Ms Jan Tonkin, of Auckland, MNZM for services to the business events sector
Ms Jan Tonkin founded The Conference Company, which now has more than 30 staff across Auckland and Sydney. She has been an industry leader, with particular expertise in government and academic, professional and scientific association conferences. She was on the Board of Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (now Business Events Industry Aotearoa) and President of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), working to improve global connections and overseeing growth in membership in the Asia-Pacific region. She chaired IAPCO’s Training Academy, delivering professional development programmes across Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific. Ms Tonkin helped with the design of the NZICC, Tākina and Te Pae convention centres.