Executive committee

The INNZ executive committee represents a wide range of interpretive experience and background and is responsible for running the network, organising the workshops and annual AGM.

Lynda Burns (Chair)

Lynda has worked in interpretation since the late 1970s, running her first guided programme at Tongariro National Park. She currently leads the Visitor Experience Team in Christchurch’s city parks and gardens. As a hangover from 15 years as an interpretation consultant and trainer she recently advised on a Panda Rescue Visitor Centre in China.

Sue Hill (Treasurer)

I’ve worked for Auckland Council Regional Parks for 14 years. I am Senior Ranger Partnerships, North – which sounds as if I have absolutely no business being in such exalted interpretation company! But our Ops Team shares the functions necessary to manage seven Regional Parks from Long Bay to Te Arai right up on the Auckland boundary. I was lucky – I won the interp portfolio and I’ve been learning stuff ever since.

Cindy Jemmett

I have worked in a number of visitor facing roles at natural and cultural heritage sites, giving talks and tours and running activities for school groups. In 2017, I completed a Master of Museum and Heritage Studies. My research interests include visitor experience at cultural heritage sites, public participation in cultural heritage management and sustainable heritage tourism.

Stephen Espiner

I have spent 20 years working as a researcher and lecturer in parks, recreation and tourism at Lincoln University. One of my research interests is understanding visitor behaviour in natural resource recreation and tourism settings, including the effectiveness of natural hazards communication.

Nina Mercer (secretary)

I have worked in conservation for many years and also in education as a primary school teacher. I now run my own business Nina Mercer Communications with a focus on writing and project co-ordination. At the moment my main project is the Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery centre being built in Palmerston North.

Jonathon Spring

My love of interpretation stems from having worked as a tour guide and voluntary work in conservation. With the ever-increasing demand for recreational activities in our regional and national parks I am interested in finding ways to use face-to-face interpretation to get park visitors to appreciate and value ecological restoration work. My PhD study was on guide-visitor interaction during wildlife tours conducted by the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi in New Zealand and Pacific Whale Foundation in Maui, Hawai’i. I am a volunteer guide on Tiritiri Matangi. In the courses that a lecturer at Auckland Institute of Studies.

Trevor Creagh

An ex-electrical engineer from New Plymouth, I learnt interpretation when explaining and videoing safe working practices as there are no second chances with electricity. For some years also I was the face for visitors at the Taranaki Aviation Transport and Technology Museum and am now part of Heritage Taranaki, and a Friend of Govett Brewster Art Gallery. My philosophy is never assume you know it all; visitors can provide incredible details.