Richard Thomas
Large activity seat (chair)
Richard was born in Queenstown and lived here most of his life. He has a strong governance background and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.
Richard has been heavily involved in the Queenstown Lakes District business community with a deep level of experience in media, marketing, branding and tourism.
He is the former publisher of Mountain Scene newspaper and his previous governance roles include; board member and president of the New Zealand Community Newspapers Association, independent director and chairman of Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, board member, deputy chairman and chairman of Queenstown Chamber of Commerce.
Richard’s current governance roles include; director of Skyline Enterprises and director and chairman of a number of Skyline’s International Luge subsidiaries, director of Totally Tourism, director of Bookme, and appointed board member of Snow Sports New Zealand.
Richard firmly believes good governance forms the foundation of great organisations. He is passionate about the Queenstown Lakes Region.
Matthew Day
General seat
Matthew is an active member of the Queenstown business community and was elected to the Board in September 2018. He has a diverse commercial background in tourism, airports and consumer businesses.
Trish May
Retail/service/professional seat
Trish has lived in Queenstown for the last nine years and has been connected to the region in other ways including previously managing the New Zealand Ski Tourism Marketing Network, of which Destination Queenstown was a significant contributor, and also working as Marketing Manager for a subsidiary of Shotover Jet Ltd.
Trish May offers in-depth knowledge of the tourism industry gained during a 25-year-plus career in tourism. Trish is a member of the Institute of Directors, Trustee on the Central Otago Queenstown Trails Network Trust and President of Skal International Queenstown, and has also held management roles in two other RTOs, which provided the foundation of skills in destination management.
It is a crucial time for Queenstown and Destination Queenstown, as we take this journey of recovery, and we believe she has the skills and aptitude to contribute positively to this journey.
Brett Duncan
Small-medium accommodation seat
Brett Duncan is Managing Director Adventure Hostels New Zealand.
After opening the first Adventure Hostel in Queenstown in 2011, it has since expanded to become the third largest hostel operator in the country.
Passionate about the value of youth tourism, Brett is an advocate for the Working Holiday Visa scheme as a vital part of the Queenstown tourism and hospitality industry.
Brett is on the Board of Backpacker Youth Adventure Travel Association (BYATA) and co-authored BYATA’s study into the Lifetime Value of Youth Tourism.
Jeremy Samuels
Large accommodation seat
Jeremy is General Manager Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Spa.
Having relocated to Queenstown seven years ago with his family, Jeremy is proud to call the region home.
With 24 years’ experience in the hotel industry, spanning roles across operations, revenue, business development, and hotel management, Jeremy has a deep understanding of the sector and is passionate about helping shape thriving communities.
Esther Lynott
Small activity seat
As one of the owners of Hydro Attack and their Marketing Manager, I’ve helped build our small owner-operated business from the ground up. After 16 years in the industry, I have a strong relationship with many local business owners. I also understand the challenges many small tourism operators in Queenstown face and would be proud to be their voice on the board.
Before running a business, I worked in the Consumer Marketing team at Destination Queenstown. I know tourism supports the community, and balancing growth and sustainability is vital for Queenstown.
Taking off my tourism hat, I’m also a passionate advocate for Queenstown and love our amazing community spirit. Every weekend, our family gets out walking or biking on one of the many trails or attends one of the outstanding events we have in our region. Every day, I feel lucky to live in a place with so much to offer and would like to give something back.
Erik Barnes
General seat
Erik founded Auxilium Ltd. in 2014 to help organisations become more successful in dealing with the complexities of our fast-changing world. Erik has extensive experience in operations & infrastructure management/development, strategy & business case development, asset/activity management, facilitation, and learning & development.
He has worked in senior management & governance roles across a range of public & private businesses enabling him to understand the challenges from many different perspectives.