PLANERY SESSIONS
Robert Swan - keynote speaker
Oscar Nathan - conference MC
Kevin O'Connor - Department of Conservation
Dave Jane - Department of Conservation panel
Nicki Douglas - Department of Conservation panel
Te Ohu Wikingi - Department of Conservation panel
WORKSHOPS
Jeff Carter - Cycling tourism
Nick Cater - Cycling tourism
Richard Balm - Cycling tourism
Dave Donaldson - Cycling tourism
Harvey James - Wiamangu Volcanic Valley
Mercia Yates - Te Puia
Joe Doherty - Te Urewera Treks
Peter Cossey - Agroventures
Simon Short - Agroventures
Melissa Mills - Agroventures
Toni Thompson - Rainbow Springs
Claire Travers - Rainbow Springs
Justin Hutton - River Rats Rafting
BREAKOUTS
Catherine Bates - Tourism New Zealand
Lawrence Smith - Cabbage Tree Creative
Eldad Collins - Rotorua Sustainability Charter
Geoff Ensor - Customer Safety
Dan Steele - Authentic Experiences
Robert Swan 
CEO, 2041.com
Robert Swan is a polar explorer, environmental leader and the first person to have walked to both the North and South poles. He is also a passionate, inspirational and exceptionally gifted communicator who is inspiring people around the world to make a positive difference to our planet.
Find out about his remarkable 900 mile journey to the South Pole - ‘In the Footsteps of Scott’, which remains the longest unassisted walk ever made. Hear his stories of near-death encounters in a melting ocean, designing and building the world’s first education station in Antarctica and travelling the ocean in a renewable energy sailboat to raise awareness of global warming.
Find out what makes Swan so passionate about our environment. Learn about his mission to combat the effects of climate change. Understand why his lifetime goal is: "working towards the preservation of Antarctica as the last great wilderness on earth". Be inspired to make a positive difference in your world!
Oscar Nathan
Maori tourism adviser, operator and TIANZ deputy chair 
Oscar Nathan is an experienced and knowledgeable tourism adviser and operator with a passion for Maori business development.
He is the owner/operator of Maruata Mud Hut Rotorua and has held numerous senior executive roles in the New Zealand tourism industry including with Tamaki Tours, Destination Rotorua Tourism and most recently as deputy chair of the Tourism Industry Association NZ.
In 2000, Oscar was the first Maori and youngest recipient of the coveted New Zealand Young Executive of the Year Award. He is passionate about growing Maori business potential and helping it become a key driver and contributor to our GDP.
SPEAKER
Kevin O’Connor
General Manager Research and Development Group
Department of Conservation
Kevin is a member of DOC's executive leadership team reporting directly to the department's Director General. Kevin has over 35 years experience in conservation management, mostly in operational roles at a variety of locations throughout NZ. He was the Conservator for the Department in Southland prior to his current role.
PANEL INCLUDES: 
Dave Jane
Manager Recreation and Historic Unit Research and Development Group
Department of Conservation
Dave started his career in Lands and Survey and joined the Department in 1987. Since then he has led technical support teams in Wanganui Conservancy, Central Region and National Office. Dave is currently involved in reassessing the Department's approach to destination management and implementing improvements to the concessions management regime.
Nicki Douglas
Area Manager, Rotorua Lakes Area Office
Department of Conservation
Nicki leads a team in DOC who are making significant conservation gains and offering a diverse range of visitor opportunities. DOC's Rotorua conservancy is currently working on the development of the Tarawera Trail -a proposed 3-day walk around beautiful Lake Tarawera, as well as developing a geothermal route featuring the region's geothermal wonders.
Te Ohu Wikingi
Trustee, Tarawera Trail Trust
Te Ohu has held a range of Governance roles associated with Maori land for the past ten years. He is currently the secretary of the Tarawera Trail Trust and Chairman of 6J2B4 Ahuwhenua Trust. Both trusts are working with the Department of Conservation to develop the Tarawera Trail.
Jeff Carter
President, Mountain Bike NZ & Director, NZ Trail Solutions
Jeff Carter lives and breathes mountain biking. He is president of Mountain Bike New Zealand, a national body representing 52 mountain bike clubs around New Zealand, and also the director of Rotorua and Christchurch-based shuttle company Southstar Shuttles which takes mountain bikers to the top of mountains so they enjoy the ride down.
Jeff is also a director of NZ Trail Solutions, an international company building mountain bike tracks in Portugal, Chile, Mexico, Jamaica and most recently Nelson, NZ.
Nick Chater
Owner, Multi-Day Adventures
Outdoor Recreation tutor, Waiariki Institute of Technology
Nick is a keen outdoor enthusiast who has been whitewater rafting, mountaineering and mountain biking for more than 20 years. He has worked hard to combine his love of the outdoors, Maori culture and outdoor pursuits into fantastic itineraries for his ecotourism company - Multi-Day Adventures. Nick’s latest passion of outrigger canoeing sees him paddling competitively in NZ, Australia and the Cook Islands with Goodyear Outrigging and Hei Matau. He thoroughly enjoys safely introducing people to the wealth of culture and adventure found only in New Zealand.
Richard Balm
Project Manager, New Zealand Cycle Trail Project
Richard Balm is a consultant offering services in the fields of natural resource management and recreation. Based in Taupo, he works with central and local Government departments and private companies. He is currently a project manager on the New Zealand Cycle Trail project.
Dave Donaldson QSM
Dave is a Rotorua District Councillor and appointed member of Rotorua Lakes Community Board as well as a strong advocate for the development of mountain biking. Dave has competed internally in mountain bike events and is a current member of the working party for the Thermal by Bike National Cycleway project.
Harvey James 
CEO
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
Harvey has been CEO of Waimangu Volcanic Valley since 1986 when he moved to Rotorua from Auckland. He has since helped develop Waimangu into a successful, sustainably managed enterprise that has earned many prestigious national and regional tourism awards. Harvey is an experienced board member at a governance and advisory level with in-depth knowledge and experience of Sustainable Management.
He has also undertaken a significant amount of voluntary community work in Rotorua over the past 20 years and has a strong belief in socially responsible business practices.
Mercia Yates
Education Manager, Te Puia – New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute
www.tepuia.com
Mercia has worked predominantly in the education sector. She has contributed significantly to Māori immersion education in its inception and continued her support through advisory roles in Curriculum document development, School Boards of Trustees, Ministry of Education and the NZ Teacher’s Council. Since recently joining Te Puia, Mercia is settling into her role by developing educational opportunities that will provide renewed engagement with key markets and in a general sense, enhance the visitor experience at Te Puia. She believes that cultural centres offer unlimited community, cultural and commercial development opportunities. Her tribal affiliations include Te Arawa, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki and Ngāti Maniapoto.
Grace Neilson
Chief Executive Office
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village Tours
Grace has been CEO of Whakarewarewa Thermal Village Tours for three years with over 25-years' experience in the tourism sector. She previously worked for Te Puia. Her great grandmother was the first registered guide for Whakarewarewa and her tribal affiliations are Ngai Puhi, Te Arawa, Ngaiti Pouro.
Tiri Morgan
Corporate Services Manager
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village Tours
Tiri is responsible for managing the financial requirements of Whakarewarewa Thermal Village Tours. Tiri’s iwi include Te Arawa, Ta Nui and Ngai Tahu.
Peter Cossey
Chairman, Agroventures
Managing director, Shweeb
Peter has lived and worked in more than 30 countries and held senior positions in finance, legal, marketing, PR and general management and across a range of industries and entity sizes - from a one-man-startup to an international investment bank and global accounting firm, both with nearly 200,000 employees. His passion is starting up or working with new businesses. 
Simon Short
Owner, Agrojet
Director, Agroventures
Simon came from a farming background, so tourism was a new challenge. He has been actively involved in the development of Agroventures and the challenges associated with working as a collective. Simon is now focused on international franchising of Agrojet and Agroventures.
Melissa Mills
General manager sales and marketing, Agroventures 
Melissa joined Agroventures four years ago and has since helped streamline customer service practises, launch a new brand and develop collateral for the destination and staff management. Before this she worked for eight years for the Regional Tourism Organisation in Rotorua in the i-SITE and marketing departments.
Joe Doherty 
Maori business development consultant
Managing director, Te Urewera Treks
Joe identifies as Ngai Tuhoe, with iwi affiliations to Ngati Whare, Ngati Awa, and Ngati Kahungunu. Along with wife Jo, he owns Te Urewera Treks which offers guided walking treks in the remote wilderness regions of Te Urewera National Park, Whirinaki Forest Park and in Maori-owned indigenous forests in Te Urewera. His aim is to use the indigenous forest assets of Tuhoe to create full-time sustainable jobs for locals.
The couple also own Kitea Developments, a company they established to support Maori and bicultural development and focusing on strategic business planning and marketing and communications.
The company is currently involved in a four-year research project with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research - Te Tapoitanga Maori Growing Regional Maori Tourism. The report looks at the barriers and opportunities for Maori tourism operators in the international distribution chain.
Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park and Kiwi Encounter 
Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park is a unique must-see experience for anyone wanting to know more about New Zealand’s wonderful environment and animals, both during the day and at night. Located on site at Rainbow Springs, Kiwi Encounter is a unique scientific attraction allowing an insight into the entire process of kiwi conservation – from kiwi egg collection, incubation, hatching and then raising of the kiwi until its release.
Toni Thompson
Sponsorship and sales
Rainbow Springs
Toni has worked for Rainbow Springs since 2005. Her role is to help source and manage sponsorship for the Kiwi Encounter facility. She is also very involved in helping the organisation become more sustainable. 
Claire Travers
Kiwi Husbandry Manager
Rainbow Springs
Claire began working at Rainbow Springs in 1999 after moving from England and spending time on a Rotorua sheep and beef farm. During those farming years she developed a strong sense of environmental awareness and an interest in conservation. She started working at Rainbow Springs with birds and Tuatara, instigating the captive breeding project for tuatara on site. Claire now leads the Kiwi Encounter team managing the egg incubation, hatching and rearing of kiwi for release.
Justin Hutton
Managing director, Riverrats Rafting
Justin has been involved in the rafting industry for almost 12 years. He was chair of the New Zealand Rafting Association and is currently on the committee for the Rotorua Tourism Sustainable Charter.
Tourism New Zealand is changing its marketing approach to make the most of opportunities created by digital media and the Internet. Find out how this will impact the '100% Pure New Zealand' campaign and how you can get involved.
Catherine Bates 
General Manager Consumer Marketing
Tourism New ZealandCatherine is responsible for overseeing the ‘100% Pure New Zealand’ campaign from creative development, planning and research through to implementation; she also manages Tourism New Zealand’s marketing research team and has responsibility for the consumer travel website, www.newzealand.com, and online marketing strategy.
Catherine has been with Tourism New Zealand for 15 years in varying roles including Market Research, Joint Ventures, Strategic Planning, Marketing Services, and the International Media Programme (IMP).
Lawrence Smith
CEO 
Cabbage Tree Creative
Known as the 'Chief Cabbage', Lawrence started Cabbage Tree in 1996 at a time when the internet was still unheard of by most businesses in New Zealand. Lawrence's aim is to help clients use new technologies to gain a cost effective, competitive edge. Many of his clients are leading New Zealand tourism businesses and a large part of his role now is to follow developments in both the technology and tourism sectors, and identify what opportunities these create online.
Find out about the hugely successful Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter (RSTC). Hear how the RSTC is helping businesses adopt unique sustainability initiatives to help meet customer expectations. Presented by Eldad Collins, APR Consultants.
Eldad Collins 
Sustainability advisor,
Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter
www.sustainableNZ.com
The Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter takes a grassroots approach to sustainability that has been collectively developed by the membership. In contrast to standards-based programmes the Charter’s philosophy is to encourage its members to undertake continuous improvements around sustainability but at a pace suitable to them. Eldad Collins of APR Consultants played a key role in developing the Charter and has been its sustainability advisor since 1998.
Case study - Alpin Motel, Rotorua.
Find out about the extraordinary actions taken by Alpin Motel's managers, Steve and Gillian Osborne, to make the most of geothermal activity in their business. Alpin Motel sits above the Rotorua geothermal field and the Osbornes believed a system could be developed to extract energy from the field while preserving its unique surface features. After investing a significant amount of their time and money and collaborating with various stakeholders they discovered they were right! They now have a successful down-bore heat exchange system which almost eliminates the business' carbon emissions associated with space and water heating. Their initiative looks set to have positive impacts well beyond geothermal energy users in Rotorua.
Geoff Ensor
Sector manager
Tourism Industry Association
www.tianz.org.nz
Geoff Ensor provides advocacy and support to operators across a wide range of issues in a number of industry sectors, including the adventure and outdoor sector. Before joining TIA in 2005 Geoff was a commercial pilot for 20 years.
Dan Steele
Owner/operator Blue Duck Lodge 
Dan Steele
Blue Duck Lodge, Whanganui National Park
Five years ago owner, farmer and conservationist Dan Steele discovered a small population of the rare and endangered blue duck (whio) on his farm nestled on the banks of the Whanganui River.
Blue Duck Station has since grown to 2200 hectares, has three lodges, exports manuka honey and is home to a major conservation project trapping predators and increasing populations of several species of New Zealand native birds.
Farm, history and conservation tours, bush walks, horse trekking and kayaking are just some of the activities on offer to visitors.
Dan has set up a trust to preserve the land and history of the Whanganui National Park area through pest control and habitat restoration. In his presentation, Dan will talk about how important and easy it is for businesses to incorporate conservation into their long term sustainability strategy.
