Our team
An industry-focused, regulation-driven, expanding team

All of our trainers have been involved in the financial services industry for a number of years either as insurance or investment advisers, trainers, mentors or assessors or in the provision of support services.

One thing our trainers, mentors and assessors all have in common is a passion and commitment to supporting advisers and other financial service professionals operate in the new era of regulation.

Our team of trainers, mentors and assessors is constantly expanding to cater for increased demand. The following profiles are a sample of the quality of the people we use, and the diversity of their skills.

Trecia Brown

Trecia has over 20 years’ experience in financial services and has been actively involved in the design and delivery of training for advisers since 1997. Her career has spanned roles at Sovereign, AMP, Sentinel and Southern Cross, enabling her to build a reputation as one of the most competent trainers/coaches in her field, with a special focus on sales process and practice management.

Trecia has a warm and empathetic style. Her skill lies in the ability to simplify concepts and processes, so that course participants feel comfortable embracing new ideas and putting them into practice.

Trecia is qualified in the National Standards of Adult Education & Training so that she can design and deliver training and assessment materials to the relevant standards for NZQA and the Strategi Institute.

Trecia has been the principal designer of the Insurance Adviser course offered by the Strategi Institute. She is also the principal trainer for that course.

Warrick Funnell

Dip Bus Stud (PFP), CFP^CM

Warrick is an experienced business owner, mentor and adviser with more than 30 years’ exposure to the New Zealand financial services industry.

Warrick is an excellent role model for advisers because he has covered the whole spectrum from start-up phase to exit strategy. In 2006 he sold his own Wanganui-based financial planning practice and has since been an active trainer and mentor to other financial planners.

Warrick is valued for his lateral thinking and common sense approach to the task at hand. His dedication and passion are felt by all those who study under his mentorship.

As well as being sought after for his expertise in financial planning, Warrick is a highly regarded speaker and presenter. His compassionate nature serves him well in his role as a Celebrant, where he is called upon to counsel others during a time of difficulty.

Warrick’s academic history includes his achievement of the Diploma in Personal Financial Planning from Waikato University, and the Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors. To meet the requirements for NZQA and the Strategi Institute, Warrick is qualified in the National Standards of Adult Education & Training. His primary role with the Strategi Institute is as an assessor and student mentor.

Richard Holden

Dip Bus Stud (PFP), CFP^CM, CLU

Richard is a financial adviser and mentor based in Christchurch. His career of some 30 years has spanned across both risk and investment management.

Throughout his career Richard has been committed to the training and mentoring of others in the financial services industry. He has in the past been appointed to the role of moderator with LIMRA (Agency Manager Training Course) and IIAA (Personal Risk management Course). Subsequent to these roles, he went on to assume a mentoring role with a number of the participants.

With his experience as a self-starter in the financial planning industry, Richard is well positioned to translate training theory into the practical hands-on reality that advisers need. Richard understands what it takes to be a successful people and practice manager. That is what makes him a valued member of our extended team.

Richard has achieved the Diploma in Business Studies (endorsement Personal Financial Planning) with Massey University. He is also qualified in the National Standards of Adult Education & Training to enable him to deliver training and conduct assessments to the relevant standards for NZQA and the Strategi Institute.

Richard is engaged by Strategi Institute as a course presenter and student mentor. His jovial nature and pragmatic style make him a popular presenter.

Dan Hunt

CA, BBus, Grad Dip Bus

Born and raised in Auckland, Chartered Accountant, Business Mentor and advisor Dan Hunt has dedicated his professional efforts to the field of Business, Taxation and Education. Graduating from AUT, he joined the ranks of the world's largest accounting firm, Pricewaterhouse Coopers in November 2005. As his interest in business and education grew, Dan has keenly involved himself with several Universities throughout Auckland, becoming a vocal activist in the field of Business and Taxation.

Dan has over five years experience advising on Taxation and business issues and has been involved in providing tax consulting, compliance and training services to a wide range of clients, from individuals to multi-national companies and across most business sectors. Dan has a very broad base of experience across most areas of tax and has significant experience in presenting technical business seminars to CA firms, Companies and Universities throughout Auckland.

At the age of just 25, Dan has founded his own Tax training and consulting firm, Dan Hunt & Associates (DHA) which has grown from strength to strength since its inception. Dan is a sought after speaker on all aspects of Taxation and regularly speaks at Universities and Conferences from three hours to one day in duration. Dan is also regularly contracted to provide training courses, day-to-day training assistance and other support to a wide range of institutions establishing himself as one of New Zealand’s top professional business speakers. He is also in the process of writing an upcoming Tax book for students and those new to Taxation in New Zealand in association with the Commerce Clearing House.

Dan's academic achievements include:

• Bachelor of Business, Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
• Graduate Diploma in Business, AUT
• Chartered Accountant & member of NZICA
• Dan is currently completing his Masters in Taxation

On a personal level, Dan enjoys the Kiwi lifestyle and loves travelling, running, swimming, reading and listening to music.

Russell Hynd

CA; BMS; PGDipPM; DipAET

Russell has been a successful self-employed management consultant, workplace trainer and assessor since 2005. During this time Russell has built a strong reputation for providing excellent service, training and assessment through his association with Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Competency International, and a number of Industry Training Organisations.

Russell is Chairman of the Body Corporate Committee for Busby Manor Resort, a timeshare resort in Paihia with over 900 owners. In addition he represents NZ independent timeshare resorts on the NZ Holiday Ownership Council.

Russell is the business adviser to several businesses in Hamilton and is a registered tax agent. He is also actively involved in Business Mentors New Zealand, as a volunteer business mentor.  From January 2001 to 2005, Russell worked as a contract consultant with Deloitte and with Otago Polytechnic where he held the position of Head of Department, Business, Travel & Tourism. From September 1996, Russell worked in the international finance industry in Vanuatu on contract to BDO Accountants in Port Vila. From early 1998 until December 2000, Russell managed Huka Village Developments Limited both its NZ and offshore interests.

Russell has also achieved positive outcomes in the following positions:

• Farmset Limited - Finance Manager / Company Secretary -Goroka, Papua New Guinea
• Midland Regional Health Authority - Finance Manager/ CFO - Hamilton
• Collins & Leahy Limited - Financial Controller - Goroka, Papua New Guinea
• Winstones / Fletcher Challenge - Financial Controller & Area Accountant - Auckland
• McConnell Dowel Corporation - Company Accountant - Hamilton

Russell's academic achievements include:

• National Diploma in Adult Education (L5) – Otago Polytechnic
• Post Grad Diploma of Project Management - Unitec
• Chartered Accountant – NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants
• E & Y Executive Management Programme – Jarden University
• Bachelor of Management Studies – University of Waikato

David Greenslade

BA, MBA, Dip Bus Stud (PFP), ANZFIM 

David Greenslade is the Managing Director of Strategi Limited. In the 1990s David started, built up and sold two very successful financial planning practices before founding Strategi in 1998.

David is a sought after speaker both in New Zealand and overseas. He regularly speaks at industry conferences, including the international MDRT conference, FPA, Tribeca/Kaplan and various aligned adviser conferences in Hong Kong, USA and Australia.

He is the publisher and editor of the Sales & Marketing Kit for financial advisers; Portfolio Construction Manual; Best Practices Manual; and the Financial KnowHow series of publications. He regularly has articles or comment published in financialalert, Asset Magazine and Money Management.

He is an ardent advocate of transforming financial advisers from being lifestyle practitioners into respected professionals operating financially viable businesses that meet international Best Practice standards.

David’s academic achievements include:

• Bachelor of Arts Degree
• Diploma in Management
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Dip Bus Studies (Personal Financial Planning)

He is an Associate Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management; and a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

David is qualified in the National Standards of Adult Education & Training equipping him to design and deliver training and assessment materials to the relevant standards for NZQA and the Strategi Institute. He is our principal course presenter for the Standard Set A module, and a presenter on the Investment Adviser module.

Chitral Wijesinha

Bcom (Hons), MA (Econ)

Chitral is the technical expert within Strategi, having previously spent many years with Citibank in Sri Lanka as a Fixed Interest Trader. Chitral is responsible for all the compliance reviews for our networks, assisting advisers to achieve and maintain Best Practice standards.

Jon Collier

Bcom ANZIIF (Assoc) 

Jon has a diverse role at Strategi Ltd. This involves providing technical support to financial advisers plus facilitating software migrations to new platforms, developing model portfolios, paraplanning and project management. Jon is dedicated to assisting financial advisers move to the next generation of world class financial advising businesses.

Retha Coetzee

Retha has extensive experience working with financial advisers and support staff and is widely regarded as one of the most proficient, patient and knowledgeable trainers on new platforms and technology in the New Zealand financial planning industry.