Conference Presenters 2007
Conrad Anderson Project Analyst The West Coast Development Trust Conrad has over 10 years experience in financial management and strategic planning, business development, corporate banking and business administration. In addition, he has university qualifications in finance, economics and business. He joined The West Coast Development Trust in 2002, initially as a Business Analyst, more recently as Relationship Manager, and currently has more of a project focus. Conrad’s challenges have included helping to grow businesses and developing working relationships with people in the community and in business. |
 
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Ken and Dion Arnold Operator White Heron Ken Arnold, with his family wife Shirley and son Dion run White Heron Sanctuary Tours. They have been undertaking tours to the Sanctuary for 20 years now and run under concession to the Department of Conservation. The company’s role is to maintain and preserve the ecosystem of the Waitangi Roto Nature Reserve, and to present and inform visitors with an experience they will not encounter in any other part of this country. |
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Dave Bamford Company Director Tourism Resource Consultants Dave Bamford has had a long involvement with New Zealand tourism, protected areas and recreation. Starting his career as a National Park Ranger in the Westland National Park, he worked throughout New Zealand’s National Parks for over a decade. Dave is a founding Director of Tourism Resource Consultants, established in 1986 to specialise in tourism and conservation in NZ and offshore. Based in Wellington, he is currently involved with a range of projects in NZ, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America. He has a good understanding of tourism business development and planning. |
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Mark Brabyn Owner Operator Mark started Hiking New Zealand in 1993 after spending 8 months in Africa travelling safari style and getting the idea to do something similiar in New Zealand. He has a Masters degree in Zoology and the business donates funds to conservation of Hectors dolphins (over $55,000 to date). Mark has recently sold half of his business which enables him to spend more time in the hills with his 4 year old daughter Rata.
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Geoff Button Ecotourism Tutor Tai Poutini Polytechnic With 12 years in tourism as a guide, Geoff has had broad experience of the different aspects of the New Zealand industry, particularly the Ecotourism industry. He has also worked for DOC, mainly in the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, which helped him understand the impacts and issues involved with tourism. Some of his places of work are Black Sheep Touring Company, Abel Tasman Wilson’s Experiences, Kapiti Tours and Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki. |
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Hugh Canard 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.
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Joe Doherty
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Geoff Ensor Sector Manager Tourism Industry Association NZ Geoff Ensor is a sector manager for the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA). He provides advocacy and support across a wide range of issues to operators in a number of industry sectors, including the Adventure and Outdoor sector. Prior to 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. |
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Operator - Specialist in Natural History Guide Ulva's Guided Walks Ulva is an articulate, friendly, well-informed islander who is passionate about her home and committed to giving visitors a special insight into Rakiura's unique attractions. Ulva bears the name of the lovely island sanctuary situated in Whaka o Te Wera (Paterson Inlet). A highlight of her walking programme is a leisurely ramble which introduces visitors to Ulva Island's history, scenery and spectacular birdlife. As mana whenua (guardian of the land through ancestral links), Ulva presents a welcoming warmth and connects the visitor with Rakiura's spiritual heritage and its cultural and conservation values.
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Jeroen Jongejons |
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Myreen Kain Operator Haast River Safari Myreen Kain and her husband, Lindsay moved from Queenstown to Haast in 2003 to lease Haast River Safari before purchasing the business in 2004 and have enjoyed the lifestyle and the people the area provides. Previous experience was working 15 years for a transport company as the accounts manager and both Lindsay and Myreen have bought their previous experience and knowledge which assisted them with their new business venture and have never looked back. |
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John Kennedy Ecotourism Programme Co-ordinator Tai Poutini Polytechnic
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Brian MacKenize Director of Planning and Development Tai Poutini Polytechnic Brian has spent more than 20 years in education and public health, both in New Zealand and the U.K. He came to the West Coast five years ago 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 the communities in which it occurs. As well as his continued involvement in the development of the ecotourism programme within the Polytechnic, he is responsible for a range of strategic planning and programme management |
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Peter Morrison Marketing Consultant Peter has 20 years experience as an independent consultant in marketing and business development around New Zealand, with an emphasis on tourism promotion in recent years.
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Eric Park Senior Operator, Sustainable Industry Group, MFE Ministry of Environment Eric oversees the Sustainable Industry Group’s work with the tourism industry as a Senior Operator with the Ministry for the Environment, based in Christchurch. He chairs the Tourism Waste National Working Group and also works with other industry sectors around the South Island. Eric has previously worked as an environmental consultant, a civil engineer and in local government. |
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Sandra Rhodda Research Manager Tai Poutini Polytechnic Sandra has a diverse background: with a PhD in Zoology, she has worked as a research scientist, a self-employed artist and photographer, and as a curator and director of an art gallery. Sandra is continuing her research on tourism sector education and training needs with a particular focus on ecotourism; issues around developing the northern Buller region; and school participation rates by West Coast students. She has mapped the tourism industry on the West Coast, and recently completed preliminary reports on the need for a full-time tourism human resources development officer on the West Coast, and on how well the industry caters for the large and growing access tourism market. |
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David Simmons Professor of Tourism at Lincoln University David is a foudning member of the Human Sciences Division and has been at Lincoln University since 1978. His research interests are currently focused on a major FORST-funded study of tourism planning in New Zealand communities. David is also active in the Sarawak (Malaysia) Certificate in Conservation and Ecotourism programme and in post-graduate education and extension activities. |
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Lawrence Smith CEO (Chief Cabbage) Cabbage Tree Design Known as the 'Chief Cabbage', Lawrence seeded Cabbage Tree in 1996 - a time when the internet was still unheard of by most businesses in New Zealand. Then (and now) Lawrence's vision was to use new technologies as a means of gaining a cost effective, competitive edge. With a team of 15 these days, the scope of the business has changed somewhat, with many of New Zealand’s leading tourism businesses now as clients. A large part of his role now is to follow developments in both the technology and tourism sectors, and to identify what opportunities these create online. |
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Nicola Smith Head of Assessment Services Qualmark NZ Ltd |
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Fergus Sutherland Owner Operator Catlins Wildlife Trackers Fergus Sutherland was born in South Otago and his qualifications include an MA in Geography and Graduate Diploma majoring in tourism from Otago University. His work experience includes teaching, soil conservation and establishing a successful ecotourism business in the Catlins with his wife Mary. Fergus has been involved in conservation for many years and is a past chair of the Otago Conservation Board. |
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Amanda Symon Curator Ngai Tahu Maori Rock Art Trust Amanda works as Curator for the Ngai Tahu Maori Rock Art Trust, an organization established by Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu to assist with the management, protection and celebration of the Maori rock art sites within the iwi’s tribal boundaries. She has a background in archaeology and heritage management, and has worked for Ngai Tahu in a variety of positions since 2000, taking up the role of Curator for the Trust in 2003. Amanda is a fifth generation Pakeha New Zealander, who has spent the majority of her life residing in the Otago region. |
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Ropata Taylor Project Manager Wakatu Incorporation Rōpata is Project Manager of Wakatu Incorporation with a focus on Tourism, Wine and Seafood. He was formerly a Secondary School teacher at Nelson College and is a graduate of the University of Otago. He is the Chair of the Nelson/Marlborough Conservation Board and is on the board of the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve. Rōpata is a Trustee of the Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust and Te Āwhina Marae. He has been involved in resource management, economic development, social distribution and political advocacy. |
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Chris Tobias Business Development Manager Green Globe As the Business Development Manager for Green Globe New Zealand, Chris has brought together his experiences of sustainable business practices in a variety of sectors. Chris has particular expertise in the field of sustainable building design and construction following a successful stint with BRANZ Ltd. Hailing from Chicago, Chris travelled extensively before settling in New Zealand. His experiences of many different cultures and environments have given him an invaluable insight into, and built a strong belief in, the importance of sustainable practices and the significant benefits that businesses can accrue, often through taking very simple steps. |
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Gavin Walker 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. |
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Antonia Westmacott Policy Team Antonia Westmacott is originally from the UK, and moved to New Zealand in 2004. The mountains, fresh air and outdoors lifestyle drew her here to New Zealand, and she has a passion for the environment and landscape that makes this country so unique. Antonia has been working for the Ministry of Tourism since August 2005, and has been involved in a range of policy projects – from government’s investment in offshore marketing, infrastructure issues related to tourism demand, issues around environmental sustainability within the tourism sector (previous involvement in the Sustainable Tourism Charter project), and more recently, issues related to tourism yield.
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Darryl Wilson Chief Executive Officer Wilson’s Abel Tasman Darryl is an advisor to Industry, Training and Ministerial Advisory Groups. The Wilsons have lived in the Nelson region for 7 generations. Their connection to the land is recognised by local Maori Iwi, forming a business alliance designed to train pakeha and Maori in cultural tourism. |
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Craig Wilson Director Quality Tourism Development Limited Craig has operated his consulting business for the last six years and has led a variety of projects where quality improvement (e.g. quality assurance system development for Qualmark) and sustainability (e.g. cultural tourism development for the Ministry of Tourism) have been critical. He is passionate about the development of higher quality and higher yielding tourism experiences in New Zealand. |
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