Facilitators and Panel Members 2008
Hugh Canard - Director, Canard Consulting Limited
Hugh Canard is the Project Manager for the West Coast Major Regional Initiative (MRI), a portfolio of 15 tourism projects from the Heaphy Track in the north, to the Te Wahi Pounamu World heritage area in the south. Hugh started his working career in the energy and construction industry and then entered the tourism industry as the owner of a sea kayaking business in the Abel Tasman National Park. He has been a director and manager of accommodation businesses and a member of two RTO boards and three conservation boards. Hugh worked for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise in the regional economic development team for three years, and is now a tourism and economic development consultant.
Joe Doherty - Consultant and Operator, Te Urewera Treks
www.teureweratreks.co.nz
After 20-years living and working in Wellington in a range of public sector management roles, Joe and his wife Joanna are now running a successful management consultancy from home. They are both committed to helping local development initiatives. Assisting tourism development and businesses in Te Urewera has been a key project for them.
Geoff Ensor – Sector Manager, Tourism Industry Association
www.tianz.org.nz
Geoff Ensor is a sector manager for the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand (TIANZ). Geoff provides advocacy and support across a wide range of issues to operators 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, during which time he flew for Air New Zealand’s Eagle Air and spent 10 years as chief pilot for Air Safaris and Services Ltd based at Lake Tekapo.
Matt Lysaght - Managing Director, Kea West Coast Tours
www.keatours.co.nz
Matt Lysaght is a passionate advocate for the South Island’s West Coast, particularly its awesome landforms, resilient yet relaxed lifestyle and the strong character of its people. Along with running a successful West Coast-based tour company, he is also a representative of Shantytown’s board and member of Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s ecotourism programme advisory board.
Brian MacKenzie - Ecotourism NZ Chair, Director Special Projects, Tai Poutini Polytechnic
www.tpp.ac.nz
Brian has spent more than 20 years working in education and public health, both in New Zealand and the U.K. He came to the West Coast in 2002 to set up ecotourism programmes at the Polytechnic, and has presented and written about the potential impact of ecotourism development on the well-being of communities in which it occurs. He is involved in the development of ecotourism within the Polytechnic and is responsible for strategic planning and a range of development activities.
Stephen Pahl - CEO, Ecotourism Australia
www.ecotourism.org.au
Stephen Pahl has over thirty years experience in the travel and tourism industry, particularly within international tourism and travel marketing.
He has extensive tourism management experience including managing resorts and regional tourism authorities in Queensland and Western Australia.
Stephen was on Ecotourism Australia's board for three years and has been its chief executive for the past six years.
Geoff Penrose - CEO, Qualmark NZ Ltd
www.qualmark.co.nz
Geoff is responsible for the management, growth and overall development of the organisation. Previously, Geoff held marketing and management positions at the Auckland Art Gallery and Auckland City Council. Geoff brings a mix of public and private sector experience, having also run his own business.
Anna Thompson - Senior Lecturer, University of Otago
www.business.otago.ac.nz
Anna Thompson (Carr) is a senior lecturer at the University of Otago where she is co-director of the Centre for Recreation Research. She has Nga Puhi, Ngati Ruanui and Scottish/Irish ancestry. She lived her first 18 years at Tongariro National Park (Whakapapa village), then worked at Egmont, Tongariro and Aoraki/Mt Cook National Parks. She has been co-owner/operator of two adventure tourism companies (Southern Alps Guiding 1989-1993 and Wild Earth Adventures 1995 - 2002). Anna is a director of Te Ana Whakairo (Ngai Tahu Maori Rock Art Centre Trust) and an Otago trust member of Te Araroa (The Long Pathway) Trust. She has been involved in national and international ecotourism research projects since 1998
Gavin Walker - Concessions and Tourism Manager, Department of Conservation
www.doc.govt.nz
Gavin has been working for the Department of Conservation for the past 10 years in a range of different roles and localities throughout New Zealand. All of these roles have focused on the use of public conservation land by people. Recently appointed to his current position within the Department he is looking forward to working with the tourism industry on the continued opportunities and challenges associated with the tourism conservation interface.
Mark Walter – Policy Advisor, Ministry of Tourism
www.tourism.govt.nz
Mark is a Policy Adviser at the Ministry of Tourism. Prior to moving to Wellington and the Ministry of Tourism in November 2007, Mark was the Sustainable Tourism Adviser for the Nelson Tasman Sustainable Tourism Charter. He also has a number of years experience in the tourism and outdoor education industries, having worked as a sea kayak guide and operations manager in the Abel Tasman National Park, and as an instructor at the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre in Long Bay, Auckland.
