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Appointed to the Board as Chair in July 2023
Paul has a background in governance, management, growth business development, brand development and marketing. His extensive experience in the financial services industry includes co-founder and then Chief Executive of Kiwibank, along with senior management positions with Westpac and Trust Bank.
Paul is currently Chair of the New Zealand Story Group, Foley Wines and Chubb Life Insurance New Zealand. He is also a director of Southern Sky Dairies and a Council Member of Massey University.
Ngāi Tahu (Ngāti Kurī of Kaikōura), Waikato-Tainui (Ngāti Hauā/Ngāti Māhanga)
Appointed to the Board in September 2018 and became Deputy Chair in October 2022
Kauahi is Chief Operating Officer of Whale Watch Kaikōura Ltd and has 30+ years’ experience in roles focused on business, customer experience, tourism, operations, governance, Māori and maritime.
He is currently a Director of Whale Watch Australia Pty Ltd. He was the founding Chair of Destination Kaikōura, is a past director of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, and was a panel member for the Tourism Infrastructure Fund. In 2018 he was awarded the ‘Outstanding Māori Business Leader Award’ at the University of Auckland’s Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders’ Awards.
Ngati Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui
Appointed to the Board in September 2018
Colleen is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in diverse sectors including tourism, forestry, Agribusiness, property, and health services.
Her recent roles included Chief Executive Officer of Te Arawa Group Holdings Ltd which complemented her expertise in Māori post-settlement governance entities, Māori incorporations and Māori land trusts. Her governance experience includes 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, Te Arawa Tourism Ltd, Matai Pacific Iwi Collective (kiwifruit) and Waikato Tainui (audit and risk member).
Appointed to the Board in June 2017
Jan was previously Chair of Skyline Enterprises and Destination Queenstown, and a board member of Jumping New Zealand and the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce.
She was also General Manager of Millbrook Resort, Sky City Hotel & Convention Centre, and Millennium Queenstown.
Appointed to the Board in August 2022
Steve was a Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2011 and Mayor of Rotorua from 2013 to 2022. 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 groundbreaking partnership with Te Arawa and secured significant partnership investment to enable iconic place-making projects. In her career in central government, 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 ($72M) for the clean-up of Rotorua’s lakes. In recent years, in addition to her mayoral responsibilities, Steve has chaired the Federation of Primary Health Aotearoa since 2018, was co-chair of the New Zealand Tourism Futures Taskforce, and was on the board of the Responsible Camping Working Group.
Appointed to the Board in August 2022
Jacqui is a dual New Zealand/Australian citizen and the long-term leader of The Walshe Group, a company that has provided dedicated airline and destination representation services to world-leading travel brands for over 40 years in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Jacqui holds a Bachelor of Business Studies and an MBA and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Chief Executive Women Australia and Global Women NZ. She has over 20 years’ experience as a non-executive director in the travel and tourism, financial services and not-for-profit (Aboriginal and youth services) sectors. Jacqui is the former Deputy Chair and Chair of the Audit & Finance committee of the Australian Tourism Export Council. She was a member of the Tourism Restart Taskforce in Australia, and a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council for the Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment in Australian Federal Parliament (2020-2022).
Appointed to the Board in August 2022
Amanda is a commercial executive who has extensive experience within the FMCG sector across Australia and New Zealand including director, CEO and general manager roles at global blue-chip multinationals, private enterprise and healthcare.
She also holds governance positions in various sectors including health and conservation with sub-committee responsibilities in IT/cybersecurity and HR/remuneration. Amanda is experienced in governance and management across Australia and New Zealand with a particular focus on organisation transformation, brand growth and marketing communications. 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.
Joined in August 2015
René was appointed Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand in April 2021. He has over 20 years' global experience in consumer-led businesses, including in local and international marketing roles for Fonterra, Heineken and Asia Pacific Breweries in Singapore.
He was previously Tourism New Zealand's Director Commercial where he led the team based in our international offices 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.
He is passionate about the tourism sector and active in tourism industry engagement, undertaking regular speaking engagements and panel discussions. He is currently a Board or panel member for
Tourism Industry Aotearoa, New Zealand Screen Production Grant Significant Economic Benefits Verification Panel, New Zealand Story Board, New Zealand China Council and Qualmark New Zealand Limited.
Joined in November 2006
Originally from Germany, Bjoern has a strong background in commercial partnership, business events and the tourism sector.
Bjoern has worked across multiple international markets including the UK, Europe, North America, Brazil, and Argentina. In his current role he is responsible for Tourism New Zealand’s industry partnerships, international business events, and commercial partnerships including Qualmark and the isite visitor information centres.
Joined 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, 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.
Joined in January 2016
Brendan was appointed to his current role in 2022. 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.
He is responsible for insights, digital analytics, performance analytics, business planning, platform development and delivery.
Joined in September 2017
Brodie has over 15 years’ experience in brand storytelling and marketing communications. Her responsibilities include global brand strategy, marketing content, trade, social and digital experience, marketing planning and global partnerships.
Brodie comes from a background in the brand, creative and advertising sector. She worked as Tourism New Zealand’s Brand and Content Manager, and prior to that at multiple advertising agencies in New Zealand and the UK alongside global brands such as Heineken, Toyota, Air New Zealand, Coca-Cola, Westpac and Nestle.
Joined in May 2018
Natalie’s experience includes senior people and culture roles at public and private sector organisations. She has a strong background in organisation change as well as capability and culture development.
In her current role at Tourism New Zealand, she is responsible for leading our people, government relations and corporate communication functions.
Joined in November 2022
Karl is an uri (descendant) of Ngāti Maru, Te Āti Awa, Ngā Ruahine and Te Ātihaunui ā Paparangi. His responsibilities include partnership-building with Māori/iwi, building internal cultural capability, and incorporating Te Ao Māori into Tourism New Zealand’s brand and storytelling.
He is also responsible for Tourism New Zealand’s approach to sustainability. Karl has a legal background and practised as a commercial lawyer in New Zealand and the UK. He started a professional kapa haka business in London and a leadership/team culture consultancy which he operated for 18 years in the UK. He has been a board member for Ngāti Maru and was appointed as a negotiator to settle the iwi’s claim.
Joined in January 2023
Duane (Whakatōhea te iwi) is a Chartered Accountant and member of the Institute of Directors. He has a career spanning 20 years in commercial and financial leadership roles.
Most recently, Duane was at TVNZ (Te Reo Tātaki) and before that, worked in large multinational organisations such as Estee Lauder Companies and L’Oréal both in New Zealand and overseas. Duane is responsible for managing the finance function which includes financial planning and analysis, compliance, risk, treasury, property, and procurement.
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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