Steve Lee

Director

Born in Fiji in the late 50’s, Steve has spent all his working life in the travel industry.

Brought up in Hawkes Bay he attended Bledisloe School, Taradale Intermediate and Napier Boys High before moving to Palmerston North and spending the last 2 years of secondary school at Palmerston North Boys High. Leaving Boys High he moved to Wellington to take up a cadet role at the Government Tourist Bureau and after two years returned to Palmy to join Dalgety Travel.

Another two years passed before the big OE beckoned and he travelled to the UK via Australia and Africa before joining NZ-owned Dalgety World Travel working in the corporate division for two years. Then off to Canada as Player/Coach for a rugby club in Winnipeg for a season before returning to Palmerston North to take up the role of manager for Dalgety Travel. Over that time many owners ensued – Dalgety Crown Travel, Focus Travel, Synergi Travel, TQ3Navigant and lastly Carlson Wagonlit Travel, before the formation of NZ Travel Brokers.

He has been married for over 30 years to Vicki, a musician & piano teacher, who was an integral part of the band ‘the String of Pearls’ for many years and travelled regularly with the late Sir Howard Morrison as a keyboard player and backing vocalist. She has also done several tours with Dame Malvina Major. Steve and Vicki have two adult boys in their late 20’s, John & Mike.

mobile: +64 274 811 411

email: steve.lee@nztravelbrokers.co.nz

Guy Flynn

Director

Guy Flynn is a Director of NZ Travel Brokers; he is actively involved in Broker Recruitment, Sales, Finance, Technology Solutions and overall Business Governance.

Based in Wellington, Guy has been involved in the travel & tourism industry since the late 80’s. After graduating with a Diploma in Hotel Management, he cemented his passion for the travel industry in his younger years travelling extensively to more than 50 countries over a 5 year period on his OE.

Guy’s career initiated in the hotel sector and progressed to Corporate Travel with Focus Travel, Synergi Travel, TQ3Navigant and Carlson Wagonlit Travel. During that time, he established his career with roles of consultancy, Sales Manager and Manager.

This was followed by the decision to partner with Steve Lee and establish NZ Travel Brokers in 2007. Since then his passion and drive has been to focus on all things ‘Travel Brokers’, aside from his family of course.

mobile: +64 274 811 412

email: guy.flynn@nztravelbrokers.co.nz

Andrew Bowman

Independent Director

Earlier in 2018 Andrew Bowman joined us as an independent director. Based in Auckland, Andrew is a director of BFT Management, his own consulting business that provides governance, advisory, management, mentoring and support services to the travel industry.

He has worked in the travel industry for 35 years, with experience in all aspects including retail, wholesale, brokers and corporate travel management.

mobile: +64 21 309 335

email: andrew.bowman@nztravelbrokers.co.nz 

Kim Diamond

Operations Manager

Kim Diamond is the Operations Manager, based in Wellington.

She has acquired an abundance of knowledge, experience and expertise across a broad scope of travel sectors since entering the travel industry in 1990.

Her industry journey has spanned from Passport Holidays – American Express (London) – Synergi Travel – TQ3Navigant – Carlson Wagonlit Travel – NZ Travel Brokers.

Throughout her journey, her career has been guided from consultancy roles – Operations Manager – Business Process Analyst – Business Systems & Implementation Manager.

As Operations Manager, she performs a visionary role to optimise our operation. Her focus is to manage system & infrastructure performance, project manage business improvement initiatives; manage the Broker on-boarding process and all training and development requirements. Kim is indeed an asset to our team to ensure we are operating to an optimum level.

When she isn’t travelling, she passionately spends her time with all things yoga, from teaching to participating in classes, workshops & retreats.

mobile: +64 274 811 415

email: kim.diamond@nztravelbrokers.co.nz

Rachael Rowe

Senior Travel Consultant

Rachael brings all the knowledge that naturally comes with an individual who has been dedicated to travel consulting for over 29 years. We are indeed privileged to have Rachael on our team.

Born and educated in the Manawatu, Rachael started her travel career in Taupo in 1988 before returning to Palmerston North in 1992 and joining Steve Lee back then at Focus Travel. During her lengthy time there, Rachael demonstrated commitment beyond the norm and had undertaken a variety of important roles within that organisation.

In her personal time, Rachael is a mad keen sportsperson having represented Manawatu in her chosen sports Tennis and Hockey. Her efforts on the sports field are mirrored in the work environment where she has also highly achieved. Now with NZ Travel Brokers, Rachael will focus on consulting to the local market and supporting our wider team.

Her experience and passion for the travel industry and dedication to the customer will prove invaluable and complimentary to our success.

mobile: +64 27 372 7901

email: rachael.rowe@nztravelbrokers.co.nz

Michele Averis

Finance Manager

Michele joined NZ Travel Brokers in May 2010, and is now the Finance Manager, leading a team of 3. She has over 30 years experience in Finance and Office Administration, from foreign exchange dealing with a major New Zealand trading bank, to accounting and administration with various companies ranging from property valuers, public relations to a shipping company.

She has always had a keen interest in travel and has travelled widely.While working in Foreign Exchange she spent time working and living in London and Singapore. In 2011 she completed her Level 4 qualification at UCOL in Palmerston North to further her knowledge of the travel industry.

mobile: +64 21 184 8546

email: michele.averis@nztravelbrokers.co.nz

Pip Fear

Training Support

Pip comes extremely well qualified and experienced to the role of Training Support, a newly created role in 2015.

Having attained her Certificate in Travel in 1997, Pip then began her career in the Travel Industry.  She spent four years working for Rosenbluth International Travel, moving through the ranks from receptionist to senior consultant, followed by four years working for a corporate travel agency in London and travelling around Europe.

Returning to Auckland in 2005 she attained a role working for Travelport as a trainer.  After covering a maternity leave contract in this role for one year, she then moved to FCm travel as a team leader.  After 10 months in with FCm, Travelport came calling and it was back to working as a trainer – a role that she is very passionate about.

Joining NZ Travel Brokers in 2015, Pip’s strong travel and training background will assist her greatly in the role of Training & Development Co-ordinator.

mobile: +64 21 022 17 182

email:  pip.fear@nztravelbrokers.co.nz

Jessie Renton

Marketing Support

Born and raised in Palmerston North Jessie has lived in Palmerston North almost her entire life. After moving to Auckland for a brief period after high school, she decided to come back to her hometown to study at Massey University.

She has recently completed her Bachelor of Arts; Majoring in Media Studies and minoring in Marketing. She has always enjoyed helping people; spending a lot of her formative years in scouting, going on to achieve her queen scout just after returning to Palmerston North.

phone: +64 6 350 3849

email:  jessie.renton@nztravelbrokers.co.nz

Stewart Green

Operations Support

Stewart is the newest member of the NZ Travel Brokers support team.

His first job after leaving St Johns College in Hastings was with Westpac, which gave him an insight into the travel industry through Westpac Travel.

Stewart has been in the travel industry for 35 years and has held a variety of consulting, training, store management and project management roles in retail, corporate and wholesale with Thomas Cook, Travelex, GO Holidays and Air New Zealand.

He has a Diploma in Business Management Level 5 and is also an accredited trainer for Sabre Red Workspace Reservations and Ticketing and Sabre Agency Manager.

In 2010 he joined Air New Zealand to set up and oversee the Air New Zealand Holidays Travel Broker group. The majority of the Air New Zealand Holidays Brokers were merged into the NZTB group from July 2018.

phone: +64 27 445 5919

email: stewart.green@nztravelbrokers.co.nz

Sophie Lacy

Travel Administrator

Bio coming soon!

phone: +64 6 356 9988

email: sophie.lacy@nztravelbrokers.co.nz