Meet The Speakers & Panelists

Craig is an accomplished tourism advisor with 25 years’ experience in making plans and concepts a reality including producing many tourism sector strategies, feasibility studies and establishing collaborative activities for New Zealand regions and journeys through them by train, car and cycle. His goal is to help organisations achieve their full potential sooner by combining smart customer segmentation with bold positioning of remarkable products and experiences. A champion of experience quality including over a decade as a NZ Tourism Awards judge.

Adam Lynch is the New Zealand Managing Director of Reliance Risk and a specialist in tourism safety, risk management, and business continuity. With over 20 years’ experience across New Zealand and the UK, Adam has held executive and operational leadership roles in major venues, visitor attractions, and events. He works closely with tourism operators, councils, and community organisations to enhance resilience through practical risk strategies, emergency planning, and systems development. Known for his hands-on approach and clear communication, Adam helps businesses—big and small—navigate uncertainty while keeping guests and teams safe.

Rose and Joe Duemig founded App My Community to improve how campgrounds and RV resorts communicate with their guests. The idea came during their first RV trip, when they missed out on a kids’ train ride and couldn’t buy firewood due to limited store hours. With backgrounds in hospitality, they saw a need for better real-time communication in outdoor accommodations.

Jezza Williams is the founder & director of the Makingtrax Foundation, the only independent organization dedicated to Inclusion in Tourism & Adventure Travel. A hard-core adventurer, he has had a lifetime in the adventure tourism industry. Following a life-changing canyon accident in 2010, he shifted his focus dedicating his work to developing Inclusive Tourism & Adaptive Adventure throughout Aotearoa. With over 30 years in the tourism industry, 12 of those dedicated to inclusive and accessible tourism Jezza is recognized globally as a adaptive advisor and inclusive adventure consultant.

Paul Wilson is a seasoned parks and recreation professional with over three decades of experience in strategic planning, asset management, and facility design across the public and private sectors. As Director of Xyst Limited, New Zealand’s largest dedicated parks and recreation planning practice, Paul has led numerous projects throughout New Zealand, helping local governments and tourism operators enhance the quality, sustainability, and visitor experience of their facilities. With a background in local government and a strong focus on evidence-based decision-making, Paul brings deep expertise in policy and planning, service delivery, and customer experience design. Paul’s insights into the intersection of tourism, recreation management make him a valuable voice in the conversation about the future of holiday parks.

Fiona is the Auckland Partner of the Employment Law team and commenced her career with Lane Neave in 2007. Fiona and her team act for both employees and employers in matters involving employment relations, health and safety, human rights, privacy and ACC. Fiona advises on all aspects of termination including performance management, misconduct, serious misconduct, medical incapacity, restructurings and redundancies and negotiated exits. She also specialises in collective bargaining, human rights commission matters and independent external investigations. Fiona regularly represents parties in Mediations, Employment Relations Authority Investigation meetings and the Employment Court. Fiona was nominated for Young Lawyer of the Year at the 2016 Law Awards. In 2022 and 2023, she was recognised as an Elite Woman in NZ Lawyer’s annual rankings. Fiona has also been recognised in Doyle’s Guide, Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a leading employment and health and safety practitioner in New Zealand. Although Fiona is based in Auckland, she works with clients in all parts of the country.

With over 25 years’ experience designing holiday parks and tourism facilities across New Zealand, architect Steven Chambers brings deep sector knowledge and a passion for inclusive, people-first design. Steven specialises in creating functional, welcoming spaces that cater to a diverse range of guests. At this year’s conference, he will share insights into designing for neurodiverse clients—including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and related conditions—highlighting practical ways parks can enhance comfort, reduce sensory stress, and build loyal, returning visitors. His talk promises valuable, actionable ideas for creating more inclusive and future-ready holiday park environments.

Jill Hooper is the Founder and Managing Director of Good to Book, a leading guest intelligence platform built specifically for short-term accommodation providers (STAPs). With more than two decades of experience in healthcare leadership and business development, Jill transitioned into the accommodation industry and quickly identified the urgent need for a better way to manage the risks posed by Rogue Guests. Drawing from firsthand experience as an operator of a Queensland-based aparthotel, Jill developed Good to Book as a practical, scalable solution that now supports providers across Australia and New Zealand. The platform integrates directly with Property Management Systems (PMS), or a standalone platform, empowering providers to make informed, risk-aware booking decisions that protect revenue, staff, and the guest experience. Jill is passionate about elevating industry standards and ensuring that accommodation providers have the tools they need to confidently welcome guests who are truly “Good to Book.”

Matthew has over 15 years of experience in the accommodation sector, spanning operations, revenue management, sales, and technology. As Commercial Director for RoomPriceGenie, he helps accommodation providers—big and small—unlock the power of dynamic pricing through automation. Matt’s all about making revenue management simple, effective, and accessible for all accommodation providers across the region.

Nadia Ellis is the founder of Curiosity, an AI consultancy helping tourism businesses across Aotearoa work smarter with artificial intelligence. With two decades in strategic marketing and leadership roles at places like RealNZ and Cardrona Alpine Resort, she helps operators move beyond the buzzwords and put AI to work. Streamlining operations, surfacing better insights, and creating systems that freeing up time to focus on what really matters.

Amanda Stevens is a renowned thought leader on the customer experience. She combines current consumer insights with fascinating research into buying behaviour, delivering organisations and business owners powerful strategies for connecting with their customers – never more important than in a post-COVID world. Amanda has a double degree in consumer psychology and marketing and is a hands-on marketer, having consulted across almost every industry in Australia and the United States. Recognised as one of the most entertaining and energetic speakers on the circuit, Amanda has presented at over 1200 conferences in 14 countries and today is regarded as one of the best virtual presenters in the country. She combines practical strategies with a mesmerizing storytelling style, leaving audiences with memorable messages and actionable insights.