Speakers & facilitators 2009

Ecotourism NZ Conference 09 promises an exciting and interesting line up of speakers. Speakers will continue to be updated and added to during May.

Keynote Speaker

Bruce Poon Tip
CEO & founder
G.A.P Adventures
www.gapadventures.com
Entrepreneur and champion of sustainable and ethical tourism. His company offers unique travel adventures worldwide, promising authentic experiences in a responsible and sustainable manner. More than 85,000 travellers take a G.A.P Adventures’ trip each year. Bruce opened the company’s first “branch” in 1990 in his Canada garage. He was 22. Today, G.A.P Adventures operates in seven continents, employs 600 people and makes $120 million annual turnover.  The company is consistently recognised by many organisations for its leadership and outstanding business practices. G.A.P Adventures has been named by National Geographic Adventures as the best Do It All Outfitter on Earth, and is among the Top 100 Employers and 50 Best Managed Companies.  Find out more about Bruce here.

Conference speakers

Bruce Basset
Research manager, Ministry of Tourism
www.tourism.govt.nz
Bruce has more than ten year’s tourism research experience, helping influence and support decision-making in the sector. He oversees the delivery of the core tourism dataset, which includes five sector surveys, the Tourism Satellite Account and tourism forecasts. 

Geoff Button
Ecotourism tutor, Tai Poutini Polytechnic
www.tpp.ac.nz
www.ecotourismnz.com
Geoff is passionate about ecotourism and the environment. He has extensive tourism industry experience and has also worked for DOC, mainly in Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks. It was the latter experience that made him aware of the impacts and issues involved with tourism. 

Neil Clifton
Nelson Marlborough Conservator, Department of Conservation
www.doc.govt.nz
Neil Clifton is employed by the Department of Conservation as the Nelson/Marlborough Conservator.  He has worked in a number of conservancies throughout New Zealand since the beginning of his conservation career as a ranger at Tongariro National Park in 1975, and has represented New Zealand conservation interests at several international forums and work exchanges. 

Tim Cossar
Chief executive, Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA)
www.tianz.org.nz
Tim joined TIA last year after six years with Positively Wellington Tourism, a regional tourism organisation. TIA represents about 1500 tourism businesses and organisations. Tim’s goal is to ensure TIA is recognised as a central player and valued contributor to tourism development and growth in New Zealand.  Essential to this is ensuring the collective views of a very diverse industry are as well represented as possible in the wider community and political environments.

Paul Davis
Chief executive, Nelson Tasman Tourism
www.nelsonnz.com
Nelson Tasman Tourism is the destination marketing and regional tourism organisation for the Nelson/Tasman region. Paul has been its chief executive since 1994. He has more than 30 years’ experience in national and international tourism, mostly for Tourism New Zealand, and has a background in regional and domestic tourism, inbound retail and offshore wholesale operations, tourism policy development and regional tourism organisation management. Paul is chair of the Regional Tourism Organisations of New Zealand and a Tourism Industry Association board member. He has been a judge for the New Zealand Tourism Awards (1997-2008).

Stu Drake
Head of deparment for outdoor education, Tai Poutini Polytechnic
www.tpp.ac.nz
Stu worked for the Department of Conservation for over 10 years as a ranger on the West Coast and at Mount Cook.  He is a member of LandSAR, is a St John paramedic and a crewman/winch operator for the Greymouth based Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter.

Mike Elkington
Cultural tourism tutor, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
www.nmit.ac.nz
Mike is the 47th generation of his family to live in Aotearoa, New Zealand and has close links to three local iwi (Maori tribes). His training includes 3 years of Maori design and carving and 21 years of Kapa Haka (traditional Maori performing arts) experience with the local Whanau group, Kia Ngawari. He has also completed tribal training in Tikanga (protocols and behaviour) and Te Reo (Maori language).

Geoff Ensor
Advocacy manager, Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA)
www.tianz.org.nz
Geoff provides advocacy and support to tourism operators across a wide range of issues in a number of industry sectors, including adventure and outdoor tourism. Geoff was a commercial pilot for 20 years before joining TIA in 2005.

Maryann Ewers & Bill Rooke
Tourism operators, Bush & Beyond
www.bushandbeyond.co.nz
Maryann Ewers and Bill Rooke operate Bush and Beyond to provide guided walks in Kahurangi National Park.   They are committed conservationists, building their business reputation as an ecologically based operation, with a concern for the Park's natural values.   Maryann is a descendent of two of the early pioneer families of the district. Both she and Bill have had years of experience tramping and exploring in the area, and have a vast knowledge of flora, fauna and history to pass on to clients.

Martin & Jane-Maree Holmes
Operators, Catamaran Sailing & Launch Charters
www.sailingcharters.co.nz
Martin and Jane-Maree purchased their sailing catamaran Jamarh and set up their yacht charter business in 1998.  The business has grown to include additional vessels for chartering around Abel Tasman National Park, D'Urville Island, and the Marlborough Sounds. As a tourism business so closely interlinked with the environment they are very passionate about operating in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.

Katrina Marwick
Tourism tutor, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
www.nmit.ac.nz
Katrina has an academic and industry background in Natural Resources Management and Marketing. Her commitment to the environment and conservation is reflected in her active involvement with the Sustainable Nelson Business Forum, Sustainable Business Network and Transition Towns. Katrina currently tutors in marketing, human resources, ecology, interpretation and sustainable tourism management. Her passion is interpretation as she sees this as the key that opens hearts and minds to culture and the environment, and the inspiration to dig deeper.

Hone Mihaka
Principal director, Waka Tai a Mai Heritage Journeys
www.taiamaitours.co.nz
Hapu affiliations: Te Uri Taniwha, Ngati Hineira, Ngati Torehina, Ngati kawa, Ngati Rahiri, Ngati Rehia Tribal group: Ngapuhi.
Waka Tai a Mai Heritage Journeys is an award-winning Maori tourism company based in the Bay of Islands. It offers visitors indigenous experiences aboard traditional canoes and the opportunity to relive traditional Maori stories passed down through generations.  The company received the Judges Commendation “The Naturally Northland Business Award” in 2005 and in 2006 was nominated as a finalist as the Best Small Business Of The year in Northland. Hone’s storytelling technique has been recognised in New Zealand’s National Geographic Magazine.  He has also helped promote our culture overseas, appearing on the cover of Tourism Korea and in a London Times’ newspaper spread on New Zealand.

Al Morrison
Director general, Department of Conservation
www.doc.govt.nz
Al began his working life as a teacher, graduating from the Dunedin Teachers’ College.  He then moved into journalism, spending several years in newspaper in reporting, commentary and management positions before joining Radio New Zealand in 1996, where he became Political Editor. In 2002 Al joined the Department of Conservation. He was appointed DOC Chief Executive and Director General in November 2006.

Sandra Rhodda
Research manager, Tai Poutini Polytechnic
www.tpp.ac.nz
www.ecotourismnz.com
Sandra has an in-depth understanding of the tourism industry and recently completed an initial report on how well the tourism industry caters for the large and growing “access” tourism market. Her other research includes looking into the education and training needs of the tourism sector. She is based on the West Coast.

Derek Shaw
Trustee, Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust
www.brooksanctuary.org
As well as his work with the Trust, Derek is a long serving Nelson City Councillor and chair of the Nelson Environment Centre. He was also involved in establishing The Treasured Pathway – the Marlborough Nelson Heritage Highway, currently being reinvigorated. In his spare time he runs the small publishing business Nikau Press, which specialises in local histories and guide books including The Treasured Pathway guide and “Returning Nature to the Nelson Region” - about the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary. 

Hilary Sheaff and Robert Franklin
Operators, Walking Legends
http://www.walkinglegends.com
Hilary Sheaff and Rob Franklin began Walking Legends Guided Walks six years ago. They lead small groups on multi-day guided walks through Te Urewera and more recently Tongariro National Park. Previously both had guided for Ultimate Hikes in Fiordland, and Hilary obtained a Bachelor of Resource Studies from Lincoln University in 2000, majoring in ecology. 

Ngahuia Tahau
Operator, pureORAwalks
www.pureorawalks.com
Tribal Affiliations: Tuwharetoa and Kahungunu ki Heretaunga
Iti Rearea teitei Kahikatea, Ka taea! Even the smallest can soar to great heights!
Ngahuia Tahau is a descendent of Tongariro Mountain.  PureORAwalks builds on her passion for nature, offering a fusion of Maori culture and education weaved together with story-telling, experiential learning, and environmental sensitivity.   Ngahuia’s guided walks’ stimulate the senses of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell - promising a real close encounter with our natural world.

Liana Stupples
Executive director, The Hikurangi Foundation
www.hikurangi.org.nz
Liana has extensive experience in sustainable development, resource management and environmental planning both in New Zealand and overseas. She has advised Government departments on environmental issues and has led international Non Government Organisational campaigns on human rights, business responsibility and agriculture. Liana is currently executive director of the Hikurangi Foundation - a new not for profit organisation helping kiwis take positive action on climate change. 

Dr Morgan Williams
Principal
FutureSteps- sustainability programme
Dr Williams is a university professor and environmental scientist with a strong interest in the political, social and economic influences on sustainable development.  He has published widely on ecological and pest management issues, represented New Zealand on inter-governmental committees, worked in the Pacific Islands, Antartica and Australia and was our Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment for ten years until 2007.   

Ian Yeoman
Associate professor, Tourism Management
Victoria University 
Ian is the world's only professional crystal ball gazer or futurologist specializing in travel and tourism. He joined Victoria University in May, 2008 and his new book, Tomorrow's Tourist, enables readers to imagine what a future tourist might be, where they will go and what they will do.  

Conference facilitators

Hugh Canard
Director, Canard Consulting Ltd
Hugh is a tourism and economic development consultant and the project manager for the West Coast Major Regional Initiative (MRI) - a portfolio of 15 tourism projects from the Heaphy Track to the Te Wahi Pounamu world heritage area. He has owned a sea kayaking company in Abel Tasman National Park, been a Conservation Board member and a director and manager of accommodation businesses. He is currently on the Ecotourism NZ Advisory Committee.

Brian MacKenzie
Conference MC and past Ecotourism NZ chair
A strategic planning and management consultant, Brian has spent more than 20 years working in education and public heath in New Zealand and the UK.  He helped establish Ecotouirsm NZ and set up its ecotourism programmes at Tai Poutini Polytechnic.  He has presented and written about the potential impact of ecotourism development on the well-being of communities in which it occurs.

Anna Thompson
Senior lecturer, University of Otago
www.business.otago.ac.nz
Anna is co-director of Otago University’s Centre for Recreation Research and has been involved in national and international ecotourism research projects since 1998. She is a director of Te Ana Whakairo - Ngai Tahu Maori Rock Art Centre Trust, and member of Te Araroa (The Long Pathway) Trust. She has been co-owner/operator of adventure tourism companies and is an Ecotourism NZ Advisory Committee member.