Our Whānau

E hara taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini
My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi
With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive

Cyclone fosters a positive, diverse, inclusive workplace that values our people as our strongest point of difference. We are an inclusive, engaged culture that is aligned to our values and vision, which is how we proudly reach our fullest potential. We seek to implement changes that will positively impact our people and our community.

Here are some of the faces you’ll see around Cyclone. Our team are proactive problem-solvers who deliver future-ready solutions with a friendly smile.

Leigh Gibbard

Chief Executive Officer

Richard Morgan

Board Chair

Noel Jack

Director

Murray Jones

Director

Mike Jones

Director

Leigh Gibbard

Chief Executive Officer

Dan Norton

National Sales Manager

Stefan Van Der Busse

General Manager Service

Tracey Thomson

General Manager Software Licensing

Sarah Shum

Marketing Manager

Desiree Miller

People and Culture Lead

Mark Duncan

Project Manager

David Friend

Finance Manager

Jo Nicol

Digital Skills Team Lead

David Robertson

Solutions Manager

Paul Stephen

NZ Government Sector Lead in Tertiary / Commercial

Sam McNeill

Technology Strategist

Barry Baughan

Auckland Account Manager

Aaron Overington

K-12 Education Strategist

Jane Allan

Dunedin Account Manager

Scott Cameron

Christchurch Account Manager

Tom Rose

Christchurch Account Manager

Tom Sevier

Christchurch Account Manager

Simon Lillico

Wellington Account Manager

Leigh McPearson

Government Account Manager

Thomas Smith

Government Account Manager

Kim Ryan

Christchurch Account Manager

Chad Greyvenstein

Auckland Account Manager

Jonny Parish

Christchurch Account Manager

Simon Briscoe

AV Specialist

Jo Nicol - Team Lead

Jo leads the Cyclone Digital Skills team. She is a MoE Accredited PLD Facilitator, New Zealand registered teacher and has a postgraduate qualification in digital and collaborative learning.

Jo is a passionate future-focused facilitator and helps educators create and develop student-centred learning environments with strengths in using Google Workspace for Education, Microsoft 365 and Design Thinking.

By providing hands-on digital skills training, Jo ensures that individuals within the commercial and government sectors are equipped with the necessary knowledge and expertise to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The Cyclone Digital Skills team plays a vital role in preparing people for the future, enabling them to embrace technology and navigate its complexities with confidence.

Twitter: @jonicolnz
Linkedin: Jo Nicol

Jo’s strengths are:

  • Digital Fluency
  • Future-focused pedagogy
  • Design Thinking
  • Mentoring and coaching
  • Strategic Planning
  • School Library Development


Nathan Scott

Nathan is a passionate, future-focused educator who strives to make a difference for teachers and learners in all aspects of their learning journey. Nathan has been a registered NZ teacher for the past 15 years in the secondary sector teaching Mathematics, Computer Science, and Robotics.Nathan strongly believes that it is best for a learner (at any age) to actively engage with hands-on experiences in learning spaces that are safe for them to experiment and explore; to try, to succeed and to fail.

Linkedin: Nathan Scott

Nathan’s strengths are:

  • Computer Science and Computational Thinking
  • Robotics
  • Digital Technologies: Hangarau Matihiko
  • Digital Fluency
  • Numeracy and Mathematics
  • Office 365 and G Suite for Education
  • Future-focused and student centred learning

Danny Bedingfield

Danny Bedingfield is a highly experienced and dedicated educator with a strong background in both academic and corporate settings. With over 15 years of teaching experience, Danny has honed his skills in facilitating learning in schools and commercial organizations. His expertise spans across various technology platforms, making him a versatile and sought-after professional in the field.

As a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Danny possesses in-depth knowledge of Microsoft tools and platforms, including Microsoft 365, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams. He is also a qualified Teams Administrator Associate, enabling him to provide comprehensive solutions to clients and empower users to harness the full potential of technology in their lives.

In addition to his proficiency in Microsoft products, Danny is a qualified Google Trainer and Coach, well-versed in leveraging the power of Google’s suite of tools. He is an Adobe Level 2 Educator, showcasing his expertise in utilizing Adobe Creative Cloud, Premiere Pro, and InDesign to create captivating multimedia content.

Danny’s passion lies in utilizing technology to create inclusive learning environments for all individuals. He has designed workshops that have received widespread acclaim and endorsement from the Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand, demonstrating his commitment to supporting diverse learners. Furthermore, Danny has been immersing himself in the field of Generative Artificial Intelligence, diligently studying its potential, drawbacks, and optimal utilization within this rapidly evolving industry.

Beyond the realm of education and technology, Danny nurtures a deep love for music and videography. He combines his skills as a filmmaker with his passion for music, often utilizing drones to capture breathtaking aerial footage. With his adept Adobe skills, he expertly edits and presents his cinematic creations. Danny’s creative approach to learning extends to his belief that education should be engaging, meaningful, and hands-on, with a touch of humour.

Twitter: @DannyBedingfie1
Linkedin: Danny Bedingfield

Danny’s strengths are:

  • Microsoft 365, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams
  • Change management and facilitating 365 adoption
  • Microsoft Office
  • Google Certified Trainer and Coach
  • Generative Artificial Intelligence
  • Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly in Premiere Pro and InDesign
  • Proficiency in Apple iOS and Mac OS
  • eLearning and strategic planning, conference presentations, online training, and webinar support, as well as creating engaging multimedia content, including video tutorials
  • Conference presentations
  • Online training and webinar support
  • Learning through multimedia, creating video tutorials

Thane Williams

Thane is a member of Cyclone’s Digital Skills team, bringing over 10 years of teaching experience as a registered teacher in New Zealand. With accreditation as an MoE PLD Facilitator and a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education, Thane offers valuable expertise to the team.

Driven by a genuine passion for facilitating transformative learning experiences, Thane excels in equipping educators with the necessary skills to create dynamic and future-focused learning environments. They possess a high level of proficiency in various technologies, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace for Education, Design Thinking, eLearning, eSports and strategic planning. Thane’s diverse skill set enables them to empower educators to adopt cross-curricular and student-centred approaches, fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment.

Thane provides immersive digital skills training, ensuring that individuals in both the commercial and government sectors possess the necessary knowledge and expertise to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Twitter:@Thane_Williams
LinkedIn:Thane Williams

Thane’s strengths are:

  • MoE-Accredited PLD Facilitator
  • Digital Fluency
  • Specialist Microsoft in Education
  • Esports implementation
  • eLearning and strategic planning
  • Encouraging cross-curricular learning

Cyclone Associates


Anthony Breese

Anthony is a highly experienced MoE-Accredited PLD facilitator in both Primary and Secondary with a rich background as a New Zealand primary teacher spanning 19 years. With a deep passion for leveraging technology to amplify student learning, Anthony excels in fostering student agency by integrating innovative tools and strategies to support literacy, numeracy, science, music and drama, social studies and Aotearoa New Zealand history in the classroom.

Anthony possesses a diverse skill set that includes expertise in Innovative Learning Environments, flipped learning, strategic planning, and the development of digital learning programs. He is dedicated to empowering both students and teachers to seize enhanced learning opportunities through project learning, design thinking and universal design for learning. Proficient in platforms such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft Education, Anthony has vast experience supporting teachers, students and commercial organisations through creating better workflows, efficiencies and understanding of software and technologies.

Anthony is well-versed in using educational robotics as well as leveraging his expertise as a singer-songwriter in studio recording and digital music. Moreover, Anthony employs Minecraft as a powerful learning tool, integrating it seamlessly across various disciplines such as mathematics, English, and inquiry-based learning.

Alongside his educational pursuits, Anthony plays a pivotal role as a Museum curator, drawing upon his extensive experience in collaborating with Museums to showcase local New Zealand Histories. His exceptional talent lies in crafting captivating digital and spatial museum exhibits that effectively engage and educate visitors. Moreover, Anthony brings his expertise to the realm of education by developing educational content and designing comprehensive Aotearoa New Zealand History plans that enrich the learning experience.

Twitter: @anthonybreesenz
Linkedin: Anthony Breese

Anthony’s strengths are:

  • Google Certified Teacher
  • Microsoft 365
  • Project learning and integrated learning
  • Video creation and learning through video
  • Conference speaking and presentations
  • Adobe: InDesign, Animate, Photoshop, Audition, Premiere Pro
  • Apple IOS – MAC IOS: Logic, Garageband, Apple Motion, Final Cut Pro
  • Robotics and technologies: Lego Spike, Spheros, Mbots, micro: bits, 3D printing
  • eLearning and strategic planning
  • Teacher in an Innovative Learning Environment (Flipping the Classroom)
  • Songwriting, Digital Music, Recording and digital music distribution
  • Curator of Museum Exhibits

Brad Thomas

Brad is an experienced Digital Learning Designer, Google Certified Teacher and a MOE Accredited PLD facilitator. He has worked extensively with school leaders and teachers to develop effective digital strategies to support and enhance teaching and learning.

Brad is passionate about supporting others to reach their goals using technology and as a Level Two Google Certified Educator he is passionate about the opportunities that G Suite for Education provide for enhancing student outcomes.

Brad’s strengths are:

  • Digital Fluency
  • Literacy Years 4 to 10
  • Developing a Multi-Modal literacy approach
  • Strategic Planning
  • G Suite for Education
  • Teaching as Inquiry


Emma Planicka

Emma is part of the Apple Consultancy Network. She has over 11 years’ experience in education. She has a passion for providing meaningful learning experiences and is strong in both Apple and Google platforms. Emma enjoys working in a collaborative manner to source useful resources and practical ideas.

Twitter: @EmmaPlanicka
Linkedin: Emma Planicka

Emma’s strengths are:
  • MoE-Accredited PLD Facilitator
  • Using Google Suite effectively in teaching and learning
  • Digital Fluency across the school community
  • Providing meaningful learning experiences, practical ideas and useful resources
  • Redefining teaching and learning using iPads

Mandy Dempsey

With a passion for innovative teaching and learning, Mandy has over 15 years experience facilitating professional development for teachers and students. Her specialty lies in the use of digital technologies to empower learners and open up new and exciting opportunities for growth. She is an accredited Apple Professional Learning Specialist and MoE PLD Facilitator.

She has recently completed post-graduate studies specialising in digital and collaborative learning and has had involvement with the University of Canterbury in developing resources to support implementation Digital Technologies/Hangarau Matihiko in primary classrooms.

Twitter: @MandyNZ
Linkedin: Mandy Dempsey

Services that Mandy has provided include:

  • Nationwide and Australian  tours of innovative learning environments
  • Teacher workshops (both locally and nationwide)
  • Modelled classroom-based eLearning workshops (teachers working alongside students)
  • Conference presentations
  • Curriculum Development
  • Supporting school leaders with strategic planning and writing tailored PLD programmes
  • Personalised PLD, supporting teacher inquiries
  • Online learning including implementation of learning and student management systems

Kylie Stanley

Kylie has 15 years experience working with students, teachers and academics from early childhood through to tertiary education, with a focus on the meaningful integration of technology in education.

After being employed as a Teacher for the NSW Department of Education, she began developing and facilitating professional learning courses in robotics, coding and game design for primary and secondary teachers across New South Wales. One of her most recent roles was a Teacher/ Instructional Leader in a primary school, which included mentoring and building digital capacity across teaching staff.

Through Kylie’s leadership, teachers were able to confidently teach their students essential digital literacy skills and successfully integrate technology into their classrooms. Kylie has been a speaker at several education conferences,  facilitated digital technologies workshops, and developed curriculum resources as an Education Consultant.

Kylie is passionate about bridging the gap between traditional teaching methods and modern teaching practices that includes relevant and purposeful teaching of technology in the classroom. She believes that all learners should have access to opportunities to understand, create and express themselves with technology.


Bevan Holloway

Bevan believes the learning experience for students can and should be better. A 2018 CORE Education e-Fellow, where his research focused on the use of teaching through play in a secondary school, Bevan has deep knowledge of how to enable and support genuinely agentic learning contexts for students. Bevan taught at secondary level and has held HOD and school governance roles.

Bevan takes a strongly relational approach to his PLD work and focuses on working with individuals or small teams who want to put their learners at the centre of their practice.

Bevan’s strengths are:

  • Supporting pedagogy for agency, with expertise in play
  • Strategic thinking and planning

Publications:

Holloway, B. (2018). “Play: A secondary concern.” Set: Research Information for Teachers, NZCER Press.
Holloway, B (In press). “Living in a small data world: play in secondary school”. CORE Education.

Cited in

Carr, M. Lee, W. (2019). Learning stories in practice. Sage Publications.
Claxton, G. Powell, G. (2019). Powering up students: the learning power approach to high school teaching. Crown House Publishing.


Dr Martyn Reynolds

Martyn is an experienced educator with over 35 years of classroom and management experience including 14 years as a Specialist Classroom teacher, working to help staff reflect on and enhance their practice. He is interested in supporting educators in their thinking about culturally aware pedagogies and management behaviour so that learners, communities and staff all benefit. He has worked in partnership with Māori whanau and his PhD looked at Pacific/Pasifika ideas of success as they play out in schools.

Martyn’s strengths include:

  • Cultural responsive practices based on cultural humility
  • Teaching as inquiry
  • Strategic planning
  • Staff support
  • Classroom observation
  • Consultation as practice
  • Integration of day-to-day technologies into classroom practice
  • Education as a cultural space

Rob Stevenson

Rob is an experienced Primary School leader, recent Dr Vince Ham eFellow and a Kaiarahi for Story Hui. He has worked extensively with Learning through Play, Makerspaces, and co-teaching in collaborative environments. Highly skilled in developing effective digital processes to support and enhance learning, Rob is passionate about supporting others to reach their learning potential.

Rob believes it is more important now than ever before for students to experience learning environments where there are opportunities to communicate, collaborate, create, think critically and develop curiosity. His pedagogical approach has a strong focus on enabling life long learning and the skills to thrive in our changing world.

Rob’s strengths are:

  • Learning through Play
  • Makerspace
  • Collaborative practice
  • Project-based learning
  • Digital Fluency
  • Narrative Assessment
  • Teaching as Inquiry
  • G suite, Apple and Microsoft Education


Anjela Webster

Anjela is an experienced Education Advisor, supporting organisations, schools and kura around educative approaches in fostering online safety, citizenship and wellbeing. As an educator Anjie has held a number of leadership positions, and has taught across different levels and subject specialisation. She completed her M.Ed (Hons) with a focus on the online space and it’s many opportunities and challenges, and worked in an advisory role with Netsafe for a number of years.

Publications
2019 Springer Encylopedia Teacher EducationCybersafety, Advice for Teachers
2019 Netsafe From Literacy to Fluency to Citizenship: Digital Citizenship in Education

Cited In:
2018 Netsafe Online Hate Speech
2019  Netsafe Exploring New Zealand Children’s Internet Access, Skills and Opportunities

Anjela’s Strengths:

Fostering Online Safety, Citizenship and Wellbeing

  • Leadership – Effective practice for SLT, leaders, pastoral teams and BoT
  • Wellbeing and online incident management
  • Review and design – policies, procedures (in relation to legislation and regulatory requirements)
  • Staff capability and confidence
  • Learning approaches and resources for all levels
  • Connecting effectively and partnering with whānau
  • Student voice – scoping and sharing
  • Student agency in initiatives and learning
  • Bespoke projects

Lynne Thomas

Lynne is a MoE-Accredited PLD Facilitator. She has worked extensively in ICT advisory and facilitation roles to develop digital strategies and effective pedagogy for future focused learning and teaching. She uses the Spiral of Inquiry framework to structure collaborative professional learning and development.

Lynne’s strengths are:

  • Learning with digital technologies
  • Working with school leadership teams to develop their digital technologies strategic planning
  • Teaching as Inquiry
  • Digital fluency and Digital citizenship
  • Using Google Suite to transform learning and teaching
  • Providing practical ideas and useful resources