Speakers

Susanne Sims is a wellness travel consultant and the founder of the Hawaii Island Wellness Travel Association and the Hawaii Ecotourism Association. Her book 'Healing Vacations in Hawaii' is a first-ever guidebook dedicated to covering health and wellness travel options on the Island of Hawaii. She has served as the Chair of the Hawaii Island Visitors Bureau's 2008 Spa and Wellness Marketing Committee.

Dame Cheryll Sotheran DNZM has had a long career in the cultural and tourism sectors, including university teaching and management and governance roles. She was the founding CEO of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa from 1993-2002.  In 2000 she was recognised in the New Years honours list. 

Dame Cheryll was appointed Sector Director Creative Industries at Industry New Zealand in December 2002 and has continued in that role for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, with responsibility for ensuring the delivery of a growth strategy for New Zealand’s creative sector.  She also leads NZTE's engagement with the tourism industry to facilitate projects to build up the long-term capability of the industry  and to focus on opportunities to add value in the sector. 

Dawn Muir has worked in the tourism sector for over 19 years.  Her past experience includes United Airlines, Tourism New Zealand (both here in NZ and in North America), and Te Puni Kokiri in developing Maori tourism.  She has extensive networks and contacts within the tourism sector, is experienced in tourism marketing and distribution, stakeholder relationships and aspects of central government.

Dawn started her own business, Tourism Unplugged Ltd, one year ago and contracts her time and experience to a variety of organisations including the NZ Maori Tourism Council, Tourism New Zealand, Manaaki Tourism Ltd, Te Puni Kokiri and others.  She enjoys using her skills, particularly in the Maori tourism sector where she has worked extensively over the past 8 years.

John is the Associate Director of the Tourism and Community Programme Area at the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute based at AUT University, Auckland. In 1998, John completed his Ph D. at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. His present research focuses on tourism development in peripheral regions. John has worked on tourism projects in North America, Europe, the Middle Eas, Africa, and Asia. Past clients include the UNWTO, UNCBD, UNEP, UNESCO, World Bank, Nordic Council, European Tourism Research Institute, Commission on Environmental Cooperation, Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism Atlantic, and Parks Canada. John is also a guest professor at the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre, Iceland.

Bryan Hughes is the Chief Executive Officer/ Director of the Wai Ora Group of Companies which include the New Zealand Tourism award winning thermal and spa attraction of “Hells Gate and Wai Ora Spa” in Rotorua; “Mokoia Island Wai Ora Experiences”-an eco/cultural attraction on the privately owned native bird sanctuary of Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua; “Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort” – Rotorua’s first Destination Spa Resort and the International Award winning “Wai Ora Spa” in Bangkok, Thailand. He has been directly involved in the tourism industry for more than 13 years as a senior manager /business developer and holds a number of tertiary qualifications including two Masters Degrees in management and environmental sciences.
Within the companies, Bryan sees his major role as that of creation and ongoing development of “The New Zealand Cultural Spa Experience” both in New Zealand and overseas. This cultural spa experience is underpinned by the core values of the group which are Maanakitanga (Hosting) and Kitiakitanga (Guardianship) and based on the unique flora, fauna and Maori culture of New Zealand.
He is passionate about the tourism and spa industry and has served on a number of local and national organisations as Director/Chairman/Deputy Chairman/Councillor or member including ATTTO; National Tourism Training Council; NZ Maori Tourism Council; Rotorua Tourism Advisory Board and Maori in Tourism Rotorua.

Katherine has worked as a Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Tourism's policy team since 2002. Recently Katherine has been working on a project to identify environmental indicators for New Zealand tourism. Before that she managed the Ministry's joint leadership of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015, working in partnership with the Tourism Industry Association and Tourism New Zealand. Katherine has also worked with Local Government New Zealand and Regional Tourism Organisations on projects to strengthen regional tourism.

Elizabeth joined the Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO) as Chief Executive in April 2007. Prior to that she had been involved in training and education at an executive level for more than 15 years, as chief executive of a Private Training Establishment, chief executive of another ITO, and head of learning and development for New Zealand's largest bank. Her early career included working in aviation, as well as spending eight years managing travel agencies.

Elizabeth has an MBA from Henley (UK), a Diploma of Business Studies from Massey University (Training and Development) and an Associate Diploma in Teaching from Trinity College, London. She is a current board member of the Industry Training Federation, and sits on three education-related advisory boards, including the Ministry of Education’s e-Learning Advisory Board .