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Paul has a strong background in governance, management, growth business development, brand development and marketing. His extensive background in the financial services industry has also included Kiwibank Co-Founder and then Chief Executive along with senior management positions with Westpac and Trust Bank.
Paul is currently Chair of the New Zealand Story Group, Foley Wines and the Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery Advisory Panel. He is also Chair of Chubb Life Insurance New Zealand, a director of Southern Sky Dairies and a Council Member of Massey University. He started as the Tourism New Zealand Board Chair on 1 July 2023.
Ngāi Tahu (Ngāti Kurī of Kaikōura), Waikato-Tainui (Ngāti Hauā/Ngāti Māhanga)
Kauahi is the head of Operations/Chief Operations Officer for Whale Watch Kaikōura (WWK), one of New Zealand’s leading and most recognised Māori tourism experiences and a multi-national and international award-winning marine nature-based tourism company.
Kauahi has 30-years’ experience across a range of roles within Tourism, Business, Māori tourism and Maritime sectors.
He is currently Tourism sector representative on the Kaikōura Marine Guardians (ministerial advisory committee to the Ministers of conservation and Fisheries). Director of Whale Watch Australia Pty Ltd and a member of the New Zealand International Conservation and Tourism Visitor Levy Investment Advisory Group.
He is also a past member of The Tourism Industry Aotearoa Board and its Operation, Audit & Risk Committee, Tourism Infrastructure Fund Panel and the founding Chairman of Destination Kaikōura.
In 2018 he was privileged to be awarded the Outstanding Māori Business Leader Award at the University of Auckland’s Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards.
Colleen is currently the CEO of Te Arawa Group Holdings Limited, the commercial arm of Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa Trust. Prior to this appointment, she was the CFO for four years.
The Ngati Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui descendant has 16 years of experience as a chartered accountant in diverse sectors including tourism, forestry, agribusiness and health services. She also has extensive expertise in Māori post-settlement governance entities (PSGEs), Māori incorporations and Māori land trusts.
Her previous roles have included finance manager for NZMACI (Te Puia), as well as business advisory services for professional accountancy and management firms.
Colleen has governance experience as a director of Scion (NZ Forest Research Institute Limited), Poutama Trust (business development services to Māori), Te Ohu Kaimoana (independent audit and risk member and director of portfolio management services), Te Kakano Whakatipu Ltd (Forestry), Te Arawa Agribusiness Ltd, and Te Matai Pacific Iwi Collective (Kiwifruti).
Jan is a director of Skyline Enterprises and Jumping New Zealand. A past board member of the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce, she was also general manager of Millbrook Resort, Sky City Hotel & Convention Centre, and Millennium Queenstown.
Jan was appointed to the New Zealand Tourism Board in June 2017.
Steve is a former Member of Parliament for Rotorua and until recently, the Mayor of Rotorua. As Mayor of Rotorua Lakes Council, Steve was a strong influence on Rotorua Lakes Council’s new way of doing business through the Rotorua 2030 Vision.
Under her leadership the council established a meaningful and ground breaking partnership with Te Arawa and secured significant partnership investment to enable iconic place-making projects.
Steve’s career in Central Government began in 1999 and spanned twelve years, including three years as a List MP. During this time, she held the portfolios of Associate Minister of Health, Minister of Conservation and Minister of Women’s Affairs. As Minister of Conservation Steve advocated for the opening up of the Conservation Estate – believing that access, without leaving a footprint should be the ultimate goal. Her proudest achievements include sponsoring the Smoke free Environments Act and securing funding ($72 million) for the clean-up of Rotorua lakes.
In recent years, in addition to her mayoral responsibilities, Steve has chaired the Federation of Primary Health Aotearoa since its inception in 2018, was Co- Chair of the New Zealand Tourism Futures Taskforce from June 2020 to early 2021, and since 2018 has been on the board of the Responsible Camping Working Group.
Jacqui is a dual New Zealand and Australian citizen and the long-term leader of The Walshe Group. The Walshe Group has provided dedicated airline and destination representation services to some of the world’s leading travel brands for over 40 years in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Brands represented include Hawaii Tourism Oceania, New York City & Company, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa Group, ANA, South African Airways, Etihad Airways, China Airlines and Okinawa Tourism. Jacqui also oversees the Southern Travelnet companies within the group, which provide inbound tour operator services to Australia and New Zealand from the Japan market with offices in Tokyo, and Osaka.
Jacqui holds a Bachelor of Business Studies, an MBA, is a member of Chief Executive Women and a qualified member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Jacqui has had over 20 years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director in the travel and tourism, financial services and Not-For-Profit (aboriginal and youth services).
She has been actively involved in tourism industry affairs, serving on numerous boards and committees throughout her long career in the sector. Jacqui is the former Deputy Chair, and chair of the Audit & Finance committee, of the Australian Tourism Export Council; served as a member of the Tourism Restart Taskforce in Australia, commenced in response to Covid-19 and international border closures; and was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council for the Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment in Australian Federal Parliament (2020-2022) as tourism industry representative.
Jacqui was voted 10th most powerful woman in the Australian travel industry in 2016, named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018 and and is one of a select group of Australian women invited by Dell Technology to be part of their global entrepreneurial network (DWEN) acknowledging the depth of her technology knowledge and commercial application.
Amanda is a commercial executive who has held numerous leadership roles across Australia and New Zealand in the consumer goods sector.
These have included Regional Director and General Manager roles in both global blue-chip multinationals and private enterprise. Amanda also holds governance positions in various sectors including Health and Conservation. Amanda is recognised for her strategic approach to organisational growth and strong governance in the organisations she has worked for at both the board level and in management. Amanda is an active member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Company Directors.
Leah is the board secretariat. Email leah.mcdonald@tnz.govt.nz to get in touch with any Tourism New Zealand board member.
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 and 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. In this role, René led a team across 15 offices in 14 countries responsible for identifying key markets and audiences for travel to New Zealand. René also led the development of Tourism New Zealand's aviation strategy to guide partnerships with international airlines.
René is passionate about the tourism sector and active in tourism industry engagement, undertaking regular speaking engagements and panel discussions.
He is currently a member of five boards or panels:
Bjoern has been with Tourism New Zealand for the past 14 years, currently as recently as General Manager New Zealand & Business Events.
Prior to this he was General Manager Domestic, Global Manager Planning and Partnerships, and General Manager Americas & Western Europe.
In his current role, he's responsible for domestic marketing activity, Business Events, Qualmark and industry partnerships.
Angela joined Tourism New Zealand in August 2022. Angela is a strategic marketing leader with over 20 years’ global experience across business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing.
Working for organisations such as Restaurant Brands, Vodafone and APN, where she developed creative marketing programmes with a commercial focus.
Prior to joining Tourism New Zealand, Angela was a member of Restaurants Brands New Zealand Executive team.
In her current role she is responsible for the delivery of marketing activity in offshore markets and aviation partnerships.
Brendan joined Tourism New Zealand in January 2016, and in 2022 was appointed to the role of General Manager Insights, Performance and Technology.
He has significant marketing and innovation expertise across the beverage, food, and consumer goods sectors in New Zealand and internationally, including seven years with Fonterra in the Middle East.
Brendan's currently responsible for insights, digital analytics, performance analytics, business planning, platform development and delivery.
Kathryn joined Tourism New Zealand in July 2023 and her responsibilities include global brand strategy, marketing content, trade, social and digital experience, marketing planning and global partnerships.
Kathryn comes from a background of brand strategy, identity and creative. She has worked as an agency partner across multiple Aotearoa New Zealand and global brands including Air New Zealand, EVT Group Rockit Global and Tiaki Care for New Zealand.
Natalie brings more than 16 years of people and culture experience to Tourism New Zealand, following senior HR roles at Oranga Tamariki and Contact Energy.
Responsible for leading our people, government relations and corporate communications functions, she has a strong background in organisational change, as well as capability and culture development.
Karl joined Tourism New Zealand in November 2022. Karl is a descendant of iwi of Taranaki and Whanganui. Karl founded and was the Managing Director of Haka Works, an international business sharing Māori knowledge on team culture and leadership, and Manaia, a London based kapa haka company.
Prior to this, Karl worked as a lawyer in New Zealand and London. The General Manager Pou Ārahi Māori role is responsible for leading Tourism New Zealand’s rautaki Māori and sustainability approach which includes guiding organisational cultural capability and confidence.
Duane joined Tourism New Zealand in January 2023. Duane (Whakatōhea te iwi) is an experienced leader, having worked for TVNZ and marketing led international organisations such as Estée Lauder Companies and L’Oréal.
The Chief Financial Officer role is responsible for ensuring best use of funds, financial stability and compliance.
Leah joined Tourism New Zealand in 2008 and in 2012 was appointed to the role of Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive and Board Secretariat.
Before joining us, Leah lived in Florida, London and Sydney. She has supported senior executives across various sectors, including Australia’s leading medical defence organisation as well as the largest housing association in the United Kingdom.
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