Sam Strong

Conference Co-Lead

Sam Strong is a Recreation and Open Spaces Planner at Thrive Spaces and Places. Originally from Canada, she now calls Lake Hāwea home.

With experience across Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Sam’s worked in public and non-profit sectors, specialising in youth recreation, sport and community initiatives.

Since moving to Aotearoa in 2018, she’s combined her love for the outdoors with parks planning and community development. Sam holds a Sport and Recreation Management degree and is completing a Master’s in Parks Management.

An active sector leader, Sam coordinates events for Generate and the Parks Leaders Forum, and serves on Recreation Aotearoa’s Southern Committee.

Off the clock, she’s chasing mountains, surf and adventure, with Douglas, her Bernese Mountain Dog, never far behind.

Tom O’Neill

Conference Co-Lead

Parks and recreation shape how Tom lives every day. As a Parks and Recreation Consultant at Xyst, you’ll find Tom working on projects that improve community access to quality recreation.

In Queenstown, you’ll spot him on the hockey turf, on the slopes, or exploring the backcountry. Tom also supports the Southern Lakes Branch of the NZ Deerstalkers Association, advocating for public access and caring for hut networks.

Beau Bennett

Beau Bennett brings an on-the-ground parks perspective to the Generate Conference Committee as our ranger representative.

Based in Tauranga, Beau is a Senior Park Ranger with Tauranga City Council, working across stunning sites like McLaren Falls and Omanawa Falls. He’s passionate about connecting people with place — from supporting community events to caring for the environment and helping others enjoy and respect these treasured spaces.

Isaac Beetham

Isaac Tuck is a Landscape Architect at Tauranga City Council, where he designs inclusive, functional spaces that reflect the communities who use them.

Originally from Waihi Beach, he spent eight years in Wellington studying and working before returning to the Bay. Isaac holds a Master’s degree in landscape architecture from Victoria University and brings a collaborative, people-first approach to his work.

He recently spent three months travelling through Europe, and when he’s not at work, he’s usually out fishing, running or planning his next adventure.