OUR TEAM
HQ
Jethro Gilbert
Director and Chief Instructor
A head prefect at high school, he went on to work in sales and account management roles, while developing a secondary career as an officer in the NZ Army Reserve Force. Jethro led a team of youth development instructors at the Limited Service Volunteer programme which helped inspire the start-up of Future Leaders Academy. He is also the director of Triple Summit Services Ltd, delivering employment service to the NZ govt. Having seen a number of poor examples of leadership in the wider community, he aims to be a champion of change for youth and corporate leaders.
Davina Gilbert
Co-founder and Advisor
Being part of the journey since the beginning, Davina has influenced the way we think about positive mindsets and the power of self-confidence. An expert in her field, Davina is also the Director of Marrzipan Drama, and ensures that Future Leaders Academy maintains its action oriented approach to the work we do and brings great entrepreneurial insight for our many ideas.
Joel Taylor
Social Media Content Manager
Joel is a year 13 Manukura (Head Student) at Rototuna Senior High School in Hamilton, New Zealand.
He is passionate about marketing and content creation and attended the 2022 Pacific Student Leaders Program as a student, then went back as the Alumni Staff Assistant in 2023. Joel has a strong passion for leadership and is excited to bring his skills and passions in social media marketing to the Future Leaders team!
Facilitators and Course Staff
Our team of Facilitators play a crucial role in our programmes, as they are responsible for creating a supportive and empowering learning environment for our Future Leaders. These highly skilled individuals are passionate about helping others reach their full potential and have a wealth of experience in coaching, mentoring, and guiding people on a leadership journey.
They work closely with our participants to help them develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed and are always available to offer guidance and support when needed. Our facilitators are committed to creating a safe and inclusive space where everyone feels valued and heard, and they use a variety of techniques to engage and motivate our participants. With their expertise and dedication, our facilitators help our Future Leaders to unlock their full potential and become the best possible version of themselves.
Okirano Tilaia
Syndicate Coach
Jope Burwick
Program Leader
CORPORATE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Every member of our team has been shoulder-tapped and hand-picked for their exceptional skills, experience, and proven high performance. Plus they're epic humans!
Primarily from an elite military background, our core team offers you an unrivalled skillset that translates well in a business environment.
Jethro Gilbert
Lead Facilitator
Jethro has a background in the New Zealand Defence Force and has held a variety of leadership positions across multiple teams in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific. His corporate experience includes relationship and account management. Jethro is also CEO of Triple Summits Youth & Employment Services. Jethro's multi-faceted background, functional and strategic leadership experience has honed his skills in decision-making skills and problem-solving abilities. He has designed and facilitated workshops for all of our corporate clients, and brought together a high calibre team of tactical leadership experts as co-facilitators.
Anna Scheirlinck
Lead Facilitator
Anna has a varied background with a career that has spanned across New Zealand and Australia. Experiences in the New Zealand Defence Force, as a front line Police Officer and in Emergency Management have shaped Anna's understanding of risk management from the tactical to strategic level. As a qualified Outdoor Instructor and Ski Guide, Anna has learned how to develop and practice personal and team resilience in harsh conditions. Anna has trained senior leadership teams within the military to understand themselves and each other better, in order to enhance performance in challenging and high risk situations. Working in the sharp end of national emergency management, Anna is no stranger to making decisions in high pressure situations.
Wayne Higginson
Facilitator
Wayne will have you captivated with his story telling, and ability to draw on examples from his extensive military career that apply to the fundamentals of leadership in the business environment. Wayne has served with special forces, infantry, private security operations including protecting embassies, planned and delivered advanced training with high risk factors. He 's worked and lived in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He gives clients an experience to remember, with his down-to-earth and unique approach to leadership.
Derek Sarney
Facilitator
Derek exemplifies the meaning of a tactical leader at the highest level of performance. Having served with police for over 30 years, most of which have been in leadership roles within elite law enforcement tactical teams. In conjunction, Derek has had a long and decorated career in the NZ Army. From deploying to conflict zones around the world, being a winner of prestigious marksman competitions, and the most successful coach of an army competitive shooting team. His experience and senior roles, now see him passing lessons learned to the others. You'll hear some behind the scenes story, and how mindset can be translated to the business setting. One client stated - "I felt like I was in a Jason Bourne movie for the last hour, listening to Derek's presentation"!