustainable Future’ programmes for young adults, is recognized by UNESCO as one of three global exemplars in that space. 

Over the years Peri and Untouched World Ltd have received numerous awards. In 1992 Peri was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire and was North and South New Zealander of the year in 2006. In 2007 Peri was awards an Honorary Doctorate in Commerce from Lincoln University and in 2008 she was the Supreme Award Winner at the World Class New Zealander awards. Peri was awarded with Exceptional Services to Entrepreneurship at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards in 2018, and the following year in 2019 Untouched World was awarded the UK Common Objective Brand Leader award for setting a new standard in best practice within the global fashion industry. In March 2021 Peri was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. In 1995 Untouched World was the Positive Luxury award winner, and in 2025 the Positive Luxury Fashion Business of the year. 

Kelly Eckhold

Chief Economist, Westpac New Zealand 

Kelly is Westpac's Chief Economist, a role he has held since joining the bank in March 2023. He began his career at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, where he held senior roles across the Financial Markets, Economics and Financial Stability departments. He then spent 12 years at the International Monetary Fund, working on monetary policy, foreign exchange and financial stability across a range of economies. Kelly is known for translating complex macro conditions into clear, grounded analysis. 

Hon. Tim Groser

Tim is regarded internationally as a leader in trade policy and international climate change negotiations. After graduating with first class honours in economics and economic history, Tim started his career as a junior economist in the NZ Treasury. 

In the early 1980s he became Foreign Policy Adviser to two NZ Prime Ministers (Muldoon & Lange) and in 1985 was appointed Chief Trade Negotiator where he led our team in the last successful multilateral trade negotiations. 

In the mid 1990s Tim was Ambassador to Indonesia and returned to run a think tank, the Asia-NZ Foundation. In 1999, as Principal Economic Adviser to MFAT, Tim developed and negotiated the first steps towards what became known as the ‘CPTPP’ (the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement) which is today a foundation stone of our trade strategy. 

In 2002, Tim was appointed as NZ Ambassador to the WTO. In that capacity, Tim authored the successful ‘Framework Agreement on Agriculture’, widely believed at the time to open the door to the successful conclusion of the DDA overall. Unfortunately, many years of lost momentum later meant otherwise. 

In 2005 Tim left Geneva to enter NZ politics and was elected to Parliament. After three years as Shadow Trade Minister, Tim became Minister of Trade, Minister of Climate Change Negotiations and Associate Foreign Minister. As Trade Minister, he oversaw the expansion of the TPP process. 

As Minister of Climate Change Negotiations from 2008, and after the collapse of the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, the Mexican Foreign Minister, Patricia Espinosa invited Tim to facilitate private discussions between China and the United States at Ministerial level to try to find a new way forward.  Tim evolved the hybrid political/legal Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) from those (and wider) negotiations into the ‘NZ Proposal for the Long Term Climate Change Agreement’. The US and China then endorsed the ‘NZ Proposal’ and the NDC became the core commitment of the Paris Agreement. Tim also initiated (with Sir John Key’s strong support) in 2010 the Global Research Alliance on Greenhouse Gases to support internationally coordinated research into lower emissions agriculture technologies. 

In December 2015, Tim was appointed NZ Ambassador to the United States. He returned to NZ in late 2018 and is now an independent consultant advising on trade and climate change. He is now Chair of the NZ Advisory Group on Supercritical Geothermal, responsible for coordinating the world’s first coherent attempt to prove the engineering viability of this vast source of renewable energy. 

Tim has three adult children, four grandchildren and speaks competent French and Indonesian and is in the early stages of studying Te Reo, given his responsibilities in geothermal and working closely with iwi in that capacity. 

Kiri Hannifin

Chief Brand, Corporate Affairs, and Sustainability Officer, Air New Zealand

Kiri joined Air New Zealand in November 2022 as the Chief Sustainability Officer, a newly created executive position recognising the importance of sustainability across all aspects of Air New Zealand's operations and the increased focus the airline is placing on addressing its environmental impact. Her portfolio was expanded to include Corporate Affairs in June 2024, and Brand in July 2026. 

Before joining the airline, Kiri was on the leadership team of Countdown/Woolworths New Zealand where she was responsible for Sustainability, Corporate Affairs, Health and Safety, Quality and Food Safety. Within this role she spearheaded the company's programme to reduce emissions, managed the health, safety and wellbeing of the company's 21,000 staff and led its internal and external stakeholder management activity. 

Kiri has a LLB and BA (Political Science) from the University of Canterbury. 

Tabitha Harris

Co-founder OHO

Tabs is a brand strategist and creative director whose career spans Aotearoa and international markets. With a unique focus on bringing strategic thinking and creative direction together to ensure strong market positioning, audience conversion/loyalty and increased footfall, following, fandom, visitation or dwell time.

She has led large-scale rebrands, international marketing rollouts and retail fit outs and activations for global brands including Nike, Converse and L’Oréal as well as brings a niche specialism in placemaking – particularly for tourism, retail and public realm sectors. Including sports stadiums (Tottenham Hotspur), boutique London hotels, Heathrow airport, and plenty of bespoke music festivals, beauty and wellness, food and beverage, and mixed-use residential, co-working and hospitality developments across London and Dubai. In NZ, Tabs has worked on destination brands, research and insight reports, marketing and social playbooks and marketing campaigns for councils, government agencies, SME’s, local operators and community groups.  

Jason Hill

Managing Director, Tourism Talent

Jason has held a variety of senior management and governance roles across the New Zealand tourism industry and is currently Managing Director of Tourism Talent and Meneth Consulting.

Prior roles include Head of Auckland Tourism, Regional Manager Japan & Korea at Tourism New Zealand based in Tokyo, GM Marketing at Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism, and Marketing Manager at BTM Marketing.

Governance roles include Tourism Bay of Plenty, Chair - ICE Group, Tūwharetoa Tongariro Tourism Hub, AUT Tourism School advisory board, NZ Cruise Association, i-site NZ, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and Te Haerenga (an arm of Ngāi Tai ki Tamaki iwi). 

Jason led the development of the Destination AKL 2025 Plan, New Zealand’s first Destination Management Plan launched in May 2018 and was the lead consult writing the Destination Management Plan for Northland in 2021.

Craig Hudson

Chief Growth Officer, AgriSea NZ

Craig Hudson is a respected New Zealand business leader and wellbeing advocate, currently serving as Chief Growth Officer at AgriSea NZ. Known for his authentic leadership and passion for helping Kiwi companies scale globally, Craig’s career has spanned elite sport, global technology, and government export development. A former professional rugby player for the Crusaders and international clubs, his personal experience overcoming mental health challenges fuelled his commitment to transforming workplace culture. Craig played a key role in Xero’s international expansion before returning to lead Xero New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, where he championed wellbeing leave and flexible work practices. He later supported high‑growth exporters in his role at NZTE. Awarded for his contribution to mental health advocacy and business leadership, Craig continues to inspire leaders across Aotearoa. He lives in Tauranga with his wife and four children. 

Rebecca Ingram

Chief Executive, Tourism Industry Aotearoa

Rebecca Ingram joined TIA as Chief Executive in March 2022, bringing with her over 20 years of experience across tourism, marketing, event management, advocacy and stakeholder relations. 

Rebecca describes herself as ‘tourism’s biggest champion’ and is passionate about supporting the industry to build its resilience and impact through economic, social, environmental and cultural contributions to Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Through her strong network with key decision makers and relationships into government, she successfully advocates on behalf of the industry. As the driving force being the development of Tourism 2050 – a Blueprint for Impact, she has helped to establish a clear strategy for the industry, articulating a shared mission and vision, and clearly conveying the industry’s ambitions for the future and plan to get there. 

Felicity Roxburgh is the Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), where she leads the Forum’s engagement on key trade and economic policy issues and represents the interests of internationally focused businesses in dialogue with government and international partners. 

Felicity brings nearly two decades of experience in international trade, foreign policy, and regional engagement, with a strong focus on geopolitics and the Indo-Pacific. She most recently served as New Zealand’s Consul-General in New Caledonia and has held a broad range of roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with postings in Hong Kong, New York, and the Pacific. 

Earlier in her career, Felicity served as Director, Business at the Asia New Zealand Foundation, where she led initiatives to strengthen New Zealand’s business and people-to-people links across Asia. She has a Master's in Communication Studies and a degree in journalism.   

Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana 

Managing Director, TRC Tourism 

Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana is an innovative tourism leader with more than 25 years’ experience in Indigenous tourism, destination stewardship, strategic planning and purposeful engagement. As Managing Director of TRC Tourism, she works with Indigenous communities, governments and organisations across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific to develop values-based tourism and trail initiatives that honour culture, strengthen environmental stewardship and build social and economic resilience. Kylie speaks internationally on purposeful engagement and truth-telling and, as Global Lead for Indigenous Ways within the World Trails Network, champions Indigenous knowledge, cultural authority and community leadership in trail development. 

Nikki Taylor

Founder, Tailored Collabs

Nikki Taylor has spent more than 20 years in senior leadership and people and culture roles, including 17 years working internationally. She has opened luxury hotels and restaurants as well as retail stores for award-winning brands across the UK, Australia, the UAE, Europe and India, building the high-performing teams behind them. Through her consultancy Tailored Collabs, she now works with founders and leadership teams to successfully navigate change and retain talent. She is the #1 Amazon bestselling author of Is This It? Nikki lives in Auckland with her partner. When not working she loves to travel, run and be outdoors.