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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lara Simmons

I’m a seasoned professional transferring the skills I gained in a 20 year engineering career to the field of interpretation. In 2018, I received my Masters of Museum and Heritage Practices from Victoria University in Wellington. As an interpreter, I am an advocate for meaning. I use my creativity and passion for education to collaboratively develop immersive and personal experiences that will inspire visitors. I believe great interpretation uses all our senses.

Wiebke Finkler

With a background in Science Communication, Filmmaking, and Marine Biology I’m interested in how to use strategic science communication for sustainable tourism management, conservation and human-wildlife interactions. I have a special interest in how video, when combined with community based social marketing approaches, can be used as a tool for change and social impact. I also run science communication and filmmaking workshops both in New Zealand and internationally.

Tamara Patten

I’ve worked in the museum and heritage sector for the past 10 years, in roles covering everything from collections to communications. For several years I worked at National Services Te Paerangi, the museum sector and iwi support team based at Te Papa. During that time I was a founding co-editor of the emerging museum professionals’ journal, Tauhere. Since August 2017 I have been Director at Katherine Mansfield House & Garden. I have a particular interest in increasing and improving what we offer our communities through working collaboratively.

Teresa Fogarty

A life-long fan of museums, I’ve spent over a decade gaining experience in a range of museum roles and currently hold the position of Visitor Experience Manager at the Otago Museum. I enjoy learning of all the different methods used to engage people in different ways, in different fields and at different sites. It’s great to be involved with INNZ, providing forums through which we can share and be inspired by innovative interpretation in all its forms.