Our Facilitators

Owner of bilingual restaurant FUSH, Anton Matthews, is all about normalising te reo for all Kiwis. Anton has a degree in Te Reo Maori and Maori Indigenous Studies, and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching at the University of Canterbury Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha. A graduate from top Maori language academy Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Maori, Anton is a natural teacher and presenter, never more comfortable than sharing his passion for te reo – watch some of his videos here. 

With over 20 years experience in training and learning & development, Carolyn also has extensive experience as an HR Manager and as a people leader; this provides an essential background to ensure all the workshops she delivers are tailored to participants needs, are useful and relevant. She believes that any workshop or learning experience must be based on robust theory, research and also NZ legal precedents and provide useful tools and techniques for immediate use. 

Carolyn's delivery style is lively and engaging, resulting in a enjoyable, enlightening and practical day. 

Communications expert Desirée Williamson has been supporting Canterbury business people for over a decade, providing the tools and dialogues to help achieve tangible communication improvements that result in an enhanced workplace communication climate and credibility in the workplace. 

Through her experience working with people at various stages of their career, across a multitude of industries, Desirée is able to help with various scenario planning to provide practical support for course attendees, while also providing a comfortable environment for attendees to share real-life challenges.

Dr Elsamari Botha is the MBA Director at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and teaches Digital Transformation and Technology Preparedness in the UC MBA programme. She is also an extraordinary associate professor at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa. She attained her PhD in Industrial Economics and Management at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. With 15 years of consulting experience, as well as starting an EdTech platform, Elsamari’s research focuses on the adoption and monetization of new technologies in organisations, online consumer behaviour, and digital strategy development. Elsamari has published in leading international journals such as Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Business Research, Business Horizons, the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, and Public Relations Review. 

 

 

Employment lawyer Julia Shallcrass develops leaders to improve their management and communication skills.

Julia is a practical and engaging presenter with expertise in training leaders to create high-performing workplaces in the course, Leader’s Guide to Performance Management.

Julia is an employment columnist for the NZ Herald.

Leon Fox is the owner and Director of The Safety Guru Ltd. and Principal of Safety Associates, specialising in OHS consultancy and workplace training.

He has previously been an Injury Prevention Consultant and National Trainer for ACC and has managed an industrial labour recruitment agency.

Leon brings a mixture of business pragmatism and legislative knowledge to his workshops, laced with a genuine passion for OHS and seeing people go home safely.

He is an excellent communicator and culture change facilitator and, as a presenter, Leon engages easily and quickly with groups from all organisational levels.

Michael is an HR and Employment Relations Advisor with Business Canterbury.

Michael's 40-year career has exposed him to working across the whole employee lifecycle including recruitment, employee relations, performance management and succession planning and has a particular interest in cultivating talent.

Michael loves partnering and supporting Canterbury businesses to thrive in these challenging times.

Mr. G is a Strategist, Sustainability Consultant, Coach and Behavioural Change Analyst with over 15 years working experience with companies, NGOs and Governments throughout the Middle East, Asia, Europe and now New Zealand.

His consulting and coaching experience ranges from Activity Entertainment, Education, F&B, Hospitality & Tourism, Healthcare, HR and FMCG. His sustainable business approach has won him the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation's Green Business Awards and helped push the sustainable business agenda for organizations such as the United Nations and Oxfam to the Royal Government of Cambodia. In the past 8 years, he founded 2 groups of companies and handed over 4 brands through succession planning.

He has a strong belief that empathetic dialogue and design are key life skills to both personal and professional success, and is currently on a mission to solve real world issues through empathy, entrepreneurship and principled leadership.

 Paul Thornley is an accomplished Christchurch-based technology leader with a 20‑year track record. Beginning as an IT Technician and advancing to lead in-house IT teams, Paul transitioned into consulting, combining practical technical expertise with executive insight to deliver straightforward, effective results. Paul specialises in IT leadership, AI adoption, and digital transformation—turning complexity into pragmatic strategies that lift efficiency and keep organisations ahead of the curve.

Stephanie creates a safe environment to address each person’s needs and get the relevant and appropriate message across in a fun and relatable way.  Uniquely qualified to deliver many aspects of Health, Safety and Wellness education, Stephanie informs and inspires her audiences.

She has worked as a Health and Safety Educator since 1996; beginning her journey with the Engineers Union; working for 2 years with the British Health and Safety Executive and then working for many years as a Health and Safety Consultant with various clients.

Stephanie has a Masters Degree in Consumer and Applied Science (Otago), a post graduate certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (Otago) and a Licentiate diploma in Speech and Drama from the Trinity College of London.