Media presentation speakers
At the TRENZ media presentations, you will be welcomed by TIA Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram and MC Donna-Marie Lever (an experienced New Zealand journalist) will run the session. You'll hear from expert industry speakers and have plenty of time for questions. This is all on the record!
Donna-Marie Lever
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.
Rebecca Ingram
Rebecca Ingram has been Chief Executive at TIA since March 2022 and brings with her over 20 years in tourism, marketing, event management, advocacy and stakeholder relations.
Her career includes seven years at Tourism New Zealand, where she was General Manager of New Zealand and Government Relations. She also led a global Tourism New Zealand promotional team across 10 markets, and drove complex transformation at Telecom (now Spark) and Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.
Rebecca describes herself as ‘tourism’s biggest champion’.
Hon Matt Doocey
The Hon Matt Doocey is the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for ACC, Minister for Youth, Associate Minister of Health, and Associate Minister of Transport.
Mr Doocey has been the MP for Waimakariri since 2014, and previously worked in mental health in New Zealand and the UK, before returning home to work at the Canterbury District Health Board.
He has a BSc (Hons) in Social Policy, an MA in Healthcare Management from Kingston University in London, and an MSc in Global Politics from Birkbeck College, University of London.
John Allen
John Allen is the current Chief Executive of WellingtonNZ, the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency and current Chancellor at Victoria University Wellington - Te Herenga Waka.
John’s career spans a number of senior business leadership positions including Chief Executive of New Zealand Post, Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Racing Board.
A former Partner of Rudd Watts & Stone, John has also been a visiting Lecturer in Law at Victoria University of Wellington and is an experienced company director. He currently chairs the Barnardos Board of Directors and sits on Koi Tu: The Centre for Informed Futures and Wellington Uni-Professional.
Carrie Hurihanganui
Carrie Hurihanganui has been Chief Executive of Auckland Airport since February 2022. Prior to joining Auckland Airport, Carrie was Chief Operating Officer at Air New Zealand, overseeing more than 9,000 staff across 16 countries at its peak.
Carrie has over 23 years of operational and strategic experience in the aviation industry. Her time at Air New Zealand included leading customer experience transformation, maximising business growth and building high performing and engaged teams.
Justin Watson
Justin Watson has been Chief Executive for Christchurch International Airport since the start of 2023. Prior to this, he was Chief Aeronautical and Commercial Officer responsible for leading aeronautical development, marketing and commercial.
Justin has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and leadership, with significant marketing roles at McDonald’s New Zealand and Coca-Cola Oceania among others, and at Tourism New Zealand where he was Director of Trade, PR & Major Events. He has worked intimately with all of New Zealand's key international trading partners, and across FMCG, retail, tourism and government.
René de Monchy
René de Monchy joined Tourism New Zealand in August 2015 bringing 20 years' global experience in consumer-led businesses, including local and international marketing roles for Fonterra, Heineken and Asia Pacific Breweries in Singapore.
René was appointed Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand in April 2021. Prior to this, he was Tourism New Zealand's Director Commercial where he led a team across 15 offices in 14 countries responsible for identifying key markets and audiences for travel to New Zealand.
Nadine Toe Toe
Nadine Toe Toe is one of three Directors of Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours, a whānau-owned and operated tourism business in the heart of Ngāti Manawa Tribal Lands in Murupara.
Inspired by the company’s founding vision - “Change a town through tourism” - Nadine (Ngai Tai) has harnessed her extensive experience in tourism and community engagement to create a unique experience that gives back to the tamariki (children) of the area and create opportunities for travel, growth and development.
Kohutapu Lodge has won many awards, including the New Zealand Tourism Industry Awards’ community engagement category in 2019, the Community Engagement and Regenerative Tourism categories in 2022, and the Supreme New Zealand Tourism Award that year. The lodge pivoted during the pandemic to become a youth training facility with great success.
Nadine’s most recent project is “Native Nations – Tracing Indigenous Footsteps,” winner of the Industry Collaboration and Alignment category at the 2023 New Zealand Tourism Awards. This platform works with other indigenous communities around the world to instigate positive change through tourism, while continuing to uplift her own community at the same time.
Gabrielle Young
Terra & Tide was founded as Walking By Nature in 2015 by Gabrielle Young, whose guided walking business was expanded and rebranded as Terra & Tide in 2020.
An incurable adventurer, conservationist, and trained nature and forest therapy guide, Gabrielle has been chair of Waiheke Island Tourism, and has over 15 years’ experience in the tourism industry.
Her background includes founding a permaculture training centre and demonstration garden, running training courses in sustainable living, and consulting on organisational development, HR, and leadership development. She offers a science-based wellbeing programme to corporates and communities and in her business.
Terra and Tide has since been featured in Tourism NZ’s global marketing campaign, “If You Seek,” and on Good Morning America. The business employs a team of expert guides, all long-time Waiheke Island residents who share Gabrielle’s passion for the island, its culture and heritage and its natural environment.
JAMES WHITE
James White is an operator, researcher, strategic advisor and investor in the global hot springs industry. Holding a Master of Business Administration, James’ thesis focused on commercial bathing and spa development, and his research into creating value in the modern hot spring industry has taken him to 27 countries and over 160 locations. James is a member of the Global Wellness Institute Thermal Mineral Springs Initiative advisory group. Maruia Hot Springs is a globally awarded innovative wellness inspired hot springs destination.
DEBBIE ROBERTSON
Debbie Robertson has been General Manager of Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, New Zealand’s newest luxury spa complex on the foreshores of Lake Rotorua since December 2023. Her extensive experience includes general manager at Velocity Valley and various other key tourism management positions.
Debbie is also the chairwomen of the Rotorua Tourism Investment Partnership, a tourism-led initiative aimed at increasing visitor spend and occupancy levels in Rotorua. The partnership aims to grow capital investment levels and longer term returns for the visitor industry and the Rotorua community.
JANET PURDEY
Janet Purdey leads Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails Inc (NZCT), which includes Great Rides, Heartland Rides and Connector Rides. Primarily government-funded, NZCT is a membership organisation providing advocacy, capacity building, quality assurance and marketing. A former Marketing Manager at Te Papa and Marketing and Communications Manager at Wellington City Council, Janet understands the importance of creating transformative tourism experiences. The surge in cycling post-Covid-19 has led many Kiwis to discover Great Rides for the first time. Research indicates a growing desire among New Zealanders and Australians for meaningful holiday experiences in nature and Janet is keen to see New Zealand make the most of this opportunity.
Danielle Robertson
Dr Danielle Shanahan is Chief Executive at Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, and Adjunct Professor at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. Danielle has a wide and varied background in conservation practice and research. Some of the challenges she has explored include human-elephant conflicts in Myanmar, expanding the national park estate in Australia, and understanding how bird song affects people’s wellbeing.
At Zealandia, Danielle has led restoration efforts inside and outside the fence, including an unique urban catchment restoration project called Sanctuary to Sea Kia Mouriora te Kaiwharawhara. Her research interests include what nature means for people’s health and wellbeing, and how people come together to achieve conservation outcomes.
daniel thorne
Dan is responsible for every aspect of the Discover Waitomo Customer Journey and is passionate about an authentic visitor experience.
A self-described “former accountant that chose life,” he has a wealth of experience in management, sales and marketing and product operations. Dan believes in the need to balance the cultural, environmental, community and economic facets of tourism for the highest value outcomes.
His post-pandemic work across various tourism businesses has given him a unique perspective on building back differently and leading lasting organisational change.
Greg foran
Greg Foran started as Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand on 3 February 2020. He has since been navigating the airline through the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a plan for Air New Zealand to survive, revive and then thrive. He is also a member of the China Business Council.
Greg joined the airline from Walmart U.S where he was Chief Executive Officer from 2014 to 2019. He was responsible for the strategic direction and performance of the company’s 4,600 stores and more than 1 million staff. In 2019, Walmart U.S. served more than 140 million customers a week and had revenues of $307 billion.
Greg joined Walmart International in 2011 and served in several capacities, including President and Chief Executive Officer of Walmart China. Prior to joining Walmart International he held several senior positions with Woolworths, the leading retailer in Australia and New Zealand.
Greg has attended Advanced Management Programs at Harvard University and the University of Virginia. He also holds a Diploma in Management from the New Zealand Institute of Management.
