Hayden has been leading the Napier Conferences & Events venue since 2023 bringing with him over 16 years' experience in hotel management. Hayden’s passion for business development and operational excellence ensures the venue runs smoothly and leaves a lasting impression on clients. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching football, bringing the same energy and team-focused mindset to the field as he does to the workplace.

hayden.henderson@napierconferences.co.nz

Donna has been part of our venue whānau for an incredible 29 years! She spent 21 of those years as our go-to caterer before bringing her energy and expertise to the planning team, where she’s been making magic happen for the past eight. Donna thrives on the buzz of bringing new conferences to the region and takes real pride in pulling everything together seamlessly. With strong ties to local iwi, she also plays a key role in helping clients connect with local culture and incorporate meaningful Māori elements into their events.

donnar@napierconferences.co.nz

Shanelle joined the Napier Conferences & Events team in 2013 after completing her Diploma in Travel and Tourism, and she’s been a key part of the crew ever since. With over 12 years of hands-on experience, she knows the venue and events world like the back of her hand. Shanelle’s known for her sharp attention to detail and creative flair—she’s always up for a challenge and loves finding fresh, thoughtful ways to make every event run smoothly and stand out.

shanelleh@napierconferences.co.nz

Greer came on board in March 2019 to help us keep pace with the fast-growing demand at Napier Conferences & Events—and we haven’t looked back since. Armed with a Bachelor of Communication Studies from the University of Waikato (majoring in Leadership Communication and specialising in Event Management), she’s got the know-how to keep things running smoothly. From juggling admin tasks behind the scenes to taking the lead on our social media, Greer’s a multitasking pro. She loves working with a variety of clients, thrives on a good challenge, and if there’s a problem to solve, chances are she’s already two steps ahead.

greerj@napierconferences.co.nz

With over 20 years of dedication to our team, Shannan has become a familiar face to many long-standing clients, thanks to her years of customer-facing work at reception. These days, she’s busy behind the scenes pulling together memorable events and keeping everything ticking along smoothly—she’s our in-house whiz when it comes to invoicing and the booking system. Known for her bright, funky fashion and sharp eye for detail, Shannan adds a pop of personality and keeps things running like clockwork—even on the busiest days.

shannanm@napierconferences.co.nz

Joining us in 2023, Phoebe brought her background in retail and customer service and dove headfirst into the fast-paced world of events. As the youngest member of our team, she brings a fresh energy and a warm, approachable vibe to everything she does. You'll usually find her at the front desk, handling day-to-day event operations and being the first point of contact for enquiries. Her people skills are second to none, and she’s already made a big impact in a short time.

events@napierconferences.co.nz

With roots in the audio-visual scene including his DJ days in South Africa, Eddie brings serious tech skills and good vibes to the team. Before joining us in early 2020, he sharpened his AV chops with a company in Hamilton, and since then, he’s been our go-to guy for keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. From sound checks to last-minute fixes, Eddie’s always ready to jump in and make the magic happen. Oh, and you can’t miss him—just look for the mohawk.

eddie.peddle@venues.co.nz