International Outdoor PR workshop

This interactive event will be a dive into the world of public relations (PR.) The aim is to help those of us working on building outdoor products and brands from this region to get a better understanding of how international PR works, what we need to do to be prepared, and what a few actionable first steps are to start leveraging those opportunities. 

This is designed for the creators, the builders, and the inventors in the region. This is NOT a masterclass on the fine details of PR, this IS to build a broad understanding and get our heads around how to leverage PR opportunities for people who are not full time PR people.  

The event will run from 9am to 1pm and include morning tea as well as a light lunch.  

Mark’s background is in travel and tourism, having headed up Tourism New Zealand’s PR team in Los Angeles amongst other place branding roles. Returning to New Zealand, Mark recognised an opportunity to support the growing number of outdoor brands coming out of New Zealand and Australia with storytelling. In 2023, he started Sizzle, a boutique public relations agency servicing brands geared towards active lifestyles and travel. Sizzle delivers PR strategy, events and media relations for a small roster of brands in New Zealand, the US and Australia. Sizzle is a no fuss PR agency with a clear and confident approach to communications – taking the most engaging  parts of your story and getting it in front of the right people. When not on the tools at Sizzle, you’ll find Mark in his vege garden or chasing the surf. Based in sunny Gisborne on New Zealand’s East Coast, Mark travels to the US regularly for in-person planning, events and to keep his finger on the media pulse.



Fortunately for all of us, QLDC is supporting this event by paying for the bulk of the costs as part their work to foster growth of the outdoor products and advanced manufacturing cluster here in the region. This enables us all to invest more in our businesses while still getting world class knowledge.