“What we know matters, but who we are matters more.”
- BRENE BROWN
We’re mums and dads, daughters and sons, looking to help the next wave of explorers! We’re Brave.
Our Why
To inspire people to become better, more resilient thought leaders, so they can realise their true potential. We believe that people's passions drive creativity, which in turn fuels problem-solving, leading to meaningful change in our communities and beyond. Through our work, we aim to inspire and empower individuals to embrace their passions, unlock explorer attributes, and develop the real-life skills required to take their ideas and business to the world.
Our Mission
Inspire and empower people to embrace their passions, unlock their creative potential, and develop problem-solving skills, transforming a generations of humans.
Our Vision
We see a world where everyone has the opportunity to be an explorer, a problem solver, an everyday superhero, doing what they love.
Our People
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Founder
dave@tbv.org.nz
+64 21 216 6398
LinkedInDave’s passion lies in empowering others to be the best they can be. He’s a critical thinker, loves problem-solving, and has a clever knack when it comes to building a team.
A native of California, he was instrumental in creating an online banking system for a financial institution in Colorado in the mid-1990s. For the past twelve years, Dave has been immersed in the startup world, helping founders succeed. He’s created several entrepreneurial programmes that have helped raise significant amounts of investment, while sitting at the helm of one of New Zealand’s powerhouse accelerators as CEO.
Dave continues to impact people with the inception of The Brave Venture, on a mission to change a generation of learners and create better humans and business. If you want to join the wave, get in touch.
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Director of Brand & Marketing
bronwyn@tbv.org.nz
+64 21 394 648With over 25 years of running her own design agency, Bronwyn’s passion is providing marketing solutions for her clients to grow brands, and keep their businesses flourishing.
Bronwyn has a bend for creative problem solving, assisting small to large business with understanding their overall value propositions. Her experience spans across all facets of design, from strategy and branding, digital and print media, website design, signage and event promotion.
Bronwyn’s also no stranger to the entrepreneurial world, and with creative problem solving in her blood, she is a great partner in everything we do at TBV.
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Lead Business Advisor
With a global perspective forged through experiences in Canada, Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand since 2016, Jen brings a diverse background, starting with a Bachelor of Science in Honours Chemistry, followed by an MBA in Project Management and Leadership and a Doctor of Business Administration. She now guides students in management and project management, while also bridging theory and practice through workshops and curriculum development. Passionate about fostering innovation and synergies, Jen’s aim is to empower others to embrace strategic thinking in both professional and personal realms.
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Chair
Mike has been alongside the journey of TBV since day one. He has a strong focus on business development and has a wide range of clients through his accountancy firm, Morrison Creed.
Outside Morrison Creed, Mike works with other business interests, farms a 40 acre block with his wife on the outskirts of Feilding and when time allows, spends time on Lake Taupo.
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Buildit Programme Manager
Charles works in the real estate industry for Shelley Naylor Realty. He’s always on the move, negotiating deals and spreading positivity with his infectious smile. With a business degree under his belt, Charles brings a unique perspective to TBV. He is dedicated, motivated, and passionate about helping people move forward in the best possible way. Whether you’re buying, selling, or investing in property, or want to just get ahead, Charles has the skills and expertise to guide you through every step of the process.
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Lead Education Advisor
As Ripyl's Lead Education Advisor, Carlyn infuses her role with the dynamism and innovative spirit she's known for as a high school commerce teacher. Her active involvement since Ripyl's inception has been pivotal in creating engaging and effective educational content. Carlyn’s unique approach to teaching, marked by creativity and a flair for doing things differently, has significantly shaped the educational strategies and resources of Ripyl, making her a key asset in our mission to transform learning experiences.
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Programme Director
sabrina@tbv.org.nz
LinkedInHaving worked at the intersection of innovation, technology and education for the last fifteen years, seeing connections and synergies where others do not and adding unlikely perspectives is Sabrina’s core strength.
Sabrina’s passion for education, entrepreneurship and sustainability has led her to start her own future-focussed primary school called Ako Space. An experienced CO.STARTERS facilitator and trainer, Sabrina is now focusing on building entrepreneurial skills and capability with the team at The Brave Venture. She is also a MIT LEAP Fellow working with researchers and social entrepreneurs around the world to support education organisations in strengthening the evidence base of their learning solutions.
Previously, Sabrina spent 8 years working at Auckland University of Technology on several initiatives ranging from the future of education to setting up a strong support structure encouraging students to start their own businesses, to co-creating a range of entrepreneurial programmes. More recently, Sabrina has finished a Master’s degree looking at how enterprise is being embraced within the New Zealand schooling system.
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Strategic Advisor and PR Maven
Kathy brings a unique blend of philanthropic passion and commercial acumen to our team. As a strategic advisor and a public relations expert, she deeply understands the dynamics of The Brave Venture. Kathy's extensive background in marketing communications, stakeholder management, and event marketing solidifies her as an experienced senior leader.
Her journey in the business world is comprehensive, encompassing the startup phase, management, and growth of businesses, particularly in New Zealand. Kathy's skills are further highlighted by her proven governance experience, making her an invaluable asset in both strategic and operational capacities.
As a testament to her dedication and expertise, Kathy is a qualified and accredited Public Relations professional. She is currently enhancing her knowledge by pursuing a Master of Business Studies (MBS) at Massey University, with a focus on measuring non-economic impact, which speaks volumes about her commitment to meaningful business practices.
Kathy's ability to connect with people is unmatched, and her network is as vast as it is varied. The added bonus? She seems to know everyone! With Kathy on board, we are more equipped than ever to forge new paths and create significant impacts.
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Associate
A true relationship builder, Ramola places paramount importance on nurturing connections and constantly seeks to elevate projects with fresh ideas, both strategically and in their execution.
At the core of her drive lies an unyielding passion for Rotary and its mission to foster positive change and serve communities worldwide. For Ramola, Rotary has become the driving force behind her commitment to humanitarian work, enabling her to translate her enthusiasm into impactful projects that make a tangible difference in people's lives. Insert The Brave Venture, and Ramola is a perfect fit.
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Legal Counsel
Phil is an experienced property and business lawyer and Partner with Evans Henderson Woodbridge. Phil gained significant property and commercial experience working for firms in Christchurch advising clients from SMEs through to Government Departments, and brings this experience to the team at TBV. Phil moved to the region several years ago to raise his young family alongside his wife Carole.
Outside of the law Phil enjoys growing his own food, brewing beer, distilling gin and spending time with his wife and three young children.
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GM - USA
tim@tbv.org.nz
LinkedInTim’s dedication and hard work is what makes Tim a superstar. Tim leads a team of real estate agents in San Jose, California while looking after our USA operations.
Tim is a connector. His always “client-first” focus makes him a perfect fit for TBV.
If you are in the market of real estate in the Bay area, Tim’s your man. Whether you are a first time buyer, a family looking for a larger home, looking to downsize, or an investor looking for the right opportunity, Tim’s an email away.
Tim’s background is mainly in the professional service sector, working at some of the largest companies in the world. From his time at PwC, IBM and GrantThornton, Tim’s professionalism and dedication is second to none.
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Associate
Muhammad Mubashir Mukhtar is a visionary data analyst and entrepreneur, proficient in Tableau and Power BI. His dedication to data-driven decision-making is deeply rooted in a commitment to community well-being and organizational productivity. As the Founder & CEO of Data n Dashboards Limited in Wellington, NZ, Mubashir has pioneered innovative data solutions for a global audience.
Mubashir stands as a beacon in the data analytics realm, advocating for a future where data not only drives decisions, but also enriches community prosperity and organisational success - a great synergy with TBV’s mission of creating better humans and better business.
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Machine Learning Engineer
Haider is a Machine Learning Engineer from Pakistan currently focused on developing deep reinforcement learning agents for the medical field as well as our Ripyl education software.
Previous to his time in New Zealand, Haider spent three years as a Machine Learning Engineer in China. Haider is currently completing his PhD from Auckland University of Technology.
Haider’s favourite book is Gödel Escher Bach: An eternal braid.
