TRENZ Talks
Tuesday 19 May
NZICC, Level 5
10.00am - 12.30pm (followed by a light lunch)
View the TRENZ Talks programme here
This year’s TRENZ Talks are not to be missed. Reflecting the 2026 theme, Whakapiki — to uplift, elevate and grow, the programme is elevated by an exceptional international line up, bringing global insight and leadership to the stage.
The programme features senior leaders from across the international travel and tourism sector, including Flight Centre, Traveloka, Trip.com, Virtuoso, Fora Travel and Audley Travel. Delivered through a series of TED style presentations, speakers will share global perspectives, future focused thinking and practical ideas shaping tourism markets worldwide.
The session will also include an International Media Marketplace (IMM) panel, bringing together leading international journalists to explore emerging global media themes, what editors are looking for now, and how destinations can stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape.
All sellers are invited to attend TRENZ Talks.
A light lunch will follow the session. For catering purposes, please confirm your attendance here.
Donna-Marie Lever
Journalist and MC
Award-winning journalist Donna-Marie Lever has been in Broadcast Journalism for more than 20 years – more recently, 12 years as the Police & Crime Reporter for 1News. She’s conquered news, current affairs, radio, dodged bullets in East Timor, been on tour with the World Cup All Whites, trained at the BBC and CNN and reported from international conflict and disaster zones like the Boxing Day Tsunami. The former born and bred Aucklander now coaches corporate media training masterclasses, crisis communications, is a dinner speaker and a freelance journalist for The Guardian, TVNZ & CNN, Newstalk ZB weekend newsreader and is based in the heart of rural Mid-Canterbury.
Edison Chen
Vice President, Trip.com Group
Edison Chen is the Vice President of Destination Marketing & Strategy Alliances at Trip.com Group, a leading one-stop travel service provider.
Edison joined Trip.com Group in 2014 and was responsible for developing and expanding international destination marketing and government relations. In this role, his innovative vision allowed him to lead a global team to strengthen cooperation with over 100 partners from 20 countries around the globe. External partners include governments, tourism boards and other stakeholders within the travel ecosystem, playing a vital role in helping grow the travel and tourism industry.
With more than ten years of knowledge and experience in the travel & tourism industry, Edison’s expertise includes branding, marketing and communication, strategic planning, and fostering relationships with global industry partners. Before joining Trip.com Group, Edison was an International Marketing and Trade Manager for the Singapore Tourism Board. Edison holds an MBA from the University of South Australia.
Ellie Cobb
Acting Travel Editor, BBC.com
Ellie Cobb is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in travel, culture and food. She is Acting Travel Editor at BBC.com where she writes, commissions and edits original features for a global audience, exploring the world through place, people, history and contemporary travel trends. Based in Melbourne, Ellie has worked in international media for more than two decades, including as Commissioning Editor at Lonely Planet and Editor at Rome2rio.
Anthony Dennis
Experienced Travel Writer and Editor for Traveller
Anthony Dennis is the long-time editor of Traveller; published each Saturday and Sunday in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Melbourne, The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age newspapers. He is also a frequent writer of travel journalism, with his articles regularly appearing in the titles’ print and digital formats.
The former founding editor of the Australasian edition of Travel + Leisure and deputy editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, he regularly appears on radio, television and podcasts as a commentator on travel and tourism issues. He has been a frequent speaker, panellist and moderator at major travel and tourism events in Australia and overseas.
Earlier this year Anthony was presented with a Travmedia Lifetime Achievement Award for his career-long contribution to both travel journalism and the travel industry.
Kim Grant
Global Media Director, TravMedia
Kim Grant leads and manages all media-related initiatives for TravMedia as its Global Media Director.
She has been responsible for bringing 550 media to IMM North America; delivering a bespoke cohort of LUX journalists to IMM LUX in Las Vegas; growing platform engagement and recruiting Journalist Alerts. She also motivates and mentors all regional offices about their media strategies and execution.
Kim has possibly worked directly with more travel journalists than anyone else on the planet, wearing many hats in her 30+ years in the industry: travel website founder, Chief Content Officer for the world’s largest mobile platform for travel writers, Travel Acquisitions Editor, author of almost 50 guidebooks and also a Getty Images photographer
Michael T. Londregan
Senior Vice President Global Markets, Virtuoso
Michael Londregan is Senior Vice President, Global Markets for Vitruoso; leading their nine regional general managers as the company expands its global footprint - overseeing the planning, execution and optimization of business performance worldwide. He has previously served as Senior Vice President, Global Operations since January 2021.
He has over 30 years of international experience across a wide variety of executive management positions including Director of Marketing for Shangri-La Resorts, Commercial Director Blue Lagoon Cruises, Director of Marketing for Traveland Australia, Product Manager for Thomas Cook Australia and Product Manager for Fuji Film Australia.
Before moving to Virtuoso, Michael was Group General Manager (President), JTG Qantas Holidays, with roles in both the USA and Australia from 2007 to 2013. Prior to joining the Jetset Group Michael was Executive General Manager, for Tourism Australia from 2001 to 2007 and General Manager, Americas for Air Pacific from 1999 to 2001.
Nick Longman
CEO Audley Travel
Nick Longman is the CEO of Audley Travel, a UK-based tour operator with offices in London and Boston. The company covers over 90 destinations worldwide, and is regarded as one of the largest tailor-made travel operators in the market.
Nick spent the first nine years of his career at Deloitte, qualifying as a chartered accountant before going on secondment to Deloitte’s Melbourne Office. On returning to the UK, he worked on a portfolio of travel and leisure clients. Nick then joined First Choice Holidays in 1998 and worked across multiple finance roles before moving to Canada for four years where he ran First Choice’s subsidiary Signature Vacations.
On returning to the UK, Nick was responsible as Integration Director for the merger of First Choice with Thomson Holidays to form Tui Travel. He subsequently performed a number of roles for Tui before becoming the UK CEO in 2015. Nick joined Audley Travel in September 2018.
Lilit Marcus
Travel Producer, CNN Digital Worldwide
Lilit Marcus is a Travel Producer for CNN Digital Worldwide. Based in Hong Kong, she is responsible for editing and reporting on travel news and trends in the Asia-Pacific region. She began her role with CNN Travel in New York and relocated to Hong Kong in 2019.
Before joining CNN in 2017, Marcus was a senior contributing writer at Conde Nast Traveler in New York City. Her freelance writing has appeared in publications including Vogue, The Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Elle, and Buzzfeed.
Marcus’ work has been recognized multiple times. In 2019, the CNN feature series “Once in a Lifetime” was nominated for a Webby for Best Online Film & Video (Travel) and she was also part of the CNN team nominated for a 2018 James Beard Award for her work on the “Family Meal” video series. Her team at Conde Nast Traveler won a Webby for Best Online Film & Video (Travel) in 2016.
Andrew Stark
Global Managing Director, Flight Centre
Andrew Stark began his Flight Centre career on the phones in 2000. Twenty-five years later, having travelled 50 countries and held multiple leadership roles in three countries, he leads the Flight Centre Brand globally as its Managing Director. In this role he oversees $6.5bn in travel sales from 2 million customers, expertly serviced through 3,000 travel experts, 416 stores, 57 specialist teams, and a growing online omnichannel ecosystem across five markets.
Andrew relocated his family to Brisbane in 2022 to take on the role and globalise the brand, which remains a significant contributor to FCTG Group’s results. A two-time Director’s Award winner, FC Foundation Board Member and Taskforce member, Starky is an advocate for human expertise, aided by AI, in an increasingly digital and fast-changing travel landscape.
He is a firm believer that New Zealand remains one of the world’s most iconic travel destinations and a great choice for all travellers.
Paul Tumpowsky
Chief Revenue Officer, Fora Travel
Paul Tumpowsky is the Chief Revenue Officer of Fora Travel, the modern travel agency. Fora is driving change in the travel industry by powering the next generation of travel advisors. Paul is also the owner of AIR1, the premiere air hosting agency for boutique luxury travel agencies and DMCs worldwide.
Previously as Founder and CEO of Skylark, he introduced cutting-edge technology and modern convenience to the traditional, high-touch travel agency model, attracting younger affluent, travellers as clients. Recognized as one of the leading authorities in the global air travel market, Paul’s relationships with major airlines and the largest private jet ownership networks allow him to ensure his clients are always well taken care of.
Paul is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Engineering and Columbia Business School. A serial entrepreneur, Paul has taught at Columbia University, mentored with the White House Business Plan Competition, and advised several young travel technology startups.
Charles Wong
Vice President, Commercial- Airlines, Traveloka
Charles Wong is the Vice President of Commercial, Airlines at Traveloka, Southeast Asia's leading travel platform. Traveloka empowers consumers to explore, book, and enjoy a wide range of travel products, from transportation and accommodation offerings to cruise packages and access to local attractions such as theme parks, museums, day tours and more.
Based in Singapore, Charles leads the strategy and management of airline and connectivity partnerships across the region. He has over two decades of experience in the travel and aviation industry, Charles has built a distinguished career spanning online travel, corporate travel, and market research.
Prior to Traveloka, Charles spent nearly eight years at Expedia Group, where he served as Global Director of Strategic Partners. He has also held key roles at various Global Travel Management companies.
Karl Burrows
General Manager - Pou Ārahi Māori, Tourism New Zealand
Karl works for Tourism New Zealand as General Manager Pou Ārahi Māori and is on the senior leadership team. He is passionate about authentically sharing Te Ao Māori with the world and seeing Māori tourism succeed. Karl trained and worked as a lawyer practicing commercial and property law in Taranaki and London. He has an LLB from Otago University and an MBA from Cranfield University in the UK. He is on the Māori Advisory Group for New Zealand Story Group and represents Tourism New Zealand on Te Kahui Tautiaki, the Tiaki Governance Group.
Anna Smith
Contracting Manager, Intrepid Travel
Anna Smith is a tourism industry leader with over 10 years’ experience across contracting, partnerships, product, and marketing in New Zealand and internationally. She is currently Contracting Manager at Intrepid Travel, having previously held senior roles at Tourism New Zealand and global travel agency.