Responsible for spearheading the United Nations initiative of Enabling Good Lives for NZ Care, New Zealand's largest care provider employing over 7,500 people.

Care Support Worker for NZ Care Disability. Work consisted predominantly with two teams of carers. Firstly, transitioning into the community, a 15 year old teenager, and then working full time at Christchurch’s Te Ruru facility, specialising with Huntingtons disease!

Co-responsible for the running, management and setting up of this unique venue, ably supported by an amazing team of dedicated volunteers. In 6 months, not only was a bar, café and several food outlets established, but 117 successful cultural/music/family based events were also held. As a result of my involvement, I received in mid-2014 a Community Service Award by Christchurch Council.

Ran a social media business (no longer operating). Successfully sold the concept to a number of business owners in NZ and UK.

Approached by YHANZ to work on a contractual basis to manage their established hostel in Wanaka, which was going through financial and staff related difficulties. Made a number of key changes and handed over to new managers allowing me to focus on starting my own social media business

Appointed manager, Pinewood Queenstown, one of New Zealand’s largest backpackers, with beds in excess of 500. This was a real personal achievement, as the business had lost almost 40% of its turnover in the early part of 2004. By concentrating on selling to business and educational groups, I was able to recover this lost business. Created a Pinewood Plus campaign, printing 20,000 copies of a 100 page glossy booklet promoting Queenstown, totally funded by advertising within the local community, thus enabling a free copy to be given to all our domestic and international guests. Linked with our unique “boomerang” discount voucher, this project resulted in thousands of extra bed nights!

Left Queenstown YHA to personally develop, build and market virtualqueenstown.com. This was a commercial internet website and CD that I sold to tourists in approximately 40 locations through the South Island, promoting many businesses in Queenstown domestically and overseas. This project ran for 3 years. I also undertook contract hotel management work, namely as Operations Manager Te Anau Hotel & Villas, for 6 months in 2002, and Manager for McFees Hotel in Queenstown for 4 months 2003, which I eventually handed over to the YHANZ group. In April 2003 I was Project Manager for Nomad Safari’s new business venture in Queenstown, a store selling Lord of The Rings collectables and memorabilia. This opened in June 2003. I also worked in the store as retail assistant for several months.

Appointed manager, Queenstown YHA.Major achievements:- Increased overnights from 27 000 to 44 000.- Increased activity sales from $250 000 to $1.2 million.- Increased average spend per guest by 32%.- Increased customer satisfaction from 76% to 90%.- Finalist Tourism Awards 2001.- Qualmark rated 4 star plus.- Developed successful HR 360 degree staff assessment.- Developed strategic business plan.- Created a culture where work became fun.- 1999 created inaugural Backpackers Games. This was a concept personally created by me in which a “reality show” competition over 2 days was devised for international teams of backpackers.Also took part as lead actor with Petra Bagust in a TV backpackers feature on Queenstown NZ, and for several years was the “face” of Intercity Coach Tours on their marketing brochures.

Emigrated to New Zealand.Formed personal development training company in Dunedin.Key note speaker at several insurance conferences for NZ insurance industry.As a one off project for eighteen months, created Virtual Dunedin on the internet and sold the concept to 80 clients. This project lasted for 2 years.

Appointed on an expatriate contract, as HR Manager by Botswana Insurance. Duties included marketing and senior management responsibilities.Major achievements:- Responsible for the total revision, development and implementation of the group’s policy wordings, procedures, job descriptions and training systems, helping Botswana Insurance maintain its position as the country’s main provider of insurance services.- Responsible for creating and training a life agency sales force which numbered nearly 100 agents.- Following the takeover of our main rival, was responsible for personal development, in-house training, and establishment of a common culture for 300 employees.- Founding member of Insurance Institute of Botswana. Despite resistance from the South African Insurance community, I personally devised and created the countries first insurance training college and as Educational Secretary raised the professional examination pass rate from 4% to 67%, exceeding the then current pass rate of 47% in South Africa. Also lectured on 11 different insurance subjects to several hundred insurance professionals.

Established a personal development training company in England. Dealt with individual and corporate clients.

Director of a co-operative health food store in Burnley England. At the same time volunteered in the evenings as a care provider for a “halfway house” near Burnley for troubled teens. This involved helping permanent staff look after the interests of approximately 30 male and female teenagers during weekdays.

Account Executive for Darwin Clayton Insurance brokers with responsibility to open a new branch in the north of England. Resigned after 9 months, due to excessive travel requirements

2 year expatriate contract as underwriting manager and 2nd in charge of Botswana Insurance, the country’s National insurer. I was seconded to the Botswana Government by Minet Group UK.Personally responsible for the assessment and underwriting of countries main infrastructure plus De Beers mining interests.

Assistant Manager, Frizzell Brokers Group Birmingham. Specialising in Fire and Loss of Profits insurance. Completed Associate Chartered Insurance Institute.

Started my insurance career with Insurance brokers Hogg Robinson Birmingham. Very quickly moved through the ranks after completing an extensive training programme