Carmen's career seamlessly blends Business, Design, Education, and Language. She began as an in-house trainer and later taught accountancy, business law, and English, eventually moving into communication and leadership training. Since joining VHNZ as a Training Advisor in December 2023, Carmen has embraced a fresh perspective on the training industry. Her qualifications as an assessor, evaluator/designer, and moderator enrich her multifaceted experience.

Carmen’s diverse background enables her to connect empathetically with people from various walks of life, bringing deep understanding to her role. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring New Zealand's beautiful trails and spending quality time with friends and family.

Carmen is passionate about recognising and nurturing individual strengths. She is inspired by Einstein's belief that "Everybody is a genius" and finds joy in helping people discover their own brilliance.

Conor has been with VHNZ for over 4 years as a Client Liaison. During this time, he has gained great industry insight and has a strong passion for education and safety.

Prior to working for VHNZ he held roles in both customer service and within the complaints department for a leading NZ consumer and appliance retailer. This built on his experience with customer relations and communication which is something he brings with him to this role. Conor has also worked in hospitality around the Auckland region.

Adan is a VHNZ Training Advisor for the Central North Island, a role he moved into after working as a Contract Trainer for VHNZ. Adan has held both Technical and Project Management roles while working in the Civil Infrastructure sector for Beca Infrastructure Ltd, Transfield Services Ltd, Fulton Hogan and Downer Ltd. Having experience within such positions himself, Adan has a great ability to connect to apprentices and is appreciative of the physical mindset and approach that is required to get these jobs done.

Prior to VHNZ Adan worked as a GIS Project Manager for the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board and Supervisor for the Department of Conservation, Maniapoto District. Intricate roles that focused on customer service and stakeholder relations, further highlighting Adan’s professional aptitude to deal collaboratively with individual businesses.

Adan brings with him vast experience in the trade industry and beyond, a hands-on individual who is empathetic to dealing with the difficult issues but committed to encouraging individuals to attain their goals!

Outside of work, Adan spends a fair bit of time underwater with a passion for diving.

A committed and loyal professional with proven experience in the construction, planning and management of scaffolding operations throughout New Zealand and Australia.

Craven's experience has been gained working from the ground up, starting in the scaffold yard and progressing through various roles as a scaffolder, a leading hand, a supervisor and into management roles over a 20+ year period in diverse working conditions and challenging environments with personnel from varying ethnic backgrounds.

Now as a Training Advisor, Craven is focused on giving back to the next generation and hopes that he can pass on some of the knowledge he has gained to help them on their journey.

Tony is a strong communicator with a wild sense of humour that takes pride in helping others and will do his best to support your success where possible.

Having previously taught English in Japan, worked in the public service and had a number of customer service roles, Tony prides himself on his communication skills. This he sees as a fundamental pillar to assisting apprentices through their journey, keeping these trainees informed and listening to what they have to say.

Hayley has a wealth of experience in the Scaffolding/Rigging industry having spent 25+ years in various roles throughout both Australia and here in New Zealand. He brings with him a maturity and calmness to the Training Advisor role and looks forward to meeting with apprentices and assisting them to progress and achieve.

Pat is based in Tairāwhiti supporting the East Coast and Hawkes Bay regions. He has established a strong network with various Ministries, Iwi, and local businesses providing training pathways for their people.

Pat is an ex-serviceman (serving 24 years in the NZ Army) who completed an apprenticeship as an Automotive Engineer. Upon leaving the NZ Army he worked for the United Nations based in Afghanistan managing the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Program (DDR). He has extensive hostile environment experience as well as managing security contracts and staff training for International Companies.

Pat joined the Vertical Horizonz team in 2015. Since then, Pat has been delivering NZQA Standard courses with a focus on the crane industry and associated training. While Pat is not working, he enjoys a round of golf.

Chris has a diverse skill set in trades, sales, fire protection, security, and trade training gained at the Department of Corrections. He prides himself on being able to work with others from all walks of life and communicating effectively to achieve the best results. Chris is dedicated to building strong connections with both employers and apprentices, driven by a passion for helping them reach their goals.

Beyond the professional sphere, Chris indulges a personal interest in classic automobiles, frequently attending car shows with a particular fondness for showcasing a meticulously maintained 1965 Ford Fairlane V8

Vinny comes to VHNZ with experience as a Licensed Building Practitioner, an Assessor, Tutor, and Adult Education teacher. With this raft of knowledge in the building and education sectors, Vinny is looking forward to utilising his skills whilst assisting apprentices on their journey through their qualifications.

Mark has worked for Vertical Horizonz as a contract trainer and employed trainer over the last five years facilitating First Aid, Fire Safety, Chemical safety, Confined Space Entry, Breathing Apparatus and health and safety courses.

With a diverse range of skills learnt through the Emergency services, Building and Construction sector and manufacturing industries, Mark has the motivation and the ability to impart knowledge and skills to others so they can themselves learn and develop within their respective industries.

His past employment history includes Construction (Carpentry), manufacturing Fields (Quality assurance) and Emergency services (Ambulance and FENZ). While employed by Firestone/Bridgestone New Zealand, Mark worked alongside the Health and Safety officer and trained as Department of Labour Health and Safety Level 1 Accident prevention and investigation. This led him back to the construction industry in Health and Safety, where he oversaw all site inductions, audits, and daily safety checks, and worked to improve the health and safety culture within job sites via training and education.

Fabian, a professional with a decade of experience as a builder, has transitioned into the role of Training Advisor, offering a wealth of knowledge and practical insights. His journey began as a construction apprentice, which grants him a profound understanding of the challenges and aspirations of those entering the construction industry. Drawing from his own experiences, Fabian is dedicated to helping individuals fortify their skills, address technical questions, and provide support to both apprentices and their employers.

Fabian's key skills include fluency in three languages—English, Spanish, and Portuguese—enabling him to bridge communication gaps, especially for those whose first language is not English. Honesty, reliability, resilience, and a strong work ethic are the cornerstones of his approach, ensuring the delivery of optimal support to apprentices. He is here to support apprentices through their apprenticeship, working closely with both the apprentice and the employer to ensure a productive and enriching learning experience.

With a deep passion for the construction sector and an unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth, Fabian is here to guide individuals on their journey to thriving in their construction careers.

An individual with a passion for helping others to achieve goals and develop skills that assist them to become an effective member of their work group. Prior to this role Darren carried out 10 years in the New Zealand Military (Air Force crash rescue), 19 years as a Firefighter with the fire service and 7.5 years as a Health and Safety trainer.

Darren brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to VHNZ, and he looks forward to creating further connections in his region and assisting trainees to pursue their goals.