Our Team
Our team is made up of a group of passionate and knowledgeable experts, who are well
known in the industry, have worked in many travel business models and want the best ROI
and partnership for everyone who is part of the evolve Travel collective.
Craig Corbett - Chairman
I entered the travel business in 1996 and soon became involved in the Governance side of the industry with Director roles in United Travel Holdings and Biztrav Ltd. It soon became apparent that travel retailers didn’t have control over their own business by being tied into old fashioned legacy Franchise models. I am a founding Director of World Travellers Ltd, creating a retail driven, retailer owned distribution system. I currently Chair the World Travellers Board and have been instrumental in creating the Joint Venture Company evolve Travel. Other business activities include Commercial Property development, Mountain Bike retail and a clothing business – all offering complimentary business skills but a different perspective to the travel industry. Based in Rotorua allows the opportunity to easily get out of the office and spend some time mountain biking, boating, and skiing as time allows.
Contact Craig Corbett now
Email: craig.corbett@evolvetravel.co.nz
Phone: 021 820 906
Wendy van Lieshout - Independent Director
Wendy van Lieshout – CEO, Active Adventures (NZ), Austin Adventures (USA) and Discovery Bicycle Tours (USA).
Wendy is the CEO of Active Adventures, New Zealand’s largest and most globally diverse adventure travel company, and their 100% subsidiaries Austin Adventures in Montana, USA and Discovery Bicycle Tours in Vermont, USA. The companies operate scheduled, small group, fully inclusive adventure tours in New Zealand, North America, Central & South America, Europe, the Himalayas, and Africa with a focus on hiking, biking, kayaking and multi-sport. Their primary customer source market is the USA.
Wendy leads a team of 40 office staff based in Queenstown and Christchurch (NZ), the USA, Spain and Peru, and over 100 guides globally. With 25 years’ senior executive and governance experience in inbound and outbound tourism, she excels at strategic business planning, growth and entrepreneurship. Her previous roles in the New Zealand travel industry included Head of APX Corporate Travel, Head of Retail at Helloworld, CEO of World Travellers, General Manager of Executive Travel Group and Head of Marketing at United Travel.
She’s a graduate of the University of Canterbury and Otago University’s Executive Education programme, and was recently Vice Chair of Queenstown Business, Vice Chair of the Tourism Export Council New Zealand (TECNZ) and a board member of the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand (TAANZ). She’s also a Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Contact Wendy van Lieshout now
Email: wendy.vanlieshout@evolvetravel.co.nz
Phone: 021 2435 412
Nicola Mclaren - Director
With over two decades of selling travel under my belt, I can truly say that time does fly when you're having fun. I have been the proud owner and operator of Boutique Travel Limited, trading as World Travellers New Plymouth, alongside my business partner, Lisa Roebuck, for 16 years now. We spent 13 years as a brick-and-mortar store, and when the unexpected challenge of COVID emerged, we saw an opportunity to transform our business to become a mobile agency. In 2020, I took a seat at the table as a Director on the World Travellers Board, and I am currently the Deputy Chair. From this dual perspective as a travel agent and business owner, I bring a unique viewpoint to the industry, with an understanding of the customer-facing role, as well as that of a business owner.
Contact Nicola Mclaren now
Email: nicola.mclaren@evolvetravel.co.nz
Phone: 027 555 1474
Victoria Courtney - Director
Victoria Courtney (Tori) is the Managing Director for Flight Centre NZ. She has a dual role as General Manager of Supply, alongside her duties of Managing Director. Tori discovered Flight Centre and the travel industry 19 years ago as a finance professional working with the acquisitions team in Brisbane. In Brisbane, she took on a number of roles, including the Financial controller of the internal air ticket consolidation business, and culminating in General Manager of Finance for the air contracting and consolidation division. Tori then moved to Flight Centre UK as Financial Controller of our Corporate division responsible for the finance team supporting both the Corporate Traveller and FCM teams in the UK. Tori relocated to New Zealand in 2015 and took on the role of CFO for Flight Centre NZ. During her time in that role the company grew significantly including acquiring Travel Manager Group. Tori took the opportunity to gain valuable operational experience by taking on the role of General Manager of Supply in 2018. She led this business through Covid, rightsizing the business and rebuilding a stronger business to tackle the post covid era.
Contact Victoria Courtney now
Email: victoria.courtney@evolvetravel.co.nz
Phone: 021 519 329
Terence Blokker - Director
I have worked in the travel industry for 23 years across two countries and in numerous disciplines, starting off in retail as a travel consultant, moving up to Area manager and then making my move into finance. I have a good understanding of what it takes to not only sell travel , but also the financial background to understand what makes a business successful along with what controls need to be in place to protect our hard-earned dollars. I am passionate about our industry and look forward to the future successes that evolve Travel limited will bring
Contact Terence Blokker now
Email: terence.blokker@evolvetravel.co.nz
Phone: 021 569 108
Dave Nicholson - Consultant
Dave Nicholson has worked in the travel industry for 35 years in three main areas: tour operator, wholesale and retail travel. With a strong commercial acumen and a well-established network across the New Zealand travel industry. As GM of World Travellers, he gets great satisfaction from assisting its members to achieve maximum potential.
Contact Dave Nicholson now
Email: dave.nicholson@evolvetravel.co.nz
Phone: 021 998858
Evolve Travel Ltd is the Joint Venture Company 50/50 owned by World Travellers Ltd and Flight Centre NZ.
