Stephen Espiner | Associate Professor, Lincoln University

Stephen Espiner is an Associate Professor in Parks, Recreation and Tourism at Lincoln University with 25 years’ research and teaching experience in nature-based tourism and outdoor recreation in Aotearoa New Zealand’s protected areas. As an integrative social scientist, he is interested in the human dimensions of natural resources management and environmental change, with particular reference to parks, recreation and tourism and associated conservation, community and visitor management issues. Stephen is co-Head of the University’s Department of Tourism, Sport and Society, and led the University’s Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Tourism from 2020-2022.

Susanne Becken | Principal Science Investment Advisor

Susanne Becken is a Professor of Sustainable Tourism at Griffith University in Australia and the Principal Science Investment Advisor (Visitor) in the Department of Conservation, New Zealand. She is also a Vice Chancellor Research Fellow at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom. Susanne is a member of the Air New Zealand Sustainability Advisory Panel, a Fellow of the International Academy of the Study of Tourism and the 2019 UNWTO Ulysses Award winner.

Tyla Harrison-Hunt | City Councillor, Taumutu Representative

Tyla Harrison-Hunt is the city councillor for the Riccarton ward. Over the past 10 years, he has been involved in running businesses aimed at Youth focused initiatives in sport, and volunteerism in community events and owns a business consultancy. He has travelled the world as a public speaker. (Australia, Germany, USA and Aotearoa NZ). He is on many governance committees and boards across New Zealand and abroad. He has a passion for environmentalism, sustainability, social equity and business. He is of Ngai Tahu, Te Atiawa and Ngāti Porou descent and is a representative of Taumutu. 

Justin Watson | Christchurch Airport

Justin is the Chief Executive at Christchurch International Airport, responsible for leading the airports aeronautical development, customer, HR and commercial teams.  He has an extensive career in international marketing and leadership roles spanning more than 20 years. Prior to the airport, Justin held the roles of Director of Trade, PR & Major Events and GM Marketing at Tourism New Zealand and before that he was Director of Marketing at McDonald’s New Zealand & Pacific Islands and Marketing Manager at Coca-Cola Oceania.  Justin has a broad experience base, including significant international marketing and partnership experience, having worked intimately with all of New Zealand’s key international trading partners, along with industry experience across FMCG, retail, tourism and government.  Justin is on the New Zealand China Council and was previously a Tourism Industry Aotearoa board member and member of the Tourism Futures Taskforce.