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.
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 and Residential Property& Lending courses offered by Strategi Institute, and is an assessor for Standard Set C. She also delivers several of Strategi Institute's CPD workshops and undertakes Best Practice and Compliance reviews of advisor practices.
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Warrick Funnell
Dip Bus Stud (PFP), CFPCM
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 roles with Strategi Institute include assessing and mentoring students and in addition he undertakes Best Practice and Compliance reviews of advisor practices.
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Sue Grant
Sue’s background is in human resources and more recently with ACC, managing its relationship with the financial services industry. As part of this work Sue developed training seminars and workshops for advisers, accountants and insurance companies.
Sue’s academic achievements include an MBA, the Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Personnel Management and Employment Relations) and a post-graduate Certificate in Research and Analysis
Sue 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.
Sue has been the principal developer of the Core Knowledge course offered by Strategi Institute and is the lead trainer for that course. Sue is also a trainer for the Insurance Adviser course and is an assessor and trainer for the Standard Set C Professional Practice course.
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Richard Holden
Dip Bus Stud (PFP), CFPCM, CLU, AFA
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.
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Daniel Hunt
CA, AFA, CPP, CPA, MBus(tax), Grad Dip Bus, Nat Cert Adult Education & Training
Born and raised in Auckland, Chartered Accountant, Business Mentor and advisor Daniel 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, Daniel has keenly involved himself with several Universities throughout Auckland, becoming a vocal activist in the field of Business and Taxation.
Daniel 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. Daniel 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, Daniel has founded his own Tax training and consulting firm, Daniel Hunt & Associates (DHA) which has grown from strength to strength since its inception. Daniel 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. Daniel 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.
On a personal level, Daniel enjoys the Kiwi lifestyle and loves travelling, running, swimming, reading and listening to music.
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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
David Greenslade
BA, MBA, Dip Bus Stud (PFP), ANZFIM, AFA
David Greenslade is the Managing Director of Strategi Limited and Strategi Institute 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 wrote the various manuals for the National Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice) (Level 5 and Level 4) qualification that Strategi Institute delivers. He also developed and published the regulatory handbook titled A Reference Guide to Key Legislation and Code of Professional Conduct.
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.
He is an Associate Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management; and a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
He 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. David is an ETITO Delegated Assessor for Capstone Professional Practice (Standard Set C).
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Laurie Anderson
BA (Econ), Dip Mgt
As the Strategi Institute Manager, Laurie’s main responsibilities are for the Strategi Institute courses and student administration. Her focus is to ensure that Strategi Institute maintains its reputation as the most respected provider of adviser training and support services in New Zealand.
Laurie commenced her career with the Department of Statistics, undertaking economic research in their business unit. During this time she also joined the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR) – the naval equivalent of the Army Territorial Force.
Laurie spent a year travelling through the UK and Europe and on her return to New Zealand she undertook a planning role within Air New Zealand. She left Air New Zealand and the RNZNVR to spend 5 years in the United States.
During this time Laurie became involved in the fitness industry, passing several exams, and becoming certified by the American Council on Exercise as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor.
On her return to New Zealand, Laurie was employed by Parliamentary Services to manage the electorate office of a senior Member of Parliament. This was a broad role encompassing administration, constituent advocacy, event planning and management, and financial and staffing management.
Laurie reduced this role to part-time in order to manage her own business, specialising in the manufacture of fresh pasta for the hospitality industry. During this time, she also gained her Immigration Adviser Licence and worked in this role prior to joining Strategi in 2010.
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