Dr. Krista van der Linde
Founder
It is my privilege to be to the Founder of Moana Mark. I have 17 years’ experience in marine conservation initiatives in New Zealand as a specialist Marine Mammal Biologist. I have witnessed many businesses benefiting from their local environment, whilst not giving back. Often this is simply because businesses don’t know how and the lack of relevant research projects. I developed Moana Mark as a way to make it easy for businesses to fund local marine projects and for this commitment to be recognised.
I am based in Kaikōura, Moana Mark’s founding region because of the incredible marine mammal populations, its booming eco-tourism industry, and the lack of research projects.
Chris Sturgeon
Director Hapuku Kitchen; Deputy Chair Destination Kaikōura: Programme Lead Kaikoura Marine Development
Nearly 17 years ago the draw of reconnecting to the South Island and my whakapapa was a strong attraction for my wife Fiona and I as we established an artisan business and residential cooking school, named Hapuku Kitchen. During that time we also stepped into managing a local Luxury Lodge cementing us firmly in the fast paced world of tourism.
Having previously spent close to 20 years in corporate life in Wellington, within finance and banking I continue to operate a business redevelopment, project management and transformation consulting company.
Moving to Kaikōura allows me to bring these years of business and commercial expertise along with very strong advocacy skills and tourism connections to the board table. I also am pleased to be able to champion Kaikōura in my other community role as Deputy Chair of Destination Kaikoura and Project Lead of the Kaikoura Marine Development Programme.
I have a real passion for Kaikōura, the whenua and moana and how regenerative tourism continues to be the life blood of our community. I am privileged to be working alongside Dr Krista Van Der Linde as part of the evolution of Moana Mark and in a role of Kaitiaki for our precious taonga.
E whakahīhī ana ahau ki te mahi ki te taha o etahi atu mema kaingākau o te poari i runga i tenei Kaupapa me te tautoko i nga mahi matakite a Krista.
I am proud to work alongside other passionate members of the board on this Kaupapa and support the visionary work Krista leads.
Alex Dykman
Founder – Maverick Digital / Grow Tourism
Your experience in the tourism industry:
With a tourism career spanning a decade, Alex’s experience is very much focused on digital transformation and empowering tourism to drive positive change. From Tourism NZ to founding Maverick Digital – an award-winning tourism marketing agency – Alex has worked with a kaleidoscope of operators and Destinations including Hobbiton Movie Set, South Sea Cruises (Fiji) and Destination Kaikōura. More recently Alex co-Founded Grow Tourism, a learning platform designed to empower New Zealand’s tourism workforce to serve the traveller of the future with sustainable, high-value tourism experiences.
Alex’s experience with a wide and hugely varied range of tourism’s stakeholders has given her an intimate understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities our industry faces.
Why it was of interest to you to support Moana Mark as an advisor:
I’ve always believed tourism has the power to make a hugely positive impact on the people and environments play a part in it, from visitors to indigenous cultures, host communities and operators. Moana Mark empowers tourism operators to drive meaningful, purpose-driven impact through their business operations, turning ‘hui’ in to ‘do-ey’ and enabling the tourism ecosystem to conserve and support a thriving marine environment. How good! There’s so much potential here for powerful storytelling and impact across the whole of Aotearoa – and I’m passionate about getting involved to help supercharge that.
Emile van der Linde
General Manager – Hapuku Lodge + Treehouses
Your experience in the tourism industry:
My life in hospitality and tourism started straight after school when I enrolled into an in-house training program for Hospitality Management at Protea Hotels in South Africa. Based at Protea Hotel San Lameer, and travelling to other hotels within the group when assistance was needed, I was fortunate to learn how different properties operate and learn what I enjoy within the industry.
Following this I worked at a number of establishments in South Africa, England and New Zealand enjoying different cultures and ways of life. This led me to Hapuku Lodge + Treehouses some 15 years ago where I began my journey managing a luxury lodge. After a change in industries for a few years, I eventually returned to Hapuku due to my love for the property, the region, its people and guests. My time working in the hospitality industry has provided a first-hand experience in understanding the high-value experiences tourists desire, their ethos to give back and the unique opportunities our industry can provide.
Why it was of interest to you to support Moana Mark as an advisor:
As a lodge manager I wanted to provide our guests with more than just a place to stay and dine. I would love for them to experience the beauty that is Kaikoura and feel like when they leave that they are giving back in a meaningful, purpose-driven way. I wanted a way that Hapuku guests could experience the unique moana that Kaikoura has to offer, and in-turn, leave their positive ‘mark’ on our special place. After some brainstorming with my wife Krista, who was already working on this concept, the idea for Moana Mark was born. With the support of Tony Wilson, the owner of Hapuku Lodge, we are now proud to be the inaugural partner of Moana Mark. We support marine research through donating a portion of our proceeds to research as well as donating the build and use of a marine lab for Krista and her team. As an advisor, I hope to work with the team to encourage and enable other tourism ventures to also turn their tourism initiatives into a way of conserving our moana for future generations.
Gisela Purcell
Sustainability Advocate – Tourism Industry Aotearoa
Gisela has a wide understanding of the tourism sector and business management in general. In her current role she works at both strategic and operational levels to ensure that tourism in NZ is guided by a regenerative approach, taking into account community, visitor, environmental and economic sustainability.
Her experience at the Nelson Regional Development Agency (the RTO for Nelson Tasman) has given her an in depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing individual tourism operators, the destination management planning process, the value of community engagement and the need to work closely with local councils. She led the creation of the first zero carbon holiday itinerary in NZ. This project won a national tourism award for outstanding collaboration. Gisela was also named an “Eco-Luminary” of the Global Travel Industry by The Australian in 2021.
Gisela is a founding member of Nelson Tasman Climate Forum, a tourism specialist advisor in the group Businesses for Climate Action (now rebranded to Mission Zero) and was a tourism advisor on the Kotahitanga Mo Ta Taio Alliance – a large-scale biodiversity project covering the Top of the South. She is the president of the local SKAL group and a past board member of Trade Aid.
Gisela has an MA in international development focused on mentoring of entrepreneurs, a certificate in Regenerative Tourism and a Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. She loves sea kayaking near her home in Te Tauihu (the Top of the South) and is an occasional scuba diver too.
Why it was of interest to you to support Moana Mark as an advisor:
I appreciate the huge value that coastal tourism brings to NZ – not only economically but also through the education and inspiration it offers. I would love to see tourism enable more research into the marine environment but appreciate that this needs to be presented in a way that works for both operators and visitors.
Krissy Griggs
Visitor Markets Manager – ChristchurchNZ
Your experience in the tourism industry:
I started in the tourism industry back in 1997 working in hotels all around the world. From Christchurch, Japan, England, and Australia. Deciding I wanted a change, I got an IATA degree and worked at Air New Zealand. Having children I took some time our but returned to a role with Hurunui Tourism which I enjoyed developing a region. I was honoured to sit on the board of the North Canterbury Wine Growers until I moved to the role in Kaikoura where I now sit on the Kaikōura Information and Tourism Board.
“I am super passionate about the tourism industry and how we can do our best to give back. Regenerative tourism has a new kid in town and Moana Mark has a vision that aligns with Kaikōura as well as the whole of New Zealand. Dr Krista Van Der Linde is extremely dedicated to our precious marine life along with its longevity, and we are looking forward to being a part of this journey.”
Lisa Bond
Destination Manager – Destination Kaikōura
Your experience in the tourism industry:
I have worked in tourism for the last 28 years. 26 years at Whale Watch Kaikōura in various roles such as guide, skipper, communications, marketing & sales, and now as Destination Manager at Destination Kaikōura.
Why it was of interest to you to support Moana Mark as an advisor:
Having recently completed the Kaikōura Destination Management Plan, a big part of the plan is about the importance of commitment to sustainable practices and marine conservation. I see Moana Mark very much complimenting this aspiration. I see value in this work especially with Kaikōura such a marine hot spot and therefore put my hand up when presented with the opportunity to support the Moana Mark vision.
Louise Frend
Business Owner
Louise has enjoyed a 30 year career in the tourism industry in New Zealand, Australia, UK/Europe and Fiji. Based in Hawke’s Bay, Louise has experience in business operations, marketing and inbound sales representation, strategic planning, product development, and PR & Media.
Louise’s long tenure in tourism has built great instincts for the tourism industry and her time as an RTO has further developed her passion for destination management and grown her experience in working with Central and Local Government.
Louise operates an International tourism marketing & representation business focused on helping boutique accommodation and experiences in New Zealand become “Internationally ready” and growing awareness of their product and the experiences on offer in NZ.
“I’m dedicated to working to support Moana Mark as it launches an accreditation program New Zealand and the world is ready for. A focus on the Environment, research, citizen science and sustainability for our vulnerable oceans and its inhabitants. I’m excited by Krista’s Vision and passion and will do all I can personally to assist her at this time of evolution and change.