Haydn has a wealth of experience working in Tourism, Sales and Marketing for the past 20 years. He is passionate about the youth and adventure sector, with a strong commitment to see values driven tourism thrive here in Aotearoa. Haydn currently works for Tourism Bay of Plenty and is based in Rotorua. 

Laura has been a key figure in Taupō's tourism sector since 2012, having served as GM and Operations Manager at Base Backpackers and currently as HR Manager for Tourism Adventure Group. As secretary of Tourism Lake Taupō, she supports local tourism and actively participates in BYATA meetings. In her roles as BYATA Vice Chair and Treasurer, Laura offers valuable insights and tackles industry challenges. Her dedication and passion for tourism make her a valuable asset to the BYATA board.

Brian is a long serving BYATA member. Chairperson from 2014 to 2017, and currently President. He has worked in RTOs, managed a digital marketing agency and was GM Marketing and Sales for YHA New Zealand. Brian is also an advocate for youth tourism and strong believer in the people behind the success of our tourism industry. 

Sarah Christie brings over 20 years of experience in the tourism industry to her role as lead for communications on the BYATA Board.  Sarah has held various roles within the sector from frontline customer service, sales and marketing and senior management.  With her understanding of the youth travel market she is committed to assisting the BYATA board and supporting its members in navigating this ever-changing industry. 

Having travelled more than 60 countries, Brett took his travel experience to open two top rated hostels, using his knowledge of what truly matters to backpackers.  Coming from a Project Management background, together with 9 years' experience as a hostel owner/operator Brett is dedicated to the advocacy of NZ’s accommodation industry. 

Lucy brings over 20 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. She began her managerial career with Air New Zealand, then spent over 7 years with Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL) as General Manager for Mighway/Share a Camper and Kiwi Experience, where she revived the business post-COVID. Lucy has extensive experience in sales, operations, and relationship management, with skills in change management and a deep understanding of customer needs. Her broad background in travel and tourism, combined with her passion for youth travel, makes her a valuable advocate for BYATA’s members.

Hannah began her career at Germany’s third-largest travel wholesaler, FTI Tourism, in Munich, where she worked for 8 years in the Asia & Oceania division. Inspired by New Zealand's stunning landscapes, she moved here in September 2019. Her Kiwi adventure began as an Account Manager at ANZ Nature Tours. She then transitioned to Haka Tours in Auckland as an Account Manager before joining Wild Kiwi Tours as a Product Manager in 2022. At Wild Kiwi Tours, she quickly advanced to Business Manager, where she successfully rebuilt the company's business and operations post-COVID-19. She is passionate about shaping New Zealand’s tourism landscape, focusing on sustainable growth and innovation, and advocating for the industry by inspiring young professionals to a career in tourism.

Drew Hamilton has over 25yrs of experience in both the New Zealand and Australian Tourism Industry, previous sales roles include Down Under Tours, AAT Kings and now Head of Sales Skydive Australia and New Zealand for Experience Co. Drew offers valuable insights into channel distribution, connectivity and market trends. Drew has spent many years travelling to New Zealand's principal source markets for youth travel, conducting sales activity and forming relationships with key industry partners.

Matt is an accomplished Operations Manager with over 20 years of experience across diverse industries. Currently leading operations at Stray, he ensures seamless business performance and exceptional customer service. Previously, Matt held key roles at Northern Region Football, Alsco and New Zealand Golf, where he excelled in strategic planning, partnership management, and process improvement. His expertise spans continuous improvement, business development, customer relationship management, and stakeholder engagement. Passionate about the travel industry, Matt is dedicated to enhancing travel experiences through innovation and operational excellence.

Chris has taken a step back from being BYATA Chair but stays on as our Relationship Manager for Advocacy.  His extensive travelling and working background which has spanned the world working predominantly for Hostelling International in the budget hostel accommodation space. Chris proudly fights for fare on behalf of the membership and advocates on a range of issues from the Working Holiday Visa to Freedom Camping. Chris wears a number of hats and currently works as GM for YHA New Zealand, Destination Manager Project Manager, WellingtonNZ and coaches at Wellington Phoenix Academy.