One new Platinum member has been elected to the Business Events Industry Association (BEIA) board of management, and a new co-opted member is filling Air New Zealand’s seat following the annual general meeting in Napier.
Ross Steele, general manager of Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has been elected to replace Georgina Grey from Accor New Zealand, who has stepped down after three years in the role.
Prior to moving to Christchurch in March 2019, Steele was general manager of the Cairns Convention Centre, and before that he was with the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Meanwhile, Iain Walker fills Air New Zealand’s co-opted seat, replacing Blair Catton.
Walker is currently the general manager of revenue management at Air New Zealand, responsible for developing revenue, pricing and commercial expertise across the passenger, cargo and loyalty areas of the airline.
In November, Walker will be stepping into the role of general manager domestic, responsible for growing the domestic airline.
BEIA’s 10-strong Board includes independent chair Steve Armitage, plus two seats from the Platinum member category, and one seat from each of the Gold and Silver member categories.
The board structure also includes one non-voting seat for Air New Zealand, one non-voting seat for Tourism New Zealand, and two appointed members.
The 2022-2023 Board’s other Platinum category member is Prue Daly from New Zealand International Convention Centre / SkyCity Entertainment Group.
The Gold representative is Tracey Thomas from Conference Innovators has been retained for another two-year term.
The Silver representative is Jake Downing from Weta Workshop.
The board also includes co-opted members Bjoern Spreitzer, Tourism New Zealand, plus BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins.
The two members appointed by the Board in 2021 are David Perks, Regional Tourism NZ, and David Downs, CEO of the New Zealand Story.
