OUR TEAM
Head Office
Jethro Gilbert
Managing Director
A head prefect at high school, he went on to work in corporate sales and account management roles, while developing a secondary career as an officer in the NZ Army Reserve Force. Jethro then led a team of youth development instructors at the Limited-Service Volunteer programme which helped inspire the founding of Triple Summit Services Ltd, delivering employment services to
the NZ govt, which he is now the Director of.
Through Future Leaders Academy, which Jethro also founded, he is the Chief Instructor of the Pacific Student Leaders Programme, having delivered 13 international courses across the Pacific Islands. Naturally he has been requested to deliver corporate and government leadership development workshops to TL’s and SLT’s over the past seven years, all from word of mouth.
In his spare time he takes a keen interest in humanitarian and disaster relief operations. With recent highlights being; a key leadership role as NZDF Liaison Officer in Gisborne during Cyclone Gabrielle (2023), and damage assessment operations and team leader in Vanuatu after Cyclone Lola (2024).
Email: jethro@flacademy.com
Davina Gilbert
Co-founder and CFO
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 ensures that Future Leaders Academy maintains its action oriented approach to the work we do and brings great entrepreneurial insight for our sustainability.
Natalie Armer
Programme Support
Nat brings and excellent all-round skill set in business management, administration, and coordination. With a flair for design, she keeps an eye on our brand and alignment to values. You will hear from Nat as she supports our course participants to get ready for their upcoming trip. A lot of hard work happens behind the scenes, but Nat has it covered.
Email: admin@flacademy.com
Joel Taylor
Social Media Content Manager
Joel is a first year uni student majoring in marketing.
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!
Email: joel@flacademy.com
Programme Staff
Our team play a crucial role in our programmes, as they are responsible for creating a supportive and empowering learning environment for our Future Leaders. Our team 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 experience and dedication, our facilitators help our Future Leaders to unlock their full potential and become the best possible version of themselves.
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"!