Our team

E: carl.church@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Carl (Kāi Tahu) is the Kaiwhakahaere Matua and a co-owner of Niche. Carl is a natural connector and is committed to the building of diverse and inclusive organisations. He has a passion for looking at innovative ways of identifying and attracting talent, and recognises the benefits of skills developed locally, regionally, and internationally.

Carl has had a wide-ranging career covering financial and professional services, energy, recruitment, consulting, and technology. He has built out services practices for Deloitte in the UK and Asia Pacific, and has been focused on the governance, strategy and day-to-day operations of specialist and disruptive Australasian businesses. His time as a COO and CFO has given Carl considerable experience in running successful recruitment, finance, legal, IT and operational delivery teams. Carl is proud to serve as an elected member of his Rūnaka executive.

Carl is a Chartered Accountant and has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand. Of Kāi Tahu descent, his tīpuna whakapapa to Ōraka Aparima, and he has lived and worked in London, Hong Kong, and New Zealand.

E: jane.temel@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Jane (Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou and Pākehā) has been a co-owner of Niche since 2010 and she has led the diversification of the business from legal into other specialist fields. This included the development of our Public Sector and People Culture and Capability portfolios, as well as managing executive appointments, especially for some of Aotearoa’s leading charities and NGOs.

Jane has been involved in recruitment in the UK and New Zealand since 1996, with roles including NZ Manager for the IT and Executive division of a global recruitment firm and General Manager for a large NZ-owned business. She has led large-scale recruitment campaigns for public sector clients, including reorganisations at the senior management level.

Jane completed a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours at Victoria University of Wellington and she maintains a strong interest in the arts. She has been a parent Trustee on primary and secondary school boards and currently serves on the Board of Management at the Rock church and on the RCSA All-of-Government Working Group.

E: cindy.barthel@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Cindy has been working as a specialist public sector recruiter since 2016. A problem solver and a collaborator, Cindy is passionate about finding the best “fit” talent for her clients and working proactively with candidates in their career journeys.

Cindy has established an amazing pool of talent and is well-networked across the public sector. She has recruited a wide range of contract and permanent positions including policy, advisory, communication, strategy, planning, performance, governance, research, evaluation, business programme/project and business analysis. She takes pride in providing a smooth, fuss-free recruitment experience to both clients and candidates.

Graduated Master of Commerce with Distinction, Cindy is a member of RCSA recruitment network. She speaks English, Mandarin, French and is in the process of learning Te Reo Māori along with the whole Niche whānau. A strong believer of diversity and inclusion, she also values the balance between family and career.

E: chris.stewart@nicherecruitment...

Chris is an experienced senior leader with a varied and extensive career working in clinical, sales, human resources, quality, risk and legislative compliance roles within the public and private health agencies.

Chris is passionate about people and inclusivity and is a strong networker, she looks forward to working with candidates, enabling them to find roles and organisations in which they can thrive.

Chris has a Diploma in Nursing, Bachelor of Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business.

E: lee.scott@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Lee has more than 17 years’ specialist legal recruitment experience from New Zealand, France and London. She has worked in both agency and in-house recruitment roles and recruited for private practice and industry at all levels from newly qualified to senior associate/partner and General Counsel level. Lee’s focus on striving to do the best she can, her care for people, friendly disposition and overall enjoyment of guiding people to the right role, underpins who she is, how she works and how people can expect to be treated when they work with Lee. She is dedicated and committed to do the best job possible.

Lee holds a conjoint LLB/BA degree from The University of Auckland and started her career as a Solicitor, working in the Employment team at Dentons Kensington Swan in Auckland before moving to Europe in 2004 where she commenced her career in legal recruitment.

E: simone.davey@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Simone has over 15 years Human Resources experience, covering employee relations, reward and recognition, recruitment, selection and induction, change and performance management, training delivery, organisational development, vocational and career services. Her career spans both the private and public sectors in NZ and overseas in a range of roles from consulting to managing teams.

She has a Bachelor of Business Studies majoring in Human Resources and a Diploma in Career Services.

Simone prides herself on her collaborative approach to bringing together a successful unity of candidates and clients. She welcomes the opportunity to assist you in your career journey or to identify talent across the People, Culture and Capability portfolios.

E: mel.north@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Mel hails from Te Arawa and is passionate about people, employment, business and making a positive difference. She brings her passion to life through her genuine care and support of every person she meets, assisting them to progress along their journey and listens to “get what you need”.

With over 20 years’ experience in many industries, Mel is well-equipped to understand the needs, pressures, and operations of workplace environments across different departments, sizes, and types of organisations. From frontline to construction site, contact centre to boardroom, crown entities, government agencies, private sector, NGO’s, and Iwi organisations, she “gets it”. She puts her attention and focus on weaving together people and mahi (work), so they can flourish and achieve amazing outcomes.

E: lourdes.turconi@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Lourdes is a strategic-minded and people-centred consultant with broad international exposure (Latin America, Europe, Middle East & Asia-Pacific) and 15+ years of experience in research, policy, planning, and implementation within the education and sport sectors.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of St Andrews (Argentina), a postgraduate in Project Cycle Management from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Spain), a MSc in Sport Management from Loughborough University (England), and has recently completed a PhD at the University of Otago (New Zealand).

A cosmopolitan “big picture” thinker with exceptional attention to detail, Lourdes believes that positive change occurs through building relationships based on reciprocity, empathy, and collective thinking; she is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion and values-based practice.

E: bel.singh@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Bel completed her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Auckland. She worked in the Banking sector for 5 years, with a prominent focus in Line 2 Compliance. Bel’s previous role included consultancy duties such as providing guidance and advice on relative regulation, company policy and ad hoc queries. This first-hand experience enables Bel to understand client needs more thoroughly and relate to candidates better. Joining the Niche whānau has allowed for an amazing opportunity to bridge Bel’s interest of law with her love for helping others.

Bel is motivated to deliver great recruitment services for her clients and candidates and focuses on legal and compliance roles.

E: tessa.wilkie@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Tessa (Te Arawa) has a Bachelor’s degree majoring in Film and Media Studies from Victoria University of Wellington. Prior to joining Niche, Tessa honed her customer service and administration skills within the technology sector where she supported a large sales team.

A self-proclaimed people person and media enthusiast, Tessa applies these passions as a consultant specializing in media, marketing and communications roles. Tessa prides herself on her ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of individuals and she is enjoying the opportunity to further her Te Ao Māori journey within the Niche whānau.

E: cassie.a'uvaa@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Cassie is a graduate from Auckland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Human Resource Management, Employment Relations & Management. While interning with one of Aotearoa’s largest dairy companies, she enjoyed gaining L&D experience within a large Human Resources group.

Cassie is a firm believer of leaving people better than you found them and this assists her throughout the recruitment process. Cassie strives to make a real difference and is passionate about the benefits of a more diverse workforce.

E: pearl.chukwujama@nicherecruitment.co.nz

After completing her law degree, LLB Law (Honours) in the United Kingdom, Pearl moved to New Zealand where she has worked in both private and public sectors in Wellington and Auckland.

While in her previous role at the Ministry of Justice, Pearl developed a strong customer focus and cultivated effective relationships with stakeholders.

Pearl is passionate about people and has a strong commitment to achieving results for her clients and candidates.

E: katherine.kooistra@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Katherine leads our Talent Sourcing team and has experience across all of our portfolios. She is particularly interested in process improvement and is always looking for ways to enhance our search methodology.

Prior to joining Niche, Katherine worked in tourism and logistics roles in New Zealand and Europe and has recruitment experience in the voluntary sector. She graduated from Victoria University with a BA in International Relations and German and a Graduate Certificate in Commerce specialising in Marketing.

E: christy.facer@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Christy has completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Human Resource Management, Psychology and Marketing at the University of Otago. She moved up to Wellington after graduating from university to join the Niche whanau and begin her career in recruitment.

Christy has previously worked in a small IT company in Central Otago as well as various hospitality roles. She is passionate about meeting and connecting with people and is motivated to connect candidates with the right jobs.

E: ngaire.to'omaga@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Tēnā rā tatou,

Ko Ngaire To’omaga tōku ingoa

Ko Ngāti Pikiao me Ngāti Whakaue tōku hapu

Ko Tarawera tōku Maunga me te awa

Ko Rotorua-nui-ā-Kahumatamomoe te roto

Ko Ōwhata tōku marae

Ko Te Arawa tōku iwi me te waka

Kiaora!

Ngaire is currently completing a Bachelor of Social Sciences at the Unviersity of Waikato, double majoring in Māori and Indigenous studies and Pacific and Indigenous studies, with a minor in Te Reo Māori.

Having Samoan and Māori heritage has contributed to Ngaire’s passion for creating opportunities for her community, and is reflected in her choice of studies, personal values, and employment interests. This passion has led Ngaire to an intern position at Niche Recruitment, where she can help create opportunities that encourage success within her community.

E: rawhiti.erstichcoles@nicherecr...

Rāwhiti (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu) is working part-time within the Niche talent sourcing team, while completing his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) conjoint degree at the University of Auckland.

Rawhiti has a passion for people, committing most of his professional life to social equity-focused projects and youth voice advocacy.

Representing Te Tai Tokerau, he has served as a Youth Member of Parliament and as a Youth Councillor on the Far North District Council. Rawhiti was also a member of the Far North’s national future leaders programme and has taught Mātauranga Māori as part of an international exchange to Italy.

E: matiaha.hill@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Matiaha completed a Diploma in Matauranga Māori at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Ara Whanui, and was the first grandchild to attend total immersion kura for their entire schooling.

Matiaha grew up surrounded by Rēo Māori and tikanga, visiting marae from a young age with his grandfather.

Passionate about Māori success, Matiaha enjoys connecting exceptional Māori talent with specialist roles.

E: nicky.giles@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Nicky has a substantial background in recruitment, working in the high volume temporary and permanent business support space in Brisbane and Wellington.

While raising a family, Nicky has worked in part time administration roles, including supporting an executive recruitment team with verbal reference checking, and providing office support in a large Wellington school.

Nicky’s recruitment experience and customer service focus make her the ideal person to keep our Wellington office running smoothly.

E: mckayla.taramaibrowne@nicherecruitment.co.nz

Mckayla (Ngāti Porou, Te Atiawa, Ngāruahine and Tūhoe) comes from a diverse professional background in hospitality, retail, and childcare. She is in the midst of a Psychology and Te Reo Māori degree at Victoria University, Wellington.

Mckayla’s choice of degree subjects reflects her willingness to help others and learn of effective ways to connect with people of all walks of life. As Kaiāwhina Whakarite (Office Administrator) Mckayla is pleased to be the first point of contact for visitors to Niche to ensure that their time here with us is warm and welcoming.