TIA - Key Persons


Adam Barker

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant and Governance Secretariat

Anna Black

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director, General Travel
Anna is an executive director of a successful family-run inbound tour operator that has continued to change and adapt over the 50 years they have been in business. Anna has been in the business for 19 years and served on the TIA Board for 3 years and the TECNZ board for 12 years.

Ashika Young

Job Titles:
  • HR Manager ( Parental Leave Cover )

Brooke Tomoana

Job Titles:
  • Business Analyst

Bruce Bassett

Job Titles:
  • Chief Advisor, Strategy and Policy

Callum Mallett

Job Titles:
  • Chief Operating Officer New Zealand of SkyCity
Callum was appointed Chief Operating Officer New Zealand of SkyCity in February 2021 and has operating responsibility for SkyCity's New Zealand businesses, including the day-to-day operations of SkyCity Auckland. Callum has significant gaming and hospitality experience having held a number of senior roles at SkyCity since joining in 2009, including as General Manager of SkyCity Darwin, General Manager SkyCity Auckland Hotels, Convention Centre and Sky Tower, and Executive General Manager of Hospitality for SkyCity Auckland. Prior to joining SkyCity, Callum held numerous senior leadership roles across the hospitality, retail and financial investment sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University of Wellington, and has completed studies with Cornell University, The London Business School and the University of Nevada.

Chris McGeown

Job Titles:
  • Business Services Manager

Dame Kerry Prendergast - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Director of Oceania Healthcare
  • Director of Oceania Healthcare, Fish Serve
Dame Kerry is a Director of Oceania Healthcare, Fish Serve and a Trustee of both the Wellington International Arts Foundation and the New Zealand Community Trust. She is the Chair of Wellington Free Ambulance, Wellington Opera, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the Victoria Foundation. She formerly chaired Tourism New Zealand, the New Zealand Film Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and the New Zealand

David Perks

Job Titles:
  • Board Member of Business Events Industry Aotearoa
  • Chairman of Regional Tourism New Zealand
In over 25 years in New Zealand's tourism industry David has enjoyed a variety of corporate, public sector, and governance roles. David's career experience is founded in the hotel and tourism sector having spent a decade with Millennium Hotels. Managing the Copthorne Hotel at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, David led the redevelopment of the hotel and the significant expansion of its conference and banqueting capacity and business. In 2008 David took on the leadership of Positively Wellington Tourism as the city capitalized on being named #4 city in the world by Lonely Planet, hosting Rugby World Cup and his team's establishment of Visa Wellington On A Plate and Beervana. Since then, David has continued to lead in Wellington, having been General Manager of Venues Wellington, led the business, tourism and screen activities of WellingtonNZ as General Manager Regional Development, and most recently David has and continues to lead, for Wellington City Council, the commercial development of and around the newly opened Tākina, Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre. As Chair of Regional Tourism New Zealand, David leads the representation of local government interests in all aspects of the visitor sector to government, its agencies, and the industry. David is also a Board Member of Business Events Industry Aotearoa, Chair of the Wellington Cable Car Company, and holds several other appointed governance roles in tourism sector organisations.

Deryck Shaw

Job Titles:
  • Director, Holiday Parks New Zealand ( HPNZ )
Deryck brings extensive skills, experience and a long-term commitment to the NZ tourism industry. Currently he is Chair of Te Puia, director of Waitangi Ltd, Waimangu Volcanic Valley and NZ Holiday Parks Association. As the owner and operator of five holiday parks, he understands the pressures that businesses currently face and future opportunities for them. Deryck's governance experience includes current and former roles in education, health, forestry, wood processing, sports, community and disabilities. He has also mentored many people in governance and business. He is a keen supporter of sustainability as one of the founders of the Rotorua Sustainable Charter over 25 years ago and understands the importance of community in tourism through his role as a volunteer organiser of the Rotorua Walking Festival for over 30 years.

Frances Penfold

Job Titles:
  • Stakeholder Engagement Manager

Geoff McDonald

Job Titles:
  • CEO of the Skyline Enterprises Group
  • Chief Executive, Skyline Enterprises Group
Geoff is currentl y CEO of the Skyline Enterprises Group which has a range of business interests across tourism, outdoor attractions, and adventure activities in New Zealand and a range of offshore locations including, Canada, Korea, and Singapore and a member of the NZ Institute of Company Directors and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors. He has held board and subcommittee chair roles with both the NZ and Australian Medicines industry sector.

Gisela Purcell - CSR

Job Titles:
  • Sustainability Manager

Greg Thomas

Job Titles:
  • GM Membership & Advocacy
  • Member Enquiries

Hannah Ballantyne

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer, RealNZ
Hannah Ballantyne joined RealNZ in 2016 and was appointed into the CFO role in 2017. RealNZ operates tourism experiences in Fiordland, Rakiura and Queenstown as well as Ski operations at Cardrona and Treble Cone. Hannah has led various operational and commercial functions at RealNZ including finance, legal, logistics, asset management, maritime operations, technology and procurement. Prior to RealNZ, Hannah spent 10 years abroad in Australia and London in senior finance roles with global consumer brands Apple and Burberry as well as two years with Heathrow Airport. Hannah holds a BCom (hons) and a BA from the University of Otago, is a qualified chartered accountant with CAANZ and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Helen Foo

Job Titles:
  • Membership Coordinator

Jake Downing

Job Titles:
  • Director of Museum and Commercial Services, Te Papa Tongarewa
Since November 2022, Jake has been Director of Museum and Commercial Services at Te Papa Tongarewa. Jake leads the directorate responsible for Venues, Visitor Services, Sales & Commercial Business, Te Papa Stores and Event Operations. Prior to this Jake was Head of Tourism at Wētā Workshop for eight years, a role which encompassed all aspects of strategy and management: from sales, marketing and product development, through to operational delivery, leading and managing teams. Jake's governance experience began in 2007 when he was appointed Director of the Falkland Islands' Development Corporation, and General Manager of the Tourism Board. Jake has also held governance roles at i-SITE New Zealand, BEIA and recently Tourism Export Council.

James Dalglish

Job Titles:
  • Co - Deputy Chair & Land Transport Sector
Former president and current council member of the Rental Vehicle Association and Director of GO Rentals, James Dalglish has been a passionate business and tourism leader for over 20 years. A key focus for James in his role with the RVA has been building a stronger industry through collaboration and promoting a safer driver experience for our international tourists. As a pioneer of the Safer Journeys Tourism Forum, GO Rentals has led by example within the sector to drive awareness of driver safety and promoting industry responsibility as part of the Tiaki promise. Under James's leadership GO won TIA's Visitor Experience Tourism Award in 2018 and were back as finalists in 2019, Canstar Awards in 2018 and 2020, involved in the highly regarded ITS Bluetooth Trial and became the first rental car company to achieve Qualmark Gold and be CarboNZero certified. James is proud to lead a business focused on sustainable growth and innovation through industry leading technology. He is a passionate member of the Icehouse Alumni, an honorary member of Les clefs d'Or New Zealand and rugby continues to be his major love outside of work and family!

James Doolan

Job Titles:
  • Strategic Director of Hotel Council Aotearoa
James Doolan is strategic director of Hotel Council Aotearoa, an industry body that advocates on behalf of New Zealand hotels and hoteliers. James returned home to New Zealand with his family in December 2018, following 13 years in Hong Kong where his final role was Regional Vice President of Hotel Development for Marriott International. James was lead executive responsible for securing new hotel franchise and management contracts in Thailand, New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific for all Marriott International group brands including Bulgari, Ritz-Carlton, W Hotels & Resorts, Marriott, Sheraton, Westin and Courtyard. He also worked on hotel development projects in other Asian locations, including Vietnam, Hong Kong, Korean, Macau and Japan. Prior to becoming a hospitality industry executive, James practiced as a corporate/commercial lawyer with Norton Rose (Hong Kong) and Bell Gully (Auckland), focusing on off-market mergers & acquisitions and complex contract negotiations. James holds BCom/LLB degrees from the University of Auckland. He is a member of the Institute of Directors and is actively involved in Auckland's Ice Angels group, which invests in New Zealand start-ups. James provides strategic advice on hotel development projects through his own consultancy, Fantail Advisory.

John Barrett

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director and Founder of Kapiti Island Nature Tours
  • Māori Representative
John Barrett is the managing director and founder of Kapiti Island Nature Tours and Nature Lodge, a family operated, multi award-winning tourism business located on one of New Zealand's premier nature reserves, Kapiti Island. The business is strongly focused on developing whanau (family) hapu and Iwi (tribal group) members into tourism work that is meaningful financially, culturally, environmentally and socially. He has 40+ years of management and governance experience in a range of private and public organisations and enterprises. Not surprisingly, John's interests (when time away from whānau and the whānau business permits) are: nature based tourism, Māori and international indigenous tourism development, local/regional economic development, indigenous higher education and conservation practice and education.

Kristin Dunne

Job Titles:
  • Co - Deputy Chair & Tourism Services and Services to Tourism

Laura Cornall

Job Titles:
  • Member Advocate

Leah McNeil

Job Titles:
  • Media Enquiries
  • Strategic Communications Advisor

Megan Sherborne

Job Titles:
  • Engagement & Partnerships Coordinator

Melissa Pollard

Job Titles:
  • Engagement & Events Specialist

Nicole Botting

Job Titles:
  • Manager - Marketing
Nicole has over 10 years' experience in the tourism sector. She has volunteered her time on the BYATA Board, as a co-opted TEC Board Member, as part of the Tourism Futures Taskforce Advisory Group, and held the position of chair of YoungTEC for two years. She was a 2021 Emerging Leader finalist at the New Zealand Tourism Awards.

Rebecca Ingram - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive
Rebecca Ingram joined TIA as Chief Executive in March 2022, bringing with her over 20 years of experience across tourism, marketing, event management, advocacy and stakeholder relations. Rebecca describes herself as ‘tourism's biggest champion' and is passionate about supporting the industry to build its resilience and impact through economic, social, environmental and cultural contributions to Aotearoa New Zealand. Through her strong network with key decision makers and relationships into government, she successfully advocates on behalf of the industry. As the driving force being the development of Tourism 2050 - a Blueprint for Impact, she has helped to establish a clear strategy for the industry, articulating a shared mission and vision, and clearly conveying the industry's ambitions for the future and plan to get there. Before TIA she was General Manager of New Zealand and Government Relations at Tourism New Zealand (TNZ). Other roles included leading a global Tourism NZ promotional team across 10 markets, and leading complex transformation at Telecom (now Spark) and Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.

René de Monchy

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand
  • Tourism New Zealand Representative
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. Before this, René 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 to target for travel to New Zealand. René also led the development of Tourism New Zealand's Aviation Strategy to guide partnerships with international airlines including establishing Memorandum of Understandings with major airlines including Air New Zealand.

Reuben Levermore

Job Titles:
  • Head of Tourism and Regional
  • Head of Tourism and Regional Affairs at Air New Zealand
Reuben Levermore is Head of Tourism and Regional Affairs at Air New Zealand. Prior to joining Air New Zealand, Reuben was Director of Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade and served as New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines and as Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR. He has also worked in international trade negotiations, and as a financial markets advocate in the City of London.

Scott Tasker

Job Titles:
  • Chief Customer Officer, Auckland Airport
Scott is on the executive leadership team at Auckland Airport and has been with the company for nine years. Scott is responsible for Auckland Airport's customer, aeronautical commercial and marketing teams, focusing on customer experience, marketing and sustainably growing airline capacity and network connectivity. Scott leads Auckland Airport's engagement with the tourism sector and tourism policy, which included co-chairing the Tourism Sector Group as part of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum for several years. Scott has more than 20 years' experience in the travel industry, both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and has held a number of roles in airline sales, marketing and management with Emirates and Lufthansa. Prior to joining Auckland Airport, Scott held leadership positions in the travel insurance industry with Cover-More Travel Insurance and the Healix Assistance Group.

Shelley Lancaster

Job Titles:
  • Financial Controller

Tania Rook

Job Titles:
  • TRENZ Manager

Vlad Hartopeanu

Job Titles:
  • Digital Communications Specialist