Meet the Team

Liz is Qualmark's endorsement assessor for the lower South Island. With a background in educational tourism and tour leader training, Liz is passionate about quality products and processes. She has travelled extensively for work and pleasure and made a home in Hawea Flat in 2001. Given a spare moment she loves to read, write and run.

Liz Breslin

Sue is based in Christchurch and has been working with Qualmark for five years. She says that over that time she has met wonderful people and visited a range of interesting places and properties - no two days are the same. She has extensive experience in tourism having owned her own business - showing visitors the very best of the area's homes, gardens and cuisine. Sue has also travelled extensively throughout NZ and overseas. In addition she has business, management and catering experience. Interests include slow food, gardening and tramping. Sue is an accommodation assessor for the Christchurch region.

Sue Denny

Born and raised in Canterbury, Di trained as a nurse then went travelling for a few years, mainly in the USA. After a stint on Campbell Island, our Southern weather station, she opened a B&B in Methven 25 years ago. Di is an accommodation assessor for Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast. She is also a gardener, walker, skier, traveller and dog lover.

Di Harris

Martin immigrated to NZ from The Netherlands in 1985, looking for the 'Kiwi way of life'. He was part of the opening team for The Regent of Auckland. Following a number of General Manager roles in the luxury lodge market, Martin has been a consultant to the hospitality industry since 1999. Martin's broad range of interests includes ancient history, along with anything flying and ocean related. Martin is an accommodation assessor for Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty.

Martin van Lubeck

Greg is the endorsement assessor in the upper South Island and West Coast. You may recognise him from the former Adventure Tourism Council or from his time with the TIANZ Board representing the Adventure sector. Greig has a strong background in adventure tourism having owned his own business for 10 years after being an outdoor education teacher. Along with his work for Qualmark Greig also facilitates corporate leadership and personal development training both in NZ and off-shore. Greig's personal experience and training skills link well with the endorsement process, which aims to help operators improve their business.

Greig Caigou 

Ron has been with Qualmark for more than five years. He joined Qualmark following five years as General Manager of Victoria Park Market and has previous experience in farming, horticultural, telecommunications and retail businesses.

Ron Russell

Brian brings many years of sales and marketing experience to Qualmark. He manages the sales and account management team who provide one point of contact for tourism businesses and their relationship with Qualmark.Previously Brian held the role of Sales Manager for Fullers Bay of Islands and also held roles at Nike New Zealand over a 14-year period.

Ph: 09 377 7145
Brian Shirley
Head of Sales and Accounts

Grant joined Qualmark after spending nine years working in sales roles for Tourism Holdings Ltd and SKY TV. Prior to this he spent three years as a driver and tour manager for Fullers Northland/Kiwi Experience and Northern Exposure Tours. He has backpacked extensively through and worked during that time in Europe, Asia, America and the South Pacific. A keen hunter and fly fisherman he enjoys his weekends outdoors with his family.

Ph: 09 377 7149
Grant Ward

NSAM Backpackers, Student Accommodation, Visitor Adventure Activities, Visitor Leisure Activities and Visitor Transport

Scott has been an account manager in various roles for over three years. Previous to that he has a strong background in customer service management and front line customer service. He is well-travelled having lived and worked in the UK where he managed an historic bed & breakfast, restaurant and pub. He also found time to visit over 25 countries in Europe, North America, Asia and the Pacific.

Outside of work Scott is a keen and competitive sportsman who enjoys cycling, football and golf.

Ph: 09 377 2137
Scott Murray
NSAM Guest & Hosted, Holiday Home, Holiday Park, Hotel, Self Contained & Serviced, Venues, Inbound Tour Operators and Exclusive

Kelly's passion for travel led her to study Travel & Tourism before heading off to work and travel extensively in the UK, Europe and America. She returned to New Zealand to enjoy all it has to offer, especially the adrenalin inducing activities.

Kelly provides administrative support to Qualmark's National Sales & Account Management team. Her role includes issuing licence holder information and brand management. 

Ph: 09 377 7144
Kelly Lester
Senior Sales Account Administrator

Before coming to Qualmark, Mark spent seven years with New Zealand's leading Mystery Shopping provider and due to his success, Qualmark has positioned him as the Service Delivery Manager. This includes managing a nationwide team of tourism business assessors and Qualmark's Mystery Shop programme. With numerous successes in advertising and promotions, and various roles in senior management both regionally and internationally, Mark's skills and experience have seen the Qualmark Mystery Shop programme thrive since its inception. An 'avid and accomplished golfer', Mark's competitive streak also extends to the odd game of poker in his spare time. Mark comes to Qualmark with a strong background in sales and account management with a focus on retail stemming from Farmers and Placemakers.

Ph: 09 377 7148
Mark Alderson

Service Delivery Manager

Daphne comes to Qualmark from Rotorua, having been employed by the Ministry of Social Development where she held various key roles over the last nine years including Team Leader/Trainer. Coming from a large family, Daphne is the youngest of 11 brothers and 7 sisters and is a proud Maori woman of Tuhoe descent. Daphne has a passion for music, understandably, coming from a musical family where the late Prince Tui Teka was her uncle, she loves to sing and can quite often be found in the local karaoke bar. Daphne provides key support to Qualmark's team of tourism business assessors and administrative support for Qualmark's Mystery Shop programme.

Ph: 09 377 2135
Daphne Wepa

Service Delivery Coordinator

Geoff brings to the organisation a passion for quality, which has been the focus of his career for a number of years. As Chief Executive, Geoff is responsible for the management, growth and overall development of the organisation.
Previously, Geoff held marketing and management positions at the Auckland Art Gallery and Auckland City Council. Geoff brings a mix of public and private sector experience, having also run his own business. He holds a MBA, a Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce and a BCom degree.
In his free time, Geoff enjoys time with his family, sampling New Zealand's fine wines and occasional golf.

Geoff Penrose

CEO

Carolyn manages Qualmark's communications activities, including public relations, media relations, marketing, event management and branding projects. Previously with Auckland Airport, Carolyn enjoys working within the tourism industry. At Qualmark, she is focused on delivering strategic and beneficial communications strategies. She has a particular interest in 'responsible tourism' initiatives.

Carolyn Gibson

Communications Manager

Erin joins Qualmark with extensive experience in the travel industry. She has held Personal Assistant positions with Garuda Indonesian Airlines, Air Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines. Erin's interests are varied and include reading, films, music, fine dining - and of course loves travelling.

Erin Quigan
Executive Assistant

Peter's varied background includes retail horticulture, retail computer systems implementation, software systems administrator for one of NZ's largest retailers, along with a role as General Manager of a Retail Software Company. Peter's interests include travelling, dining and Newfoundland dogs.

Peter Lithgow

System & Support Manager

Returning to New Zealand after living in the UK and Melbourne for 10 years, Michelle's work history includes being a bookkeeper for a telecommunications company and a print and design company (which was one of Australia's fastest growing companies in 2003).

Michelle's role at Qualmark is focused on debtors and creditors, which includes invoicing for renewals and new licence holders. Her role also consists of payroll and month end reporting. Apart from her cat, Michelle loves travel, photography, and dancing.

Michelle Hatton

Finance and Accounting Manager