John is a successful global entrepreneur and intrapreneur across a broad range of industry and business including computer hardware and software, financial services, property, construction, hospitality and security.
"The common ground amongst all top businesses is great people. Maybe its sounds odd, but I'm passionate about people."
Mike Carden Co-founder, Head of Product & Director
Mike originally trained in Artificial Intelligence but ended up spending much of his career in consumer marketing for global corporations. Mike has worked in over 20 countries. His big claims to fame include establishing a number one market share position for HP as they launched their Pavilion home PC in Asia/Pacific and crashing a plane into the sea.
Mark has 15 years of experience in the software development field, including 5 years with Commsoft Group, a public company he founded in1996.
"I just love challenge. Whether its pushing the boundaries of web development with the team in the lab, or working through a tough route on a rock climbing trip, I love that feeling whenyou realise you're going to make it."
Pete Weaver Chief Operating Officer
Pete brings over 20 years experience in the management of a range of predominantly IT organisations with business in New Zealand and overseas. He has an unabashed passion for anything he is involved in and believes that if it is not fun or enjoyable then it is not worth doing.
"My 3 active kids keep me on my toes and I happily give my time to coach if needed, ever the enthusiastic amateur! I have done the Coast to Coast and am into multisport. I officiate at Triathlons both in NZ and overseas and help run the local events for kids aged 8-13, where we get over 5000 entries!"
Jonny Timmermans Lead Developer
Jonny joined Sonar6 as a 'Jack of all trades'. Trained in motion graphics, he has worked as a designer, trainer, developer and software architect. Some of his previous clients include The University of Auckland, Saatchi & Saatchi, Fisher & Paykel, the NZRU, Fuji, Schneider Electric, The Smithsonian Institute, NASA, US Healthcare Industry (AAHP), TVNZ and Compaq.
"I don't have a TV or landline and I live out in the country caring for an assortment of animals."
Xavier Martin Senior Developer
Xavier was born in France, raised in New Caledonia and moved to New Zealand 3 years ago. He has a degree in computer science and is a self-professed Flash junky, working on projects for a variety of clients including the NZRU, Vector, the Auckland Museum, the Ministry of Health and the Cartoon Network.
"In my spare time, I am an avid guitarist and enjoy skateboarding and the great outdoors. Check out my site:http://dev.webbymx.net/
Jeremy Allen Senior Developer
Jeremy has battled with Flash since futuresplash and still says "Macromedia". He enjoys creating human interfaces, especially for portable devices. He has a design degree from Wanganui School of Design and since then has worked primarily as a developer working on Internet delivered applications. He has also worked teaching multimedia at a tertiary level. In his spare time he recompiles open source software to work on an abacus.
"That's the last wipe, I'm hearthing."
Catherine Bircher Quality Manager
Catherine studied marine biology at university in the UK, went to Japan to teach English, then bounced back to the UK to learn Welsh and work in quality control for medical devices. She then veered off into software testing, before immigrating to New Zealand and gaining citizenship there in 2008. Her testing background is diverse, ranging from tiny web start-ups to big telcos, but usability was always somewhere in the mix, ever since she stumbled across a Jakob Nielsen article at the beginning of the "intertubes" era.
"I like kayaking, my Dexters, and playing RPG with my mates. I haven't yet been able to find a way of combining all three."
Karen Rayner Content Manager
Karen joined Sonar6 after 4 years as marketing executive at one of NZ’s largest service companies, and her background includes research, tutoring and graphic design.
"I hold an honours degree in Marketing and Information Systems, lived in Hungary for a year, and have been known to browse dictionaries when I run out of reading material."
Craig Martin Network Administrator
Craig has spent most of his working life in web-solutions; building Web Applications in PHP and MySQl and doing design work. Since then he has moved into network administration for Sonar6, with particular emphasis on deploying all the systems needed to make the Sonar6 lab hum: version control, the development tools, test environments, and bug tracking.
"I have a fascination for information technology and enjoy the problem solving aspects presented in the role. I enjoy the calm and quiet just as much as chaos at other times."
Chris de Boer Chairman
Chris has extensive experience in investment banking, regulation, private equity, venture capital and consulting in London, Hong Kong and Australasia. He was previously an adviser to Cable and Wireless plc, director of Optus Communications, Chairman of the Hong Kong Takeovers Panel, Investment Committee Member of GEMS Oriental & General Fund and consultant to Macquarie Bank Limited.
Chris is currently a director of Macquarie Media Group and Mobilis Networks Limited and consultant to New Zealand Venture Investment Fund Limited.
Sam Morgan Director
Sam Morgan started his career at Deloitte Consulting before founding NZ’s most visited website, online auction website TradeMe, which sold in 2006 for $700 million. He has also built online dating businesses in New Zealand, Australia and Canada, and runs New Zealand’s largest friend reunification site, Old Friends.
Sam is active as an international speaker on electronic business topics and is recognised as a thought leader in web based consumer applications. His ventures focus on three things – usability, empowering consumers and connecting people.
J Bruce Henry Director
Bruce has worked in the Human Resources industry since 1989, managing assignments in both the private and public sectors. He has previously held sales, marketing and management roles in the travel, oil and automotive industries.
Bruce currently manages businesses including Wheeler Campbell, InterSearch NZ, Health Recruitment International, and the nursing agency Care Direct.
Jason Jones Director Business Development
Jason has spent the last 10 years in the HR and software as a service space. He holds a degree in Organisational Psychology and has provided consulting services in the areas of human resources, business development, marketing and sales. Jason is passionate about helping organisations maximise their talent, leading to successful companies, happy employees and great working environments.
"I love participating in my two daughters' lives: coaching soccer, attending performances, and cheering at softball games! Living in the San Francisco Bay area, I am lucky to have sand and snow at my doorstep and outdoor activities are a great part of my life."
Peter Romeyn Sales Executive
Peter has spent most of his career working in Marketing, Sales and Sales Management roles for a global technology company, and enjoyed working in an environment where performance and individual achievements were recognised. Peter is passionate about bringing innovative products of the greatest possible value to the market and working closely with customers to hold their respect and loyalty.
"Invite me for a game of golf, a good lunch or dinner, or a weekend skiing and I will most likely accept!"
Ish Jadallah Sales Executive
Ish has lived in Kuwait, Egypt, Dunedin and Christchurch, and has now been in Auckland for 7 years. He holds a Commerce degree from the University of Auckland, and has previously worked in IT services and software sales for Kinetics group and XSOL.
"I am passionate about creative and enjoyable ways to improve in life and business."
Suzie Valentine Managing Consultant
Suzie came to Sonar6 with 20 years experience in the IT industry, where she held a variety of support and managerial roles. Her role as Implementation Manager involves translating customer requirements into the Sonar6 tool, and she is also Sonar6's telecommuter - working from a rural base 1 1/2 hours north of Wellington, NZ.
"When I'm not occupied with work, husband Dave and I are busy with 2 children, 5 cows and a dog."
Elaine Gallagher-Dekker Senior Consultant
Elaine has spent the last ten years working with organizations, both in New Zealand and in the UK, to develop their leaders, build on-brand internal processes, and to facilitate change. She has a degree in marketing, overlapped with study in group dynamics and individual development.
"I'm a natural observer and imaginator. This has led to an on-going love affair with my diary. I've also written two books and adore the satisfaction of birthing an idea and seeing the result."
Dominik Assig Customer Experience Manager
Originally hailing from Dortmund, Germany, Dominik has studied, worked and lived in Munich, London and Wellington and has a background in IT project management, Controlling and Finance. He is an enthusiast of all things music with a collection of 400+ vinyl records and has played the piano for 11 years. Before joining Sonar6, he worked with Hella marine.
"I am impressed by how the internet has outgrown everybody's expectations - ordering a pizza via the Internet was shown as a very geeky thing to do in the 1995 movie 'The Net' - nowadays millions of people shop online every day. Amazing!"
Ayn Benitez Finance Manager
Ayn has all of the fancy qualifications that you'd hope for in a finance manager, and a history in financial services. Born in the Philippines, he has lived in Brunei and New Zealand for more than a decade, and is passionate about history, theology and sports.
"Enjoy life, be grateful for your blessings. Learn to give back and never forget where you came from. Most of all, love and family comes first!"
