Meet the Team

Before coming to Qualmark, Mark spent seven years with New Zealand's leading Mystery Shopping provider and due to his success, Qualmark has positioned him as the Service Delivery Manager. This includes managing a nationwide team of tourism business assessors and Qualmark's Mystery Shop programme. With numerous successes in advertising and promotions, and various roles in senior management both regionally and internationally, Mark's skills and experience have seen the Qualmark Mystery Shop programme thrive since its inception. An 'avid and accomplished golfer', Mark's competitive streak also extends to the odd game of poker in his spare time. Mark comes to Qualmark with a strong background in sales and account management with a focus on retail stemming from Farmers and Placemakers.

Ph: 09 377 7148
Mark Alderson

Service Delivery Manager

Grant joined Qualmark after spending nine years working in sales roles for Tourism Holdings Ltd and SKY TV. Prior to this he spent three years as a driver and tour manager for Fullers Northland/Kiwi Experience and Northern Exposure Tours. He has backpacked extensively through and worked during that time in Europe, Asia, America and the South Pacific. A keen hunter and fly fisherman he enjoys his weekends outdoors with his family.

Ph: 09 377 7149
Grant Ward

NSAM Backpackers, Student Accommodation, Visitor Activities, Visitor Services and Visitor Transport

Scott has been an account manager in various roles for over three years. Previous to that he has a strong background in customer service management and front line customer service. He is well-travelled having lived and worked in the UK where he managed an historic bed & breakfast, restaurant and pub. He also found time to visit over 25 countries in Europe, North America, Asia and the Pacific.

Outside of work Scott is a keen and competitive sportsman who enjoys cycling, football and golf.

Ph: 09 377 2137
Scott Murray

NSAM Guest & Hosted, Holiday Home, Holiday Park, Hotel, Self Contained & Serviced, Venues, Inbound Tour Operators and Exclusive

Kelly's passion for travel led her to study Travel & Tourism before heading off to work and travel extensively in the UK, Europe and America. She returned to New Zealand to enjoy all it has to offer, especially the adrenalin inducing activities.

Kelly provides administrative support to Qualmark's National Sales & Account Management team. Her role includes issuing licence holder information and brand management. 

Ph: 09 377 7144
Kelly Lester
Senior Sales and Accounts Administrator

Liz is Qualmark's endorsement assessor for the lower South Island. With a background in educational tourism and tour leader training, Liz is passionate about quality products and processes. She has travelled extensively for work and pleasure and made a home in Hawea Flat in 2001. Given a spare moment she loves to read, write and run.

Liz Breslin

Born and raised in Canterbury, Di trained as a nurse then went travelling for a few years, mainly in the USA. After a stint on Campbell Island, our Southern weather station, she opened a B&B in Methven 25 years ago. Di is an accommodation assessor for Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast. She is also a gardener, walker, skier, traveller and dog lover.

Di Harris

Amanda was involved in a family accommodation business from a young age. She then went to work within hospitality and ended up in the printing and publishing industry as a Sales and Marketing Manager.

10 years ago she gave up her "real" job and became a Team Leader on a 72 passenger boat operating out of Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, managed overnight boats in Milford Sound and with her husband managed a Lodge set on a 5000 acre high country sheep station. For 4 years they ran a luxury motor boat for an American couple in the Bahamas, North America and the Mediterranean.

Amanda lives in Queenstown on a lifestyle block and is the accommodation Assessor for the lower South Island including Stewart Island.

Her interests when not working are gardening, walking and the outdoors generally, cooking, sailing, travel and still being involved in the book publishing industry.

Amanda Cushen

Born in Scotland and brought up in the Outer Hebrides Islands where his mum operated a 3 bedroom B&B.  From the tender age of 12 he would assist with meeting and greeting, serving breakfast in the morning and serving tea and cakes at night.  It seemed a natural progression to move into hospitality as he enjoyed meeting people..

Colin undertook a BA (Honours) Degree in Hospitality Management & Tourism at the Scottish Hotel School at the University of Strathclyde.  His career path spans working as Assistant Manager for a number of small hotels, right through to becoming Food and Beverage Manager at Huka Lodge.  Staying on the hospitality track, but venturing in a different direction resulted in a lecturing role with Pacific International Hotel Management School in New Plymouth, teaching Tourism, Oenology and Food & Beverage.

In 2004 a return to his homeland of Scotland, lead to working back in Food and Beverage for almost 2 years in different hotels.  Colin's assessment career started as a Quality Advisor for Visit Scotland, undertaking assessments in the various accommodation sectors.  During the 3 years with Visit Scotland, he assessed over 900 properties ranging from 1 to 5 stars in accommodation that covered 1 bedroom B&B's to 250 bedroom hotels.  Now an assessor with Qualmark undertaking assessments in all accommodation sectors.

Colin McPhee

Greg is the endorsement assessor in the upper South Island and West Coast. You may recognise him from the former Adventure Tourism Council or from his time with the TIANZ Board representing the Adventure sector. Greig has a strong background in adventure tourism having owned his own business for 10 years after being an outdoor education teacher. Along with his work for Qualmark Greig also facilitates corporate leadership and personal development training both in NZ and off-shore. Greig's personal experience and training skills link well with the endorsement process, which aims to help operators improve their business.

Greig Caigou 

Ron has been with Qualmark for more than five years. He joined Qualmark following five years as General Manager of Victoria Park Market and has previous experience in farming, horticultural, telecommunications and retail businesses.

Ron Russell