Anton Wilke

I'm a 6th generation Kiwi and grew up on the family farm in North Canterbury.

This background has served me well with a hands-on & can-do approach to everything I do. I made an early career decision to join the New Zealand tourism industry - my best move ever.

I'm married to Jules and we have 3 teenagers Estee, Aria and Emerson.

Jules and I have couple of rental properties and a small piece of land on Banks Peninsula where we raise a few sheep and do some fishing. Skiing and sailing are our go -to seasonal sports.

We love heritage houses and have completely refurbished our 1875 colonial family home.

I'm an energetic ideas person, always looking for the opportunity. I bring an extensive tourism industry management background with his capability spanning visitor attraction & accommodation sectors, regional tourism, and owner operator business roles. My background in the development of tourism business initiatives and startups is backed by hard-earned commercial industry insight and competence. I'm passionate about sustainable, authentic visitor experiences that provide a win-win outcome for both guests and locals. I brings competence in collaborating closely with industry and communities to ensure alignment of social licence, environmental and cultural sensitivity as well as balancing the reality of commercial returns. I espouse to regenerative tourism as one way forward sitting at the heart of future destination sustainability, I also strongly identify with the commercial imperative that requires business profitability to back a successful tourism industry.

"Understanding and interpreting the massive changes unfolding within tourism today is without doubt the greatest challenge we face. To fully understand, implement and capitalise on these changes requires observation, experience, teamwork, strong focused leadership, and sound planning. It has frequently been my role to communicate and implement these opportunities within communities and businesses to drive collective success." Anton Wilke – 2016

• Margaret Davidson, work colleague 2000-2003 – Formally with Mitchell Corp & Golden Chain
• Jacqui Lloyd, contract employer 2020 - 2022– Former General Manager Destination Marlborough now CEO New Zealand Cruise Association
• Andy Murray, Sales & Marketing Manager Tekapo Springs – former employee