Recreation: The NZ Outdoor Adventure Expo Is Managed By Award-Winning Event Management Company; 360 Degree Events

360 Degree Events Ltd specialises in large-scale public events and expos; they are based in Christchurch.

Managing Director, Karen Hamilton has over 14-years management experience, gained in Australia, Canada, Caribbean, United Kingdom and New Zealand. This experience encompasses event management, sponsorship and exhibition management, sales and marketing, B2B relationship building, business development and venue management.

The formation of 360 Degree Events in January 2008 was the result of Karen’s entrepreneurial mind combined with her passion for relationship building and desire to deliver results which exceed strategic and operational goals. Karen has a solid understanding of what is required to deliver a successful project; from conception to completion, 360 Degree Events provides advice and management expertise to ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Karen has received national awards for Event Management from both New Zealand and Australian events industry bodies.
 

Meet The Team

Karen Hamilton - Adventure Enthusiast and Managing Director

Outdoor adventure has been in Karen's bones from a young age; she spent her impressionable years riding horses, push bikes and motor bikes in outback NSW, Australia. Her first introduction to skiing came at the age of 15 and she quickly developed a love for the sport and has since skied (and snowboarded) in some of the most picturesque parts of the world.

Cycle touring is a passion of Karen's; she has completed two impressive 3-month tours of Western Europe - a solo tour from Amsterdam to the Algarve in Portugal and a second tour with husband Craig from the Arctic Circle in Finland to Rome. 

Karen is very well travelled and will jump at the opportunity to do anything adventurous; she has been skydiving, paragliding, scuba diving, parasailing, hot air ballooning, snow mobiling, dog sledding, glacier hiking, jet boating, jet skiing, 4WDing, sailing and much, much more ...

Her ideal holiday involves camping and tramping and most recently Karen has taken up road cycling ... she also plays golf when she gets the chance!

In addition to her passion for adventure, Karen is the Managing Director of both Recreation Expo Ltd and award-winning event management company; 360 Degree Events Ltd.

Vicky Hunwick - 'Try Anything Once' Devotee and Exhibition Coordinator

Vicky has been living in Christchurch for the past two years after previously living in North Canterbury’s Adventure Capital of Hanmer Springs. It was here that Vicky was spoilt for choice, with a variety of activities to choose from each day. She was often found kayaking or white water rafting on the Clarence and Hurunui rivers as well as occasionally on Lake Tennyson.

Surrounded by friends who are outdoor adventure “over-enthusiasts” Vicky was encouraged to have many adventures with them, as this was the only way she could actually spend time with them!! Fond memories have been had with friends on adventures such as tramping, camping, biking over hill and down dale to places with exquisite names such as “Possum Gut”.

Being a self confessed water-baby she enjoys being in, on or under the water and has been known to go snorkelling, scuba diving, water skiing and swimming.

As she is always willing to give anything a go, Vicky has recently taken up ice hockey and surfing and participates in these activities regularly from her city base.

Vicky is passionate about exploring the great outdoors of New Zealand, as there is so much to do and see and there are still so many places to tick off her list ... What’s Next?

Vicky's love for outdoor adventure serves her well in her role as Event Coordinator for Recreation Expo.

Craig Hamilton - Road Cycling Nut and Ticket Sales Manager

Craig is Karen's husband and once a year he is roped into helping out onsite at Recreation Expo; where his primary focus is to oversee ticket sales.

Craig is the competitive one in the relationship and his interest in outdoor adventure and sporting pursuits date back to a young age. He has sailed and played squash competitively; he has won the South Island Europe Dinghy Championships and competed in the Canadian Squash Open; placing 4th in his division. He has also completed two half-marathons.

Off-shore sailing is also a passion of Craig's; he has completed two Trans-Tasman crossings from Hamilton Island to Auckland aboard 50ft racing yachts and has done many NZ based off-shore sails.

He has enjoyed a 3-month cycle touring adventure with Karen from the Arctic Circle in Finland to Rome and in December 2008 Craig was bitten by the Cycle Challenge Bug when he completed his first Festival Of Cycling Harbour Ride on an old mountain bike. A few weeks later he purchased a road bike and registered for a string of other cycle challenges around NZ and abroad. He has also recently made the move to triathlon; competing in a variety of events throughout NZ and he has his sights set a Half Ironman in 2012.

When Craig is not cycling or helping out at Recreation Expo he is crunching numbers at Staples Rodway Chartered Accountants in Riccarton.