Our People
Passionate, highly-skilled and diverse: Our awesome team deliver mahi that is useful, actionable, and meaningful.
Bernadette Scanlon
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Empathetic, enthusiastic and a keen problem solver – Bernadette brings these key elements into her leadership of Nicholson Consulting, which is exactly what is needed to support and action our vision of a more equitable Aotearoa. Bernadette is extremely passionate about deriving social impact, whether this be at work, with her whānau or in a volunteering capacity.
Bernadette is an experienced leader. She has assisted profit, not for profit and government organisations alike – both within Aotearoa and Europe – to formulate and solve complex problems, and deliver the best results for our communities. She brings with her a very diverse range of consulting skills, covering topics such as tax advisory, organisation and strategy design, and public sector innovation. She is also both a Chartered Accountant and an enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
A lover of music, dance and all things arts – you may run into Bernadette either at a record store, a gig, immersive theatre or at a Shut up and Dance session. Alternatively, coming from a very large Samoan-Italian whānau, you may find her looking after her very cute nephews or nieces or playing sport at an organised family event.
Sara Van der Velde
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She keeps the fluids topped up and the wheels turning. Sara is the strategy behind Nicholson Consulting, the glue that keeps our close-knit team bonded. We have been growing rapidly since early 2019 and Sara has been the driving force behind establishing business processes as we flourish.
She is a creative realist who is solution focussed and caring in everything she does. With over 15 years’ experience working in the IT sector, she has a passion for leveraging technology to drive positive change in business and society. Sara also carries a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in Marketing, HRIR, and Commercial Law.
All Sara needs to bounce out of bed in the morning is the sun, the birds, and an intense workout to get her blood pumping – if her daughter hasn’t woken her first. She loves being a part of a big family, and is leaning into the ethos that 'each small step we take, can have global impact' - so step wisely. When she isn’t at work or with her family and friends, Sara enjoys finding pockets of time to focus on self-care through yoga, massage or just a good book.
Dr. Todd Nicholson
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Nicholson Consulting literally would not be what it is today without the bloke himself. Fast forward 15 years down the track, he’s outsourced the ‘day to day’ of the business so he can concentrate his efforts on what he enjoys the most – the analytics. Todd is one of our Service Leads by day, and co-director with his wife (Pip Nicholson) by night.
Armed with his extensive knowledge of advanced statistics, machine learning and AI, Todd strives to identify business problems that can be solved in a transparent way using data with the drive to make those solutions as simple as possible. Todd is accompanied with over 15 years of experience delivering transparent and simple solutions to complex business problems across the government, private and charitable sectors. He also holds an award-winning PhD, a Bachelor of Science with honours (Mathematics) and has taught over 100 courses in data science and analytics.
Todd’s most interesting dataset he has worked with was data from underground nuclear weapons tests. He used this data to test a real time, machine learning algorithm that he developed to pinpoint the locations of earthquakes more accurately. Outside of tinkering with data, Todd enjoys spending time with his children, playing games with Rune, baking with Lizzy, and having fun with the family. A message of warning though - you better be careful if you leave the salt and vinegar chips or Maltesers out, they might mysteriously disappear while Todd is in the office…
Conrad MacCormick
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Conrad is one of our highly skilled Analytics Leads who is passionate about exploring, analysing and solving problems using data. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography and brings a wealth of knowledge from previous work experience with Statistics NZ, Ministry of Social Development, Social Investment Agency (now the Social Wellbeing Agency) and the Electricity Authority.
Conrad is our one-stop wizard when it comes to building web applications using R Shiny. In addition to R, Conrad is proficient in SAS, SQL and Python.
He is fascinated by the magnitude of information stored in the IDI and enjoys making new discoveries by joining together datasets that have never been joined before. Navigating the nuances of large scale datasets doesn’t faze Conrad as long as he has a packet of gummy worms to keep him going. He enjoys spending time with his wonderful family outside of work and doesn’t even need an alarm – he has a toddler instead!
Mahkaila Jones
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Mahkaila joined the team here at Nicholson Consulting and brought with her the 6 mighty C’s – The Creative, Curious and Clever Content Creator from Christchurch. Ironic considering she achieved her Masters with Distinction!
Mahkaila considers herself a bit of a design generalist, having skills to apply to many areas throughout the creative realm. More specifically her strengths are in UX/UI, 2D and 3D animation and much more across the Adobe Creative landscape. She completed her Master of Design Innovation at Victoria University in 2018 which led to her being selected out of 400+ participants for the GovTechTalent graduate programme. The 2-year programme consisted of the opportunity to work across 3 different government agencies and absorb a lot of experience in areas of design related work and beyond.
It came as no surprise when Mahkaila was asked what gets her moving in the morning, she answered with “I love drawing, painting and illustrating - basically doing anything creative with my hands.” Mahkaila also loves spending the weekend with her partner strolling the streets of Wellington, with a coffee in one hand and Whittaker’s Peanut Butter Chocolate bar in the other.
Jontelle Marino
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With over 15 years’ experience in customer focused roles, ranging from Barista to Facilities Management and Billing Specialists, Jontelle found her passion in Coordination and Projects and joined the Nicholson Whānau as our Project Manager. Jontelle defines herself as someone who is very competitive and can be known as a bit of a perfectionist, so something that bothers her are people not wearing matching socks. Coordination really is her passion in not only mahi, but also in fashion!
Holding 9 years of experience in the telecommunication industry with 6 years in coordination of medium to large projects in the enterprise space, Jontelle is driven to succeed and accomplish anything she puts her mind to.
If it wasn’t an alarm clock waking Jontelle up in the morning, it would be the smell of breakfast cooking in the kitchen. In her spare time, she loves to hit the netball courts or just spend quality time with whānau and friends
Ernestynne Walsh
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NGĀTI POROU, TE WHĀNAU-Ā-APANUI
You can usually spot where Ernestynne has been by finding where one of her big handbags around the office. Over the years she has gotten better and has fewer bags but the joke about her handbag within a handbag still sticks.
Ernestynne has a Masters of Science in Statistics and Operations Research. Her interest areas are around culturally safe use of data, Māori Data Governance and better outcomes for Māori. Nicholson Consulting leaves no shortage of work in this space. Ernestynne sits on panels and boards providing advice on operational algorithms and a te ao Māori perspective. She leads our mahi on te reo Māori revitalisation, Māori businesses and whakaaro Māori data strategies.
Ernestynne puts her remaining time into her cultural aspirations. She studies te reo at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and has been recently accepted into the Masters of Māori and Indigenous Leadership programme. She is also a trustee for Te Rau Hihiri which advocates for Māori succeeding as Māori in the public sector.
Tori Van Loenhout
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Senior Data Scientist Tori brings a range of expertise to our continuously growing team. Tori has done a great deal of awesome work that aligns closely with our vision. Previously, she worked as a Senior Analyst at the Ministry of Health on the BreastScreen Aotearoa funding model to promote more equitable screening throughout New Zealand, along with other work including generating research data for the cervical cancer screening programme.
Tori has a Master of Public Health, with a particular interest in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. On the Data Science front, her skills include extensive knowledge in programming such as SQL and R. In the time-outside-work-front, her skills include devoting time to her dogs, trying to teach them to talk with buttons and dressing them up so they get extra attention and extra treats.
Tori explains herself as a puzzle enthusiast, she likes to move data around her head like puzzle pieces until the puzzle is solved. The things that make her feel fulfilled is the satisfaction of doing a good job on a difficult piece of work and stretching herself to learn new skills and exceed her own expectations.
Pip Nicholson
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Just like any great mother, Pip is the one you can always rely on to keep track of those complex, forgotten tasks. She has been a pillar of the business since day one, when Todd and Pip set up Nicholson Consulting almost 13 years ago. Today, her and Todd are co-directors and Pip continues to manage the financial area of the business while raising her 2 children from the comfort of home.
Pip has a background in research, evaluation, and logistics. Her high attention to detail and strong organisational skills ensure the business is always running smoothly. Prior to establishing the business, Pip studied at Victoria University, worked as a Research and Evaluation officer for the Australian Department of Education and Training in Canberra, and an Advisor at the NZ Ministry of Education among other roles.
Activities that are likely to put a smile on Pip’s face include: Making the most of a sunny day, spending time with her family, and going dancing with her friends. Pip is also a fan of indulging in a wine, cheese or chocolate (or all three at once).
Dr. Hubert Zal
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Hubert joins us as the fourth member of the team to have specialised in geophysics here at Nicholson Consulting. Hubert has spent a large chunk of his life in the USA, working in roles ranging from an electrician, barista, and as an apprentice motorcycle mechanic. While there he completed a BSc and MSc in Geophysics at the University of Rochester, New York. He didn’t stop there, as he made a move to Wellington and took his studies next level completing a PhD in Geophysics and Seismology at Victoria University of Wellington.
He defines himself as a ‘DIY kinda guy’. Hubert finds that having an arsenal of tools at hand, whether they be digital or physical (and having the knowledge of how to use them), provides him with the ability to tackle the most unexpected challenges. The tools of the digital trades, namely coding and problem solving, drove him to pursue a career in Data Science. Although, he still fancies himself a bit of motorcycle mechanic on the weekends (his regular clients include his wife and friends).
As you probably could have guessed by now, the one thing that gets Hubert leaping out of bed in the morning is the prospect of an adventurous day on motorcycles or mountain bikes with his wife and friends, especially along Wellington’s beautiful South Coast. Hubert is known around these parts as a squirrel in his natural habitat, if you ever get the chance to meet him be sure to ask him the origin of this name...
Asia Ropeti
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Defining herself as a quiet achiever and curious learner, Asia is driven by the desire to support and uplift communities, in particular the Māori and Pacific communities here in Aotearoa. Asia joined Nicholson consulting as an intern following the completion of her Bachelor of Science, majoring in Data Science and Minoring in Biology, and after completing her internship, she accepted a full time role and joined the whānau on a permanent basis.
Prior to joining us, Asia worked as a project assistant for a project called Ngā Tau Tuangahuru. Here, she looked at how Māori and Pasifika families view success, whether that be family success, educational success or cultural success. She loved seeing how families discuss these different ideas and it provided great insight about how we can better support Māori and Pasifika success in Aotearoa.
Outside of work, Asia loves to explore her creative side through drawing and painting. She also enjoys spending time with her family, swimming at the beach and cooking. Much to the delight of the “salt and vinegar chips are not the superior flavour” minority group in the office, Asia can proudly say salt and vinegar chips are not her favorite snack. Her favourite snack is however snackachangi potato chips (just any flavour except salt and vinegar).
Linda Martis
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Optimistic, inquisitive and adventurous, Linda’s openness to new experiences has been a driving force in her life. Originally based in Kuwait, Linda has travelled across the globe, living in India before settling in Aotearoa. Linda’s career too has evolved. Linda has previously worked in accounting and auditing roles for Swiss Re, KPMG, the Ministry of Social Development and the Earthquake Commission, before making the switch to data science.
Before joining Nicholson Consulting, Linda worked analysing breast cancer screening data at Volpara Health Technologies. Linda holds a Master’s degree in Applied Statistics from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington and qualifications in psychology, statistics, data science, auditing and accounting.
Curious by nature, it comes as no surprise that Linda fills her time with a wide range of hobbies and interests such as reading, cooking, biking, jazz singing and several side projects. However, it is her relationships with her family and friends that bring Linda the most joy. One of Linda’s favourite things to do is call her nieces in Toronto while sipping on a strong cup of tea.
Manakore Rickus-Graham
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Hailing from Te Waipounamu, Manakore is a proud wahine Māori with connections spanning from across the South Island to Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Manakore is a raukura (graduate) of Te Aho Matua philosophy of Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori immersion school) which she credits with helping her become the person she is today.
Before joining Nicholson Consulting, Manakore began a Bachelor of Arts at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington with a double major in Te Reo Māori and Māori and Indigenous Studies with a minor in Statistics. While she fell in love with Wellington, she missed home and moved back to finish her degree at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. Manakore is passionate about using her data science superpowers to make an impact on people and communities and is especially excited to work in the Māori Data Sovereignty space.
When Manakore isn’t diving into the data, you can find her diving into the pool for a swim, or a game of water polo (fun fact: Manakore was an U12 water polo champion!). Another of Manakore’s passions is Kapa Haka, which she has been performing competitively since the age of five. Manakore has performed at several national and international competitions at intermediate, secondary and senior levels. Aside from swimming and Kapa Haka, Manakore also loves food, working out, cliff jumping and singing. Those in the office are often treated to the sound of Manakore’s beautiful singing, either at waiata practice or while she sits at her desk.
Dr. Sarah Underwood
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Born and raised in England, Sarah came to the land of the long white cloud 20 years ago where she has now settled with her husband, two teenagers and their guinea pigs. Despite being in Aotearoa for over two decades, her love of tea, teacakes and English football reminds us that she is still a Brit at heart.
An inquisitive person by nature, Sarah has worn many hats over the course of her career. Some of her highlights include working as a process development engineer and making active ingredients for anticancer drugs. More recently, Sarah has been working in the public health environment, coordinating information for clinicians from diagnostic testing laboratories and working as part of the COVID-19 response. Sarah holds a Master of Science and a PhD in Biochemical Engineering. For her PhD she looked at processes for making a skin replacement out of proteins from blood.
In the last few years, Sarah has started diving deeper into the world of data science. After reviewing her previous roles, Sarah realised the work she found most rewarding was handling data and using it to draw conclusions and assist in decision making. This led her to pursue a career in data science and complete a Graduate Diploma in Applied Statistics from Massey University. Here at Nicholson Consulting, Sarah is keen to channel her passion for data to deliver mahi that is useful for people and communities.
In her spare time Sarah likes to get outside as much as possible - whether that is tramping, biking, walking, or swimming in the sea. Sarah is a big fan of orienteering (she describes her sense of direction as her secret talent!) and enjoys the combination of physical activity and mental challenge, as well as getting the chance to visit amazing new locations. Sarah also provides navigation coaching for her daughter’s school adventure racing team.
When she is not exploring the outdoors, you may find Sarah hanging out with her family over a board game or keeping an eye on the English Premier League.
Stacey Dobbie
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With 12 years of experience in the data and analytics space, Stacey brings a wealth of expertise to the Nicholson Consulting team. Kind, supportive and analytical, Stacey is passionate about using data to better understand communities in Aotearoa and to create a positive social impact.
Stacey has worked for a range of non-profit, NGO and government organisations over her career, particularly in the health space. Stacey’s previous role was at Manatū Hauora as a Principal Analyst, where she helped monitor and analyse the performance of districts and hospitals across Aotearoa. In 2015, Stacey graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a Master of Science in Statistics.
Outside of work, one of Stacey’s biggest passions is dance. Stacey attends weekly adult ballet classes where she enjoys learning new routines and perfecting her technique. Stacey also volunteers her time for the charity What Dance Can Do (WDCD) New Zealand where she helps set up dance community programmes across Porirua.
When she’s not exploring the worlds of dance and data, Stacey enjoys travelling with friends and family to experience new food, cultures, and landscapes.
Andrew Nicholson
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Creative and curious with a can-do attitude, we are stoked to have Andrew as Nicholson Consulting’s Operations Coordinator. With over 10 years of experience, Andrew brings expertise in a range of areas including website management, accounts, social media and even calligraphy! Andrew joined Nicholson Consulting from his previous role at Aviation NZ, where he started as a Website Administrator and moved up to the role of Office Manager. Alongside this experience, Andrew also has a Bachelor in IT and a Diploma in Business through distance learning. During his studies, Andrew discovered a real interest in data and analytics which he is excited to explore in more depth while at Nicholson Consulting.
Andrew grew up living in both Australia and Singapore but has now settled in Wellington with his wife and their two-year-old daughter. As a new Dad with a self-described “terrible sense of humour” Andrew has been spending his time recently perfecting the art of the dad joke. When he is not busy prepping for the day when his daughter will be old enough to roll her eyes at his jokes, Andrew also enjoys learning new languages, playing music, gaming and sports. Andrew is also a big supporter of the Warriors and is thrilled to be joining Nicholson Consulting’s fast-growing population of Warriors super fans (#letsgonewarriors).
Dion O’Neale
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Bursting through the doors of NC after another run is our Analytics Lead Dion. Dion can be easily recognised by his fantastic beard which gives even Gandalf a run for his money.
Curious about the world and wanting to understand it, Dion studied Maths and Physics. Over time, this has turned into working mostly in the area of data analytics and mathematical modelling. Dion has spent his career working on a variety of fascinating projects from constructing social networks for pre-European Aotearoa using obsidian artefacts, through to using IDI data on educational enrolments to understand why some groups are under-represented in STEM study. He was also involved in Aotearoa’s response to COVID-19 - He can handle the pressure!
Dion was well known to NC prior to joining, working with several of our staff through different projects: Tikanga in Technology, and the COVID-19 Modelling Aotearoa work. All of our staff can comfortably say he’s great to work with and can tell a great story - ask him about being a drone co-pilot in Antarctica.
Dion spends his weekends as a volunteer coach for the junior athletics at Owairaka Athletics, but in the off season he can be found brewing and drinking the finest craft beer Aotearoa has to offer.