Stuart has been the General Manager People & Culture at Etco since 2021. He is an experienced global Leader, having held a number of senior Human Resource positions across a range of sectors including Invitro Diagnostics, Life Sciences, IT, Biopharma, Pharmaceuticals, FMCG and Business Services. Stuart has developed and delivered people & culture strategies and solutions across multiple geographies including, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, India, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Stuart holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics as well as a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Waikato and was admitted as a Barrister Solicitor of the High Court in New Zealand in 2007.

Stuart is passionate about increasing the value people bring to organisations through initiatives that leverage diversity, drive a healthy, sustainable culture, and enable talent to achieve their potential. He is in his happy place when enabling people to be their best self and achieve their career goals, and he sees this as what our electrical apprentices are working towards on their journey to becoming registered electricians.

Gary completed his electrical apprenticeship in 1982 in South Africa and worked as an electrician until December 1989, while also attaining his diploma in electrical engineering. 

In 1990 he started teaching at a secondary school, and completed his teaching qualification and teacher registration in 1993. His passion for education and desire to have a positive influence on young people – both in the classroom and on the sports fields was extremely rewarding. 

Gary immigrated to New Zealand in 2003 and took up an Etco tutoring role at the Auckland Training Centre, enabling him to put to use his passion for both the electrical industry and education. 

Gary has held several senior roles within Etco and in 2018 was appointed National Learning Manager, overseeing both the Training and Apprenticeship teams nationally.  He took up his current role, General Manager Learning, in 2019, charged with providing support to the Training, Apprenticeship and Development teams.

Brian joined Etco as Regional Manager Southern in 2020, and took over the Nation Wellbeing, Safety & Health Manager role in 2021, after some 27 years in the industry. He says his electrical apprenticeship, which he completed in Dunedin, provided him with diverse experience across all aspects of the trade, creating opportunities to advance his career. Brian worked as a qualified electrician for more than 15 years, and for most of the decade before joining Etco he worked as a project manager. During this period he had three stints ‘back on the tools’ as an underground shift electrician. Managing large construction projects, including different stakeholders, has given him valuable experience that has been put to great use in Etco.

In 2018, after 13 years away from the organisation, Neil re-joined Etco – and says it was almost like he had never been away. He had left his role as Apprentice Coordinator in 2005, to set up his own electrical business. He later joined a global company involved in installation, maintenance, and training on their packaging machinery. The job took him all around the world and he is now considered an expert in filling a packet of potato chips with air! 

Neil’s apprenticeship began in 1976 in the UK where he was mainly involved in the industrial sector. He then spent almost 10 years working for the East Midlands Electricity Board doing installation work, metering and inspecting. 

Neil’s current role as Etco’s National Placement Manager sees him assist the great team of Coordinators in finding placements for apprentices.

Lindsay completed electrical apprenticeship/NZCE – Electrical Engineering cadetship in the late 90s at Carter Holt Harvey Pulp & Paper in Kinleith. He is a registered Electrical Inspector and holds tertiary qualifications in Adult Education & Training and Business Management. He has been involved in educational governance at local, regional and national levels, and is a current presiding member of the Bay of Plenty NZSTA executive, and member of NZQA Secondary Qualifications Advisory Group. From 2007 to 2018 Lindsay worked as an Etco night class tutor, returning to the organisation in February 2021 as an Apprentice Mentor before taking up his current role.

Steve is an experienced general manager, sales executive, and business development manager, with wide experience working in the construction and plumbing sectors, and hardware sector. A builder by trade, after a number of years he transitioned to other areas to follow his passion for coaching and developing people.

His key strengths are strong interpersonal and communication skills, and a passion for innovation, which deliver high-quality stakeholder engagement, confidence, and vision. Steve can always see the bigger picture but is not afraid of getting down into the detail.

Steve also spent time as a franchise owner in the landscaping sector and as an independent contractor helping businesses in areas including restructuring, strategic sales growth, and training.

Outside of work he can be found spending time with his children - either at his daughter’s dance competitions or at the airport watching and supporting (via his credit card)! his son working towards his Personal Pilots Licence. When it’s time for ‘me time’ Steve enjoys time on his boat and fishing.

Nick joined Etco in 2022 as the Southern Regional Manager, after 16 years working in tertiary education, including tutorial, national leadership and management roles at the NZ Institute of Sport and NZ Management Academies (New Zeaand’s largest Private Tertiary Establishment). He had previously spent 10 years in the United States after gaining an athletic scholarship to a US university where he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Exercise Physiology. A passion for high performance sport led him to various roles in the US college system and professional sport, working in performance physiology, strength and conditioning and analysis. Nick is passionate about the success of young people and thrives on creating an environment where they can be their best selves. Being able to provide pathways to sustainable and high paying jobs in a high demand industry is one of the reasons he took on the challenge of managed apprenticeships. He’s excited to bring his skillset to Etco’s largest geographical region.