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Schools are wonderful, exciting places and I have had the extreme good fortune of supporting and collaborating with the education sector throughout my career. Several years working for LEGO Education and U.S. publisher Scholastic, has provided me with valuable insights around the challenges and opportunities facing schools today.
 
I am extremely detail driven which helps me really understand the unique needs of each customer. With the support of my incredibly dedicated team we’ll work hand-in-hand with schools to create engaging, active learning environments. I know we can make a positive difference by helping students to achieve better learning outcomes in classrooms everywhere.
 
I’m excited to be part of a company that genuinely cares about the well-being of students and teachers. Furnware is an industry leader in school furniture manufacture and design in terms of both quality and innovation and I look forward to bringing our unique proposition to schools throughout Asia.
 

I have had a life-long love affair with Asia. My family moved from Melbourne to Jakarta,  Indonesia when I was 10, before relocating to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I had the good fortune of receiving an education through the international school system, where I learned to speak Indonesian, French and Japanese. When I returned to Melbourne to complete my tertiary education, my parents planted a vineyard in the Yarra Valley, providing me with an introduction to the wine export business. Fortuitously, this took me back to Indonesia for the next 11 years, where I sourced premium wines from around the world, supplying high-end restaurants and 5-star resorts across Jakarta and Bali.

I have a great enthusiasm for life, an innate curiosity for the world around me and am passionate about making a difference, while connecting with people to create solutions and outcomes, that have a lasting impact.

Furnware, like all companies I have worked with throughout my career, is an industry leader, with innovation and integrity at its core. We are passionate about contributing to our children’s future and success, by creating the best learning environments possible and designing the highest quality furniture. Combined with an unshakeable commitment to providing world-class service, it’s this, I believe, that gives Furnware a truly dynamic edge, and I feel very privileged to be a part of such an organization.

I truly believe we have furniture that facilitates better learning for children, and I’m proud to be working for a company like Furnware who puts the requirements of the children at the core of their beliefs.
 
I previously worked at International SOS in 5 different countries within Asia and the GCC – providing quality healthcare and security services to many clients including International Schools and Universities. Having strong experience in many countries, particularly in emerging economies, provides me with a unique perspective and a deep understanding of the needs of my customers.
 
I hope to see Furnware furniture in as many classrooms as possible and look forward to collaborating with schools. I know together, we can provide an exceptional learning experience for the children, by designing the classrooms of the future.  
 

When I bought Furnware it was my vision that we could help children the world over to finish their educational life fulfilled and empowered. That was more than 20 years ago and it’s still our focus. Furniture is just one part of a learning experience, but we see it as one of the foundations and believe that with great design, furniture can improve learning outcomes.

I have an exceptional, passionate team around me and together we develop products that work, products that are born from research and design, we provide the best service before and after our schools have received their solutions and our products stand the test of time. What our approach and partnerships with schools has resulted in, is a network of people who are happy to advocate on our behalf. That's when I know we are getting things right.

Having worked in a variety of leadership roles across a diverse range of industries, I bring a depth of knowledge in manufacturing, brand management and organisational design.

Furnware’s growth and international success has been impressive. With a very solid runway of opportunity in front of the busines, my keen interest is to develop and grow the organisations capability. Ensuring we invest in systems, processes and people which enable our team to flourish in their roles, to deliver outstanding quality, and a customer experience which delights.   

 

My background is in mechanical engineering and design so I really enjoy having production, supply chain and design under my umbrella. 

To survive and thrive in the future, our facilities and services need to be world-class. I’m constantly motivated to keep ahead of manufacturing trends and technology advances to ensure efficiencies across the board. Likewise with our design and supply chain teams – we must deliver products that meet the needs of our customers in a timely fashion.

I am proud to be a part of a company that puts its customers first - it’s at the forefront of everything we do and this approach gives us a solid base to expand globally.

Like the education industry, our business requirements change rapidly. I manage our IT systems to ensure they are scalable and agile enough to meet these changing demands.

It’s exciting being part of a company that both embraces change and is focused on making a positive improvement to the lives of our young people. I enjoy being part of an innovative team, working with people who share the same goals for our business and have a real ‘can do’ attitude.

I see our role as being a partner to educators and schools. I love that we have the chance to really engage with our customers and seek to understand what value we can bring them – value that can enhance their students’ learning.

I manage the Furnware Australian team and a big part of that is helping the team to develop and grow. I’m proud to be part of a group that is committed to making a long-term difference for students and teachers. We have the ability to create amazing learning environments and that’s what gets us out of bed every day.

The consultative process is such an important part of what I do. By asking the right asking questions and gathering information, I can discover what’s important to my customers including their teaching preferences, so I can provide a truly tailored response for their needs. It’s about relationship building so I'm the first port of call and become a part of your schools support structure.

My previous role in educational publishing meant I worked closely with secondary schools aligning our digital content to their curriculum, catering for students with different needs and ensuring teachers were trained in the learning and monitoring of their student’s progress. I am extremely passionate about supporting the teacher to support their students so they are learning to their best potential: it’s exciting to be working with schools to create vibrant and inspiring spaces where children thrive and enjoy their environment.

As the daughter of an ex-teacher and principal, I have genuine love and respect for education, with a deep understanding of the challenges schools face. I’m a great communicator and value the importance of really understanding a customer’s needs, as the more information we have, the better our solutions will be. I love the creative aspect of designing spaces and working with our 3D Learning Spaces App, bringing all the elements, colour, furniture and classroom layout to life that meet the pedagogical objectives. So, our customers can really envisage their new learning environments with every detail captured. 

It’s exciting to learn and understand the research and development that goes into every piece of Furnware furniture, and to be part of such a forward-thinking company. We genuinely care about supporting students to learn and succeed.

I have always been passionate about education and have been fortunate enough to spend a large part of my career assisting the educational sector with technology sales and support and helping with the implementation of BYOD and the 1:1 computer programme within schools. Observing classroom environments has given me fantastic insight and understanding around what matters most to educators and more importantly, to the students.

My ground-up knowledge and understanding of how schools operate is critical when meeting with educators who are passionate about providing environments for our future generations to thrive in. I believe the best way to gain understanding and knowledge about the tools required for learning, is to get into the classroom to witness first-hand the patterns and behaviours of the students in their learning environment - they are our true customers.

Education has been a theme throughout my career providing me with wonderful opportunities, of which until recently were in the UK. I worked in leadership roles in two companies over 13 years; Capita Group plc, where I discovered my love of sales, working with senior public sector employees in Asia, providing them with best practice in public sector reform training alongside British government officials. And BPP, a global training and education company who run degree programmes and training towards qualifications for individuals and major global companies like Ernst & Young and KPMG.   

My wife and I wanted to raise our two young children back in my home town in Hawke's Bay and when the position of New Zealand Sales Director for Furnware became available, I knew the time and position was right. In past roles, it was all about passing on knowledge, but here you’ve got something physical, a product you can see. I love being involved with a company that makes a difference by having a positive impact in the educational space and in kids' lives.

Managing the South Australian region for Furnware is a challenge I relish. It’s rewarding meeting principals, business managers and educators and then working collaboratively with them to create innovative and functional classrooms.

Building meaningful and lasting relationships with our schools is of the utmost importance to me. I’m able to offer a professional consultation and share Furnware’s vision for inspiring children supported by the spaces in which they learn.

My job is made even more easy by having a great team at all levels and a great product that improves students’ health and learning. I truly believe our genuine approach to creating great learning spaces for children is the reason behind our success.

As a third-generation cabinet/furniture designer you could say furniture is in my blood. For over 20 years I have worked closely with customers and architects creating innovative furniture solutions of which I have designed, manufactured and installed.

I knew I wanted to work in the education space, we’ve come so far in classroom design over the past few years and there’s so much potential to create healthier, better learning spaces that are going to produce and enable better learning outcomes for students.

I’m very customer centric, interaction is integral to everything I do. Being able to facilitate change, capturing each unique schools’ vision and bringing it to life by creating innovative and inspiring spaces is the most enjoyable aspect of my job. I really look forward to working with you and making a real difference in your classrooms.

I find the world to be an exciting place. Having had the great fortune to travel most of it and the privilege of working in nine different countries has contributed to my love of different cultures. Being exposed to so much diversity has provided me with the skills to connect easily with people, which is why I am so attracted to working in a customer facing industry. For five years I worked across the Middle East and South Africa, cultivating relationships with universities and spearheading the transition from print to digital modes of teaching and learning, before moving my family to Australia in 2014.

Working for a global company like Furnware allows me to continue collaborating with academics and educators, something I am extremely passionate about. I am very solutions focussed, a great listener and communicator and I will deliver appropriate classroom design solutions to meet the needs of teachers and students. This is the environment I want to be working in; the kind that allows me to add value, where no two days are ever the same and I can work alongside people who share the same goals and values.  

  

I find the world to be an exciting place. Having had the great fortune to travel most of it and the privilege of working in nine different countries has contributed to my love of different cultures. Being exposed to so much diversity has provided me with the skills to connect easily with people, which is why I am so attracted to working in a customer facing industry. For five years I worked across the Middle East and South Africa, cultivating relationships with universities and spearheading the transition from print to digital modes of teaching and learning, before moving my family to Australia in 2014.

Working for a global company like Furnware allows me to continue collaborating with academics and educators, something I am extremely passionate about. I am very solutions focussed, a great listener and communicator and I will deliver appropriate classroom design solutions to meet the needs of teachers and students. This is the environment I want to be working in; the kind that allows me to add value, where no two days are ever the same and I can work alongside people who share the same goals and values.  

  

What I love most about working at Furnware is how committed we are to building really strong relationships with our customers. We’re in the classroom engaging with educators constantly and it’s these conversations that give us a real insight into their world. We get to know and understand them better and we are able to ensure they enjoy an exceptional customer experience when they deal with Furnware.

Only by networking and being involved can we facilitate a two-way exchange of information between Furnware and schools. Providing the right products and services and communicating them in the right way is a constant challenge for us in this digital age. With two school age children, nothing is more important to me than their well being – including their relationship to learning. This is why I am passionate about working for a team that is committed to inspiring young minds.

My engineering background and interest in materials and science has provided me with the opportunity to travel the world working in a range of industries from automotive to food packaging.  My biggest highlight during this period was securing investment for a large manufacturing plant in Thailand. We managed resources coming from all over the world to commission equipment and had the place up and running within six months of laying the foundations.

 

I see my role as managing processes, people and equipment to optimise and create manufacturing efficiencies to meet the growth aspirations of the business -  all the while making sure the people are equipped to do what they do, and do it well.

 

But as well as the drive to create a seamless customer experience, I am also all about creating a bullet proof product that is absolutely perfect, as well as ensuring it is quality standards are maintained. I’m very excited about my role – my love of woodworking and crafting fine furniture has seen me build all my children’s bedroom furniture. It’s a very exciting time to be part of the Furnware team.

My grandfather worked for Furnware years ago when they were in the business of coffins not classrooms, so I already had a connection with the company before starting my role in Finance in early 2015.

Our talented team of finance and analytics whizzes are constantly developing processes and implementing efficiencies that utilise technology to scale the business. We work closely with all departments sharing analytics and data - numbers can paint a very good picture of what the business can expect while pointing everyone in the right direction.

It’s great to work for a company that wants the best for kids by creating better quality learning environments.

It’s my job to ensure Furnware’s learning space is second to none and so I am passionate about gathering and sharing information.  From engaging with global experts on a wide variety of subjects around educational and pedagogical developments to managing a multitude of projects at any one time, my job is incredibly diverse and no two days are ever the same. I am currently working closely with New Zealand government entities, Trade and Enterprise and Callaghan Innovation, to boost Furnware’s export growth and its research and development capability.

My background is as varied as my current role: from legal proof reader to IT consultant before moving into a purchasing manager role, I have always had a love of learning and knowledge and am so fortunate to work with Furnware where I get to be inspired every day.

Northland, Rodney, East, South & Central Auckland

As a mother, I recognise the importance of ergonomic furniture and its role in the innovative learning environment and I love that Furnware is having such a positive impact on students’ learning across the globe. Having previously worked in the education publishing field, I have a strong connection with educators and I really enjoy assisting so many schools in creating their unique learning spaces.

Being part of a company who are passionate, progressive and creative thinkers makes me proud. We’re all here to make a difference to students and we are not afraid to take on challenges to create unique learning environments that meet the needs of teachers and students.

 

West Auckland & North Shore

My background in both primary school teaching and working with textiles and interior design allows me to not only understand current educational pedagogies and the importance of a well-designed physical learning space, but also the skills required to add creative flair to any classroom environment.

I relish the diversity and creativity I get to experience every day working for Furnware and the wide range of personalities and professions I have the pleasure of collaborating with. The satisfaction I get working for a company that encourages us to take time to listen, to bring solutions, to talk comfort and continue to assist teachers to fine tune their spaces, is immeasurable.

South Auckland 

Meeting people and building positive relationships is something I am passionate about, which is probably why I worked in hospitality for over 14 years managing various businesses in the Bay of Plenty. 

When my husband and I made the move south to Dunedin with our three boys, my career took a different path and I ventured into sales. I feel completely at ease working in sales and I love the customer-facing aspect of the role. So, when the opportunity to sell Furnware’s award-winning product arose, I jumped at the chance. Furnware’s values are closely aligned with my own and I am dedicated to working with customers to help them optimize learning outcomes. 

A recent opportunity has seen our family move closer to home in the Bay of Plenty and as I say 'goodbye' to my amazing customers down south, I am really looking forward to making new relationships and working with schools to bring their ideas for learning to life in South Auckland. 

Waikato & Bay of Plenty

When it comes to children and classrooms, it’s definitely not one-size-fits-all. It’s vital that students are sized and fitted correctly and that we understand each school’s unique needs. My background is in sports science and with a young family at home I’m well experienced and passionate about the ergonomics required in furnishing learning spaces.

I love developing relationships and working as a partner with schools in my region. It’s extremely satisfying to see the amazing spaces we create and being able to share with schools what works most effectively. I also relish the opportunity to challenge our thinking with outside-of-the-box ideas.

I believe building strong customer relationships through collaboration and support goes hand-in-hand when creating new and inspiring classroom environments; which is why I enjoy meeting and working with so many new people. I am extremely proud to be part of a team of passionate account managers who aren’t considered sales people, but consultants who provide innovative ideas and solutions to help teachers and principals create a special place for their students to learn and have fun at the same time.

There are so many enjoyable aspects to my job, especially watching students achieving the best they can while enjoying their time in the classroom. More recently I have been able to tell the Furnware story internationally, collaborating with schools in Hong Kong to develop their 21^st Century learning spaces. 

I believe building strong customer relationships through collaboration and support goes hand-in-hand when creating new and inspiring classroom environments; which is why I enjoy meeting and working with so many new people. I am extremely proud to be part of a team of passionate account managers who aren’t considered sales people, but consultants who provide innovative ideas and solutions to help teachers and principals create a special place for their students to learn and have fun at the same time.

There are so many enjoyable aspects to my job, especially watching students achieving the best they can while enjoying their time in the classroom. More recently I have been able to tell the Furnware story internationally, collaborating with schools in Hong Kong to develop their 21^st Century learning spaces. 

Wellington, Wanganui & Taranaki

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past 20 years, it’s that a comfortable student is a focused student. Which is why I’m passionate about creating spaces to learn and grow that are filled with Furnware products. Enhancing learning outcomes for students is front of mind when I engage with schools and I pride myself on providing all the facts and information to allow informed decisions with the best outcomes for everyone.

I love coming up with solutions and opportunities to create a unique learning environment and the most satisfying thing about my job is returning to a newly outfitted classroom and seeing the happy faces of students interacting with their new space. It’s absolutely fantastic to know that what we offer makes a difference to learning.

In the seven years before joining Furnware, I managed my own consultancy and project management company, supplying furniture, fixtures and equipment to the education sector. My largest project involved a 12.5-million-pound budget and responsibility for the purchase and placement of 60,000 individual furniture items for the newly built City of Glasgow College. A four-year commitment which I enjoyed immensely and delivered successfully.

I am passionate about working with schools, sharing my vision for furniture as a considered investment in the well-being of the student, while creating inspiring learning environments that exceed expectation. Having customers for life is something Furnware as an organisation take seriously, and I am committed to providing a world-class customer service, from the initial consultation to delivery and beyond. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work for a company whose values align with mine, where I can really make a positive difference in the classroom.

I have always loved working with materials and manufacturing, to see a product being designed and actually created is extremely satisfying. It’s this attraction to ‘making things’ that led me to work in kitchens, providing sink and tapware solutions, developing whirlpool bath offers at Jacuzzi then most recently engineered work surfaces, servicing large DIY chains and kitchen specialists. Over the years I developed my strengths around managing relationships and overseeing a project through the entire process. I really enjoyed the attention to detail and providing outstanding customer service.

After 12 years in the UK and with two daughters rapidly heading towards their teens, my wife and I decided we wanted to be closer to family, so returned to New Zealand. When the opportunity to work at Furnware presented itself, I was excited to be a part of such a progressive and exciting company and the fact the furniture is made by staff on the main campus in New Zealand was a huge draw card. I am looking forward to applying all my past knowledge around building strong customer relationships, to better understand the unique needs of my schools and work closely with them to design successful learning space solutions.

As a child, my classroom environment and furniture was uninspiring and lacked energy. It’s so refreshing to now be working with schools and passionate educators throughout NSW to create inspiring learning spaces that engage students.

Every school, classroom, teacher and student is different. So here at Furnware, before we start any project, or jump to a solution, we ask a lot questions and do a lot of listening. I believe that only then, can I truly meet the individual needs of each customer.

As a mother of two young children, I’m really invested in their education. I believe every child should be given the opportunity to succeed and I am looking forward to working with schools to help them achieve their teaching and learning goals.

I began my colourful career path as a teacher, my experience as only one of two teachers in a remote NSW school, was almost as interesting as teaching 14 kids remotely via a 2-way radio. This was before the days of the internet and Skype - quite a challenge. Saying ‘over’ at the end of every sentence when calling my mother on the phone, was a habit that was hard to break.

As much as I loved teaching, travel and adventure was calling and where best to start than working for an actual airline. For the next 12 years, I performed a multitude of roles for Ansett - from tarmac planning, rostering, even bringing in the Concord for British Airways.

Things got a bit more ‘serious’ when I moved to the corporate side. At one time, American Express had the biggest corporate travel company and it was here that I developed my passion for building meaningful and lasting relationships with clients. I managed a team responsible for looking after the travel needs of huge multinational companies including Microsoft, Johnson and Johnson, GM motors and Ford.

Over the next few years I would work for Citibank looking after all Australian Government travel business, set up a sales team to focus on new corporate business for Qantas and work for a variety of businesses implementing sale strategy’s and ongoing account management.

The opportunity to work at Furnware came at a time when I was ready for a new challenge and I can’t wait to get back in the classroom to work with teachers and form new relationships with schools all around NSW.

Being part of an organisation that’s committed to making a difference to the way our children learn and grow, really resonates with me. I love getting out into the classrooms, meeting principals, teaching staff and most importantly, our children.

When I meet my clients, I really focus on forming partnerships through collaboration and listening closely to what’s important to them. It then allows me to offer flexible and tailored learning solutions that best meet their schools’ needs. I consider myself extremely fortunate that I have the opportunity to witness firsthand, the enthusiasm and engagement children display in these newly created spaces. It’s exciting and satisfying and I get to experience it on a daily basis.

Like anyone, I love a great story. When I discovered Furnware’s colourful 60-year history and evolution into the business it is today, it really resonated with me. We might be in the business of selling furniture but it’s much more than that. Working hand-in-hand with schools to implement positive change in the classroom, while supporting their unique vision for teaching and learning, is what most appealed to me. 

With a degree studying 3D design and a previous career with Flight Centre as part of their internal education division, I have a genuine interest and passion in the premium products we manufacture and the educators we work with. I am also a father, and have seen first-hand the positive difference a school can make to a child’s life. For me, providing a service creating environments for children to develop and grow in their learning is extremely exciting and rewarding.

I’ve been lucky to have grown up within the Furnware family, so I’ve seen first-hand the amazing innovations we’ve explored and launched over the years – like the game-changing Bodyfurn chair. Having worked in most departments in the business, I have a hands-on understanding of the manufacturing process, customer connection and delivery. I really love that everyone at Furnware works together, always striving to achieve more, so students have the very best learning experiences.

I put all my energy into creating a positive experience with customers, education is about as important as it gets and I’m proud to work with schools to enhance learning wherever possible. The difference we are making in creating amazing classrooms the world over is something to be immensely proud of.