ANGUS & ASSOCIATES - Key Persons
Brian has 25 years of senior tourism marketing experience spanning Regional Tourism Organisations, digital agencies and the accommodation sector. As a tourism industry advocate, he has served as Chair of backpacker and adventure tourism advocacy group BYATA, and participated in the Ministry of Tourism's Research Council and Tourism Industry Aotearoa's Insights Leadership Panel.
Joining Angus & Associates in 2020, Brian supports the team on key projects, adding value to research outcomes through his depth of industry expertise and understanding of relevant context. He also assists in delivering quality, industry-focused insights drawn from Angus & Associates' own research programmes.
Chris is a highly experienced business executive and director. He joined Angus & Associates in April 2023. He began his working life as a radio journalist, moving on to Parliament and then senior corporate communication roles. In 2012 he became GM Corporate Affairs at Tourism New Zealand. In 2014 he was appointed Chief Executive of Tourism Industry Association NZ. Renamed Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Chris led the peak membership body for seven and a half years. In 2022/23, he co-chaired the Tourism Data Leadership Group tasked with identifying and filling gaps in New Zealand's tourism data system. Chris has governance roles with Wellington Zoo, the Hospitality Training Trust, Central Otago Destination Advisory Board, and chairs the Tourism Management Advisory Group at Victoria University of Wellington.
As Managing Director, Chris is responsible for the efficient operation of the business, developing, maintaining, and strengthening key client and industry relationships, representing Angus & Associates in media and key industry forums and ensuring that all client work is delivered to a high standard of quality.
Christopher is an experienced solutions seeker and passionate about using his data-driven and creative brain to empower collaboration and deliver meaningful insights. Holding a Bachelor of Tourism Management and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in German and Sociology, Christopher brings a unique blend of analytical and cultural expertise to our team. His ability to connect the dots and translate complex findings into actionable recommendations makes him an invaluable asset to our clients.
Joining Angus & Associates in 2016, Christopher supports the team with key projects, ensuring high quality data analysis, data visualisation, storytelling and other project services.
Cristine has 30-plus years' experience in planning, marketing, strategy development and market research across a wide range of sectors, in client and agency roles in New Zealand, Europe and the Middle East. She has represented the tourism services sector on the Board of Tourism Industry Aotearoa and regularly serves as a judge for the New Zealand Tourism Awards. As a member of Victoria University of Wellington's Tourism Management Advisory Group, Cristine also provides advice and input on the future of tourism education.
With a distinguished career in senior marketing and management roles (including National Manager, Consumer Marketing at Telecom New Zealand; Managing Director of Heylen Research Centre, Wellington) Cristine worked as an independent consultant before establishing Angus & Associates in 2002.
Hannah has a Bachelor of Commerce in Management and Master of Tourism from University of Otago. She joined Angus & Associates in April 2023, after finishing her master studies and completing her research dissertation on perceptions of working conditions and careers in tourism in New Zealand. Hannah has a strong interest in the tourism workforce, regional tourism organisations, and airlines and airports. Hannah has experience in event planning, tutoring, and working with volunteer groups such as Rotaract and other not for profit groups.
Hannah is involved in many aspects of project co-ordination and delivery, including co-ordination of some of our fieldwork and data collection.
Job Titles:
- Consultant, Strategy & Partnerships
Jessica joined Angus & Associates in January 2024, bringing her broad experience spanning tourism, travel, aviation, business and major events, local and central government. Her career highlights include commercial accounts and service delivery for Air New Zealand, marketing, business events and stakeholder engagement roles at Positively Wellington Tourism, Executive Officer for the CEO at Wellington City Council, and programme manager for the 2021 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Jessica chaired the NZ Convention Bureau for several years and served on the board of CINZ. In her spare time, she volunteers to Springboard Trust, providing strategic leadership guidance to school principals.
With her focus on strategy and partnerships, Jessica nurtures our client relationships, drives the design of projects and seeks out new business opportunities.
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Expert Research
Karen is an expert research practitioner, project manager and research consultant, with over 25 years in the research industry. Karen's research career began in the UK as a specialist qualitative researcher and manager of single and multi-country research for TNS Sofres. In New Zealand, Karen worked at UMR Research Limited, where she was responsible for the design and delivery of end-to-end research projects for a broad range of clients and topics.
Karen's primary area of expertise is qualitative research, including extensive use of ethnographic approaches, community engagement, stakeholder workshops and variations of face2face and online focus groups and depth interviews.
Naji is an experienced and highly qualified researcher specialising in tourism management, holding a Ph.D. from Victoria University of Wellington and a Master's degree in Tourism Management from Iran. With over a decade of dedicated expertise, Naji has honed a versatile skill set encompassing various methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches.
Rachel has an extensive background in market research, having worked within the WPP/Kantar network in New Zealand and Canada before joining Angus & Associates in 2013. She has a Bachelor of Commerce & Administration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Victoria University of Wellington. Her specialist research experience includes consumer behaviour, advertising, marketing communications and brand equity measurement.
Rachel manages some of Angus & Associates' key projects, ensuring the consistent delivery of relevant and engaging insights, and appropriate research solutions.
Thao holds a Bachelor of Business Management from Hue University of Economics, a Master in Economics from Warsaw University of Life Science and a PhD in Tourism from Auckland University of Technology. She has also studied International Marketing at Uppsala University, is fluent in three languages and has a varying level of skill in another four! Thao joined Angus & Associates in 2021, bringing to our team a thorough knowledge of the research process and considerable experience in tourism research in New Zealand and Vietnam.