The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TECNZ) has announced the reappointment of Anna Black, Executive Director of General Travel as Board Chair and the election of a new member Jake Downing, Head of Tourism of Weta Workshop to the TECNZ Board of Directors.

TECNZ Chair, Anna Black said, “As Jakes title suggests he heads up the tourism division, Weta Studio Tours, of the world renowned Weta Workshop located in Miramar, Wellington.  His responsibilities include the Weta Cave Workshop Tour, the Weta Cave shop and a number of other creative visitor experiences.  With 200,000 annual visitors to Weta Workshop he knows a thing or two about managing visitors and is well placed to make a valuable contribution to the TECNZ Board.”

The ten-member board plus two co-opt positions oversees the TECNZ’s finances and strategic planning and will serve a two year term.

The current board would also like to take this opportunity to thank the two outgoing board members Stephen Lester from Ngai Tahu Tourism and Dominic Cheng of Winchester Travel. A particular acknowledge was made to Dominic who resigned from the board after 16 years of service.

“I will certainly miss Dom’s jovial demeanour, immense experience and historical knowledge keeping those of us newer board members grounded in the history of TECNZ s predecessor ITOC and the direction that TECNZ is heading. A huge thank you from myself and the board for your service over this time.”

2018-2020 Board Members:

Representing Inbound Member Tour Operators (alphabetical)

Adele Marsden                          Director, New Zealand Educational Tours, Tauranga

Anna Black (Chair)                     Executive Director, General Travel Group, Auckland

Geoff Yee                                    Managing Director, GSN Pacific, Auckland

John Gregory                              Manager, Terra Nova Coach Tours, Christchurch

Scott Mehrtens                          Leisure Time Tours | Travel Time South Pacific, Hamilton

Stuart Neels                                Group General Manager, AOT New Zealand & ATS Pacific, Auckland

Tim Reid                                      General Manager & Director, Southern World NZ, Auckland

 Representing Allied Members

Dylan Rushbrook                       Director, Synergy Tourism Consulting, Cromwell

Jack Downing                             Head of Tourism, Weta Workshop, Wellington

Michelle Caldwell                      General Manager S&M, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, Taupo

Co-opted Board Members

Jenny Simpson                           Tourism Partnership Manager, Air NZ Auckland

Nicole Botting                             YoungTEC Chair, ChristchurchNZ, Christchurch

ENDS

 About the Tourism Export Council of New Zealand

The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TECNZ) is a trade association that represents the interests of the inbound tourism industry. Its membership includes inbound tour operators (Inbound Members) and attraction, activity, accommodation, transport suppliers, regional tourism organisations and tourism services providers (Allied Members). TECNZ members collectively handle most of New Zealand’s international visitor arrivals. www.tourismexportcouncil.org.nz.

For more information please contact:

Judy Chen

CEO-Tourism Export Council of NZ

027 6644 836