About us  

Marijke is an established Marketing Specialist and Trainer with over 20 years’ experience in marketing and professional development. She set up Strategies Marketing Consultancy Ltd in Queenstown in 2006.

Prior to that, she worked as a marketing consultant for SMS Ltd and as Manager of Tourism Southland, a regional tourism organisation.

Other work experience includes working for several corporates internationally, including Heineken, Randstad (the world’s largest recruitment agency), KLM (Dutch airline) and in market research and education.

In the past ten years she has assisted hundreds of New Zealand businesses and organisations in developing their marketing strategies. She has also been involved in a range of government funded projects such as developing the business case with another consultant for several Cycle Trails (such as the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail, which received $4 million funding from government).

Other marketing initiatives include setting up several Tourism Marketing Groups such as Smartourism. This group comprises of twenty tourism businesses that are collectively marketed internationally. Marijke will attend her 12th TRENZ in 2011.

Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in International Marketing, a Diploma of Teaching and a Master of Entrepreneurship.

Marijke has a passion for training and has developed and presented a series of workshops and training programmes throughout the South Island in the last nine years. She is a preferred presenter for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

Several new workshops and programmes have been developed recently under the SmartrainingTM  brand, including an Online Sales Training course which is just being launched nationwide. 

Marijke grew up in the Netherlands, France and the USA and speaks four languages fluently. She emigrated to New Zealand in 1994 and loves living here!

Her spare time activities include skiing in winter and running, walking the dog and windsurfing in summer. She recently took up 'stand up paddle boarding'.

Laura Farrell, Marketing Co-ordinator

Laura is the newest member of the Strategies Team.

Laura has spent the last 6 years working at one of Queenstown’s premier event management companies. Her work involved planning and delivering unique high-end conference and incentive programmes for both inbound and outbound groups. Prior to this she worked at local tourism giant Skyline Enterprises for 2 years on the front line as a duty manager in the restaurant.

After graduating with a first class honors degree in International Business, Laura emigrated to Queenstown from the UK in 2002. She simply loves living in Queenstown hitting the ski slopes in winter and in the warmer months she enjoys hiking and running.

Sarah Cook, Associate, Graphic Designer

Sarah has worked for Strategies' clients for the last four years.  

She studied for 2 years at the Southern Institute of Technology in Invercargill and received a Diploma in Computer Graphic Design. Since finishing her studies in 2002 she has been working as a freelance Graphic Designer.
She particularly enjoys logo design and the design process of seeing something from early concept stage through to the finished product.          

She has been married to Jono for 7 years and in 2007 they welcomed their daughter Kya into their family.

Click here to see examples of Sarah's work. Please contact us for an obligation free quote for any graphic design project you have. 

What our clients say...

"Silver Peaks Lodge has been our home for 2 years and during that time it has been a HUGE learning curve setting up and running a new business. We were totally new to tourism as we come from a farming and nursing background.
Silver Peaks Lodge had an existing website but was very dated and badly needed replacing. I was fortunate to attend a “How to improve your tourism website” workshop in 2008 run by Marijke.

I found the information presented to us that day clear practical relevant and without information overload.  Since then we have developed a close working relationship with Marijke, including building a new website from scratch!! Marijke supported us through this process with an amazing amount of patience and a strong desire to please us with the best possible outcome. We definitely achieved that and are extremely pleased with the website and have had many positive comments about it.  Als,o our bookings are up 50% from the year before!!! Take a look for yourself www.silverpeaks.co.nz "

Chrissie & Gandhi (Michael Lucas)  Silver Peaks Lodge,  Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand.

"Marijke didn't know what she was in for when agreeing to help us out with a very big picture marketing task - her timing was excellent.  She took it all in within a very short time, processed it, then most professionally, converted and translated it so that we could implement it ourselves.  Her honesty and quick thinking is most impressive.  I especially liked that she provided up to date and relevant information for us to consider.  Thanks very much."

Jean Clairmonte, General Manager/Director
Aspiring Guides: climb-trek-ski
http://www.aspiringguides.com

"I have had the pleasure of working with Marijke Dunselman over my seven year role as Chief Executive of Development West Coast.
During that time, Marijke has advised our organisation on a number of matters, including our strategic marketing plan, and annual marketing plan. She has undertaken expert tuition for our enterprise training programmes, and I have also worked alongside Marijke as a fellow director in one of our client companies.

Marijke has truly international level experience in the tourism sector, recognised by many of New Zealand's leading tourism companies.

Her Enterprise Training Toursim courses are extremely popular with both small and large tourism operators.

I have found Marijke to have great character, honesty and talent. She is a great team member and has excellent presentation skills.

Marijke is developing her governance skills and expanding from her specialist marketing and tourism spheres into operating at a governance and advisory level. I am sure she will continue to be successful in this endeavour."

Mike Trousselot
Chief Executive Officer
Development West Coast
www.dwc.org.nz

“Being part of Marijke’s Smartourism International Marketing Group should be an essential component of any marketing plan of tourism businesses.  Her knowledge and experience of the tourism world is comprehensively significant not only in NZ but worldwide.  Ulva’s Guided Walks on Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary on Stewart Island has been with Marijke for many years – Marijke is extremely professional, her innovative thinking has contributed positively to my business with immediate results. And I know if anything is asked of her, it is actioned immediately – brilliant!” 

Ulva Goodwillie

Ulva's Guided Walks™
www.ulva.co.nz

 “We have known and worked with Marijke over the past 8 years.
Marijke has a broad skill set. She has extensive involvement and knowledge of the tourism industry, is multi lingual and has a European background. This was invaluable to us in the establishment phase of our business, then the development and implementation of our marketing. We have continued to use her services in a consulting capacity for the benefit of our operation particularly in marketing. Marijke’s IT skills have also greatly assisted us.

Marijke has an excellent work ethic and provides a very professional approach. Business integrity and punctual service blended with impressive people skills ensure her success.

Dave Lawrence
The Lodge at Tikana
www.tikana.co.nz

"Our company was involved in a survey conducted by Marijke. We were extremely impressed by the professional manner in which the interview was undertaken hence we contracted Strategies to complete a market survey for our engineering division.

It was vitally important to us that we chose the right person to undertake this task, as this particular customer was one of our largest and single most important clients. Marijke’s final report to us was comprehensive, accurate, whilst pointing out both our strengths and weaknesses.

It was an absolute pleasure to work with Marijke. She is a very talented and astute businessperson that delivered exactly what we asked for. We intend to use Strategies for further customer surveys within the group to ensure that we are delivering the level of service that our clients require."

Terry Young
Yunca Group