#

ABOUT US

  • MEET The team behind the success

  • Steve CORBETT
    CEO

    Steve Corbett is the CEO and has a special interest in pricing strategies and governance for technology companies. He’s on a number of boards, including the Establishment Board of CMC Technology Export Centre, CMCTEC, the NZ Software Association NZSA and  NZ Incubator Association. Director positions include Unleashed Software Ltd, Perceptive Solutions Ltd, Wateroutlook, and Monitoring Technologies Ltd.

  • Dorian Scott Business Development Manager

    Dorian Scott, is responsible for commercialisation and deal flow, has experience with business incubation, commercialisation and economic development for the region. As business development manager he attracts entrepreneurs to the ecentre and evaluates new business ideas. He has extensive science and research strategy and management experience through a variety of corporate roles, bridging the gap between academia and industry.

  • Sabrina Nagel Business Strategist

    Sabrina Nagel, completed a Bachelor of Business Studies Degree at Massey University in Management and Enterprise Development. She joined the ecentre in June 2009 as part of the internship programme for outstanding Massey University Graduates. Sabrina's role as Business Strategist includes giving feedback on business ideas, providing strategic direction, assisting with business planning and launching new products/services into the market. Sabrina and Mike run the ecentreSprint programme.

  • Mike Skinner ecentreSprint Programme Director

    Mike Skinner is a product-marketing practitioner with extensive and proven practical experience in the telecommunications, financial and software services industries. He has a solid track record in product & market analysis, market transformation strategy, product & service development and programme management in New Zealand, Asia and the United States. Mike and Sabrina run the ecentreSprint programme.

  • Jess Gillon Communications co-ordinator

    Jessica Gillon graduated from Massey University in April 2011 with a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in Communication Management. As the ecentre’s communication coordinator, Jessica manages both internal and external communications, as well as assisting with marketing & PR activities.







    The Board

    • Brian Armstrong (Chairman)
    • Mark Jeffries
    • Terry Allen
    • Mark Cleaver

  • Advisors/mentors

  • Terry Allen

    Director at Allen Strategic and ecentre (past roles: Enterprise Group Director at Microsoft, Director Icehouse Accelerator)

    Top 5 areas of expertise:

    • Business Strategy
    • Commercialization of new ideas/Market entry strategies
    • Funding strategies
    • Governance
    • Execution and operational methodology

    Industries/areas: Technology, Services.

    LinkedIn profile

  • Chris chitty

    Senior Tutor at School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, 35 years industry experience in technology, robotics and product development

    Top 5 areas of expertise:

    • Extensive experience in product development.
    • Needs identification through concept development to design for manufacture.
    • Engineering concepts to prototype
    • Asking challenging questions to stimulate thinking
    • Innovative engineering solutions

    Industries/areas: Robotics, Simulators, Medical simulators, Human interfacing, Human Factors, Idea Generation.

    More About Chris
    C.Chitty@massey.ac.nz

  • EMMA CLARKE

    Director at Chameleon marketing & Communications

    Top 5 areas of expertise:

    • Marketing planning and execution for SME's and start ups
    • Development of marketing campaigns to a specific sector rather than applying a ‘one size fits all’ approach
    • Understanding of customer perceptions and buying behavior
    • Project management of specialist teams across graphic design and brand development, web development, copywriting and public relations, sponsorship and event management.

    Industries/areas: Experience both locally and globally over a range of industries including consumer products, FMCG, IT hardware, technology & software, publishing and services related industries including recruitment, hospitality & lifestyle, child care and dentistry.

    LinkedIn profile
    emma@chameleonmarketing.co.nz

  • Paul Kane

    Paul Kane

    Partner at Grant Thornton New Zealand Limited (Privately held business)

    Top 5 areas of expertise:

    • Financial management
    • Business restructuring
    • Business planning
    • Debt and equity raising
    • Due diligence and systems review

    Industries/areas: Import/Distribution, Franchises, Construction, Investment.

    Linked In Profile
    Paul.Kane@nz.gt.com

  • Travis O'KeeVe

    Director at SeedBearing, Consultant at IMTV, Business Coach at Tick Tok Consulting

    Top 5 areas of expertise:

    • Converting ideas into new products and services
    • Securing investment
    • Marketing and business development
    • Commercialising start up companies
    • Strong managerial and leadership skills

    Industries/areas: Health, Technology , New Media, Social Innovation, Pharmaceuticals, Contract Management, Fashion, Hospitality , Event Management.

    LinkedIn Profile
    travis@imtv.co.nz

  • Ram Padullaparty

    Research Analyst at NZTE

    Top 3 areas of expertise:

    • Market research
    • Market intelligence and advise
    • Sales and after-sales service

    Industries/areas: Looking after specialised manufacturing clients and North America, worked in areas of compressor spares, packaging, drip irrigation and fuel additives in India and worked in retail and insurance in New Zealand.

    LinkedIn Profile

  • Peter Lamberton

    Commercial Manager at ASB

    Top 5 areas of expertise:

    • Commercial finance
    • Cashflow lending
    • Thinking outside the box
    • Risk profiling
    • Providing honest feedback

    Industries/areas: IT (Not technical side), Distribution, Trade disciplines

    LinkedIn Profile
    Peter.Lamberton@asb.co.nz

  • Murray Ward

    Director at SeedBearing, Consultant at IMTV, Business Coach at Tick Tok Consulting

    Top 3 areas of expertise:

    • IT Sales and Marketing
    • Company Governance and Strategy
    • Small Business Startup mentor

    Industries/areas: IT

    LinkedIn Profile

  • Jeff Jackson, CA, CMA, FNIZM, Harvard AMP.

    A Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management and Member of the Institute of Directors, Jeff has many years of business and industry experience at senior levels.
    As Chief Executive:  NZ Dairy Group, Fletcher Fishing, Affco (NZ) and the Wool Board.
    As Director:  Mercury Energy, Ballance Fertilizer, Excell Corporation.
    His current focus as Managing Director of Solution Matrix Pacific Ltd is on improving decision making capability in order to improve strategy execution.

    Top 5 areas of expertise:

    • Corporate Governance Education and Consulting
    • Human Capital Development
    • Corporate Performance Improvement Consulting
    • Business Case Education and Consulting
    • Coaching for Performance.

    Industries/areas: Agri-business, energy, fertilizer, food processing, textiles manufacturing, information technology, biotechnology and human capital

    LinkedIn Profile
    jeff@dewinter.co.nz

  • Mike Zeff

    Technology Evangelist at Microsoft NZ

    Top 4 areas of expertise:

    • Development teams and process
    • Cloud computing
    • Technology strategy
    • Microsoft technology roadmap and engagement

    Industries/areas: Health, Technology , New Media, Social Innovation, Pharmaceuticals, Contract Management, Fashion, Hospitality , Event Management

    LinkedIn Profile
    mike.zeff@agitavi.com

  • Mark Talbot

    Mark is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years experience and is the Managing director of Diablo. He qualified in the UK and then spent time working in Bermuda, the United States and Russia before moving to New Zealand in 1998. Particular area of expertise: helping early stage, rapidly expanding companies achieve their growth aspirations whilst maintaining sound financial management.

    Tel: 021 375 830 Email: mark@diablo.org.nz

    LinkedIn Profile

  • Clive Kemp

    Founding Director: Detonation Creative Ltd.
    Creative: Twenty years of marketing, media and design experience has helped me to refine a simple, yet incredibly effective process for creating rapid brand expansion.

    Top 5 areas of expertise:

    • Creative approach to all things commercial
    • Brand creation, development and strategy
    • Advertising, Design, Marketing and Media advice
    • Hands on design assistance (logo, web, corporate identity, marketing collateral etc.)
    • Facilitate creative “workshops/sessions”  to solve brand challenges

    Entrepreneurial Software Experience:  Developed several advertising media procurement systems and technologies and launched them to market in Africa and Middle East, and am currently introducing them in New Zealand… So I am in the same boat as the “sprinters”!

    Industry Areas:  Consumer, FMCG, IT, Media, Advertising, Design

    LinkedIn Profile
    clive@detonation.co.nz

  • Ross Tweedie BA, MBA

    Ross has owned, managed and held shareholdings in approximately 20 mostly start‐up private companies since 1980 giving him around 30 years business ownership, management and directorship experience. He has gained a MBA (Marketing & Finance) and a BA (Psychology) both from the University of Auckland, is a Naturopath and Qualified Motor Mechanic. He has experience as an Investment Banker and held several roles as a Senior Business Consultant.

    The diverse range of direct business ownership and directorship include;

    • Motor Vehicles Car Inspection Services
    • Computer Software Sybase
    • Golf Course Lease Chamberlain Park Golf Course
    • Personnel Recruitment Compuforce
    • Building Construction Modular Building Systems
    • Packaging Packsys
    • Horticulture 45 South Cherries
    • Property and Land Development Several companies
    • Immigration Global Visas
    • Computer Servicing Code Blue
    • Timber Sustainable Harvesting/Index
    • Traders
    • Printing Snap Incentives
    • Quick Service Restaurant Franchising The Pita Pit

    Ross is a keen and active sportsperson, a father of two and lives in Auckland,
    New Zealand.

    ross@ratio.co.nz

Contact ecentre