Dave Ritchie
B Phys Ed Otago
NZRCA Canoeist of the Year 2006

• Safety audits • Safety management plans • Risk management planning • Outdoor skills training
• Guiding assessment and training

Dave is a highly-regarded outdoor recreation instructor and adventurer. He has extensive outdoor education experience in New Zealand and overseas, including New Zealand’s prestigious Outward Bound School and the New Zealand Kayak School. Dave currently runs the Outdoor Education department at Tai Poutini Polytechnic.

Jo Parsons
BSc in Ecology, University of Otago

• Safety audits • Safety management plans • Risk management planning • Outdoor skills training
• Guiding assessment and training

Jo has 13 years experience working a wide variety of outdoor education contexts.  Jo sits on the NZOIA (NZ Outdoor Instructors Association) executive board.  Jo is Programme Leader for the Outdoor Education department at Tai Poutini Polytechnic.

Sandra Rhodda
PhD, Biology, Art History, University of Canterbury

• Research and policy development • Access tourism audits • Creating a business access plan

Sandra’s major interest lies in the area of tourism for people with disabilities (PwDs), and in the area of tourism for Baby Boomers who will experience more and more disability as they age, adding to the already sizeable market of PwDs. Sandra has a strong background in research and has travelled extensively to present her findings at international conferences.

Geoff Button
BSC Geography, Canterbury University

• Specialised on-site training • Ecological management plans• Sustainability plans
• Guiding assessments and training

Geoff has had over 15 years working in the tourism sector with a range of operators, including Black Sheep Touring Company, Wilderness Lodge at Lake Moeraki, the Department of Conservation and Wilson’s Abel Tasman Experiences.  Geoff delivers a range of content for the ecotourism courses at Tai Poutini Polytechnic as lead Ecotourism Tutor and specialises in ecology, earth science, meteorology and New Zealand’s flora and fauna's natural characteristics.

Sarah Caseley
MA (Distinction) Marketing, Kingston
BCom BA, University of Otago
DipBus Communications, Massey University

• Marketing plans • Project management • Web development • Strategic planning
• Market research • Event management

Sarah is a marketing consultant with experience in a range of industry sectors including tourism, education, telecommunications and online media.   She has strong strategic skills and experience in managing project teams with a focus on meeting the needs of the client on time and within budget.

Mariam El Orfi
Certificate in Outdoor Education, Tai Poutini Polytechnic
Diploma in Journalism, Massey University

• Communication plans • Writing marketing collateral • Press releases • Crisis management communications • Media training • Social marketing

Mariam is a publicist, writer and marketing consultant. A former journalist, shehas successfully secured high profile coverage for clients across all mainstream TV, print and radio media,as well as in specialist publications. Mariam also writes marketing material including brochures, websites and promotional articles.  For the past five years she has helped promote and market the annual Ecotourism NZ Conference.

Ian Hooker
MA, University of Canterbury

• Business viability assessments • Cash flow planning • Business plans • Marketing plans
• Basic economics

Ian has over 20 years’experience in the commercial business environment. He has held a range of  executive management positions including in marketing roles and as a foundation manager of a bicycle manufacturer. Ian has ten years’ senior management experience in polytechnics in New Zealand and five years as an Associate-Professor of International Business and Economics at Nanchang University, a leading university in China.
 

Kate Campbell
Master of Science (Hons) in Applied Psychology, Canterbury University

 • Employment contracts• HR planning• Training & development • Employment legislation

Kate has taught a range of programmes including Adult Education and Training, and First Line Management which covers a range of management skills.

Robyn Janes

• Specialist writing• Event promotion • Communication strategies • Profile raising • Media training
• Internal and external communications • Brochure and website content • Social marketing

Robyn Janes has over 17 years in as an award-winning journalist experienced in print, radio and television.  Robyn has had five years experience as a political reporter, and has an extensive network of media, political and business contacts.  As a business woman, she ran a successful travel agency, building the client base through marketing initiatives, including direct mailers and corporate newsletters.