Throughout funding uncertainty over the last few months, we farewelled some of our team; great staff who have secured great opportunities externally, and we wish them well.
Nicola Greenwell
We had a team of eight, completely focussed on attracting visitors to the region – leisure and business event visitors. The organisation was resized to suit reduced funding, resulting in six positions. The departures mean we’ve had a team of just four for the past couple of months.
They have done a fantastic job in balancing all the great mahi, however we are all ready to welcome our new people, and once again have a complete team.
This month, I want to introduce the team behind the mighty Waikato brand and activations.
Jessica Sanders is our Regional Tourism Organisation operations coordinator, yes, our ROC. Jess comes from a background of events, venues, hospitality and social enterprise organisations. Her role is to provide support across all our projects and help smooth out the craziness.
Carly Jackson is our Events lead, joining us from Hamilton City Council’s H3 team, so well versed in business events and how to attract this lucrative market to our region. Her role focusses on providing a compelling reason for business event organisers to bring their event to the mighty Waikato.
Tash Pearce has ‘stepped to the left’ after two years with the organisation, she is now our Marketing and Media lead. This role will see Tash responsible for our domestic marketing campaigns and activity, along with our media activations.
Stepping from business events into the Destination lead role is Aimee Tyson. Aimee has been with us for four years.
Aimee will be providing capability building opportunities and support to our industry; along with assisting travel trade when they need information about the mighty Waikato.
Behind our digital presence is our Digital Marketing lead, Natasha Chevtchenko. Natasha has been the brains of our digital marketing since “two days before Lockdown”. She looks after our wonderful website, waikatonz.com, all our social media, many electronic newsletters and ensures our online presence aligns to campaign activities.
Caz Wood is with the team while the last of the Regional Event Fund is utilised. She has been with us as secretariat to assist the panel across Taupō, Rotorua, Ruapehu and Waikato. Her role is central government funded and expires early 2025.
As general manager, I have the pleasure of working with the above team of amazing humans, ensuring they have the tools they need to carry out their mahi and deliver the magic our industry deserves.
With our team now complete, we have plenty of work planned and are eager and keen to share how great our region is! As you see our team out and about, please don’t hesitate to say ‘hello’ and ask how the visitor industry in the mighty Waikato is going.
