Sharon Race

 Sharon started studying at AUT University in 2009 and successfully graduated with a Graduate Diploma of Arts – Tourism Studies.  For her achievements, she was awarded the AUT / TEC 2009 Summer Scholarship and joined New Zealand Tourism Research Institute where she undertook a research project entitled: A Content Analysis of Tourism Marketing Material Featuring Indigenous Peoples of Southern Africa.  Sharon is a successful recipient of a School of Hospitality and Tourism Graduate Assistant scholarship for 2010 and is currently studying towards a Master of Philosophy degree.  Sharon’s Master’s thesis will look at the Characteristics and Experiences of Summer Visitors to Cape Rodney - Okakari Point Marine Reserve (more commonly known as Goat Island Marine Reserve, just north of Leigh, New Zealand). 

Originally a North Shore gal, Sharon left NZ in 1989 for her Big OE and a few years later found herself living in the one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town. She has almost 25 years experience in the tourism industry having held senior management positions in inbound, outbound, retail and wholesale travel companies in Cape Town, London and Auckland. Her career has also included consumer product marketing, tour leadership, staff training and the co-ordination of conferences and large sporting events (including 1992 Olympics Barcelona; Rugby World Cup 1995 South Africa and Vintage Rugby Festival, Buenos Aires 2006).

Sharon is currently the conference co-ordinator for the New Zealand Tourism and Hospitality Research Conference (being hosted by AUT in Nov 2010) and is part of the research team for an externally-funded NZTRI project: “The Matakana Strategic Plan” directed by Dr John Hull.