Our Team
Susan Sawbridge (Sooz) - Manager
Sooz joined NZ Major Events in 2017, following 10 years in different elements of the events sector, including tourism, international education and business events.
Susan is a founding member and current Chair of the International Association of Event Hosts.
Lisa Gibson - Senior Advisor
Lisa's role has a focus on the Major Events Fund, and is team lead to the Major Events advisors.
Lisa has been with the Major Events team for over a decade, enjoying an evolution of roles over time and engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders across a rapidly maturing events industry.
Drew Naika - Senior Advisor
Drew focusses on prospecting new events across sport, arts and culture, and he is the lead on our Creative and Cultural Events Incubator.
With over 20 years in the events industry, Drew has worked mainly in the tertiary education sector and for local government to deliver events of all types and sizes.
Roz Kennedy - Senior Advisor
Roz’s roles in the Major Events team are to provide all-of-government coordination, and to manage the Major Events Management Act (MEMA).
Roz joined the team in November 2020, coming from policy roles in both MBIE and HUD. Prior to government she spent many years in the private sector overseeing key account portfolios and facilitating stakeholder and supplier relationships at a senior level.
Hollie Ellis - Advisor
Hollie oversees a portfolio of events, managing event investments over their full lifecycle. She works closely with stakeholders to deliver Major Events Fund strategic outcomes.
Hollie has worked in major events delivery, destination management, and major event government agency space. Prior to moving to New Zealand from Australia, Hollie delivered two world’s best IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events as a Race Director.
Jackie Hay - Special Projects Lead: the 36th America's Cup
Jackie joins the team to cover Hannah Keat while she is on parental leave. Jackie leads the Crown's interests and responsibilities and relationships with key partners for the 36th America's Cup (AC36) and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Jackie joined the Major Events team in 2020 after working on major events such as Tuia – Encounters 250 and Rugby World Cup 2011, with more than a decade working on festivals, events and audience engagement in the arts and cultural sector.
Rebecca Reed - Special Projects Advisor: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Rebecca manages the Crown’s investment in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
With over 15 years’ experience in the tourism and events industry in New Zealand and Scotland, this is Rebecca’s second stint in the Major Events team.
She brings with her a deep understanding of how government and major events can work together to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
Véronique Basso - Advisor
Véronique oversees a portfolio of events, managing event investments over their full lifecycle. She works closely with stakeholders to deliver Major Events Fund strategic outcomes.
Prior to moving to New Zealand, Véronique has worked in Switzerland as an international labour law specialist at the International Labour Organisation and as a member of the human rights team at the French representation to the United Nations in Geneva.
Hannah Keat - Special Projects Lead: the 36th America's Cup (currently on parental leave)
Hannah leads the Crown's interests and responsibilities in the 36th America's Cup, including the Crown’s investment in infrastructure and the Event, strategic relationships with key partners across Crown and Council, and all-of-government coordination for the Event.
After starting out in the events sector as a project coordinator working on the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Hannah has held various roles in event delivery, business development, strategic analysis and programme management.
Libby Crysell - Advisor (currently on secondment)
Libby oversees a portfolio of events, managing event investments over their full lifecycle. She works closely with stakeholders to deliver Major Events Fund strategic outcomes.
Libby, joined the Major Events team in 2019, she has a background in both government and the arts and cultural sector, and has delivered national and international digital and event marketing campaigns.
To get in touch with our friendly team email us at majorevents@mbie.govt.nz