Directors

Steve Hill


Steve brings over 20 years of business experience to Mind Warriors stemming from the Building Industry to Magazine Publishing, New Media and more recently Consultancy & Experiential training. In most situations he was involved as a partner in startups. The common thread running through these areas has been creativity and design. Steve enjoys the challenges of business and does the occasional mentoring.

Steve has studied the Art of Improvisation and has been designing and facilitating experiential programs for corporate organisations and students since September 2002. He is a regular guest speaker on Creativity at Auckland's New Media Design School and has spoken on creative company culture both locally and in Hong Kong where he set up a branch of his former company WebMedia.
He is a qualified NLP Practitioner and has studied the Art of Metaphor and Clean Language.

For the last 23 years Steve has been interested in areas of Self Intelligence, looking at ways in which to develop the body's awareness and senses.
He initially worked with a medium, which led him into studying with a number of spiritual elders, shaman, medicine men and women. He continues the practice and teach shamanism on a regular basis.
With a foray into martial arts in 1982 he has since practised Jujutsu, Tai Chi, and currently trains in Koryu Uchinadi Kempo (Black Belt), Kenjutsu and Iaido - Samurai Sword (Black Belt Instructor) and Pa Tuan Tsin (Chi Gung).

Passions:

  • Steve is passionate about the way of the samurai, whether it's movies, stories, or the combatitive training and teaching.
  • He is very passionate about exploring other dimensions of the mind and the different forms of shamanic practice for self and to help others.
  • Steve loves to learn, to teach and to help others
  • He is mostly passionate about his two boys Kane (10) and Niko (8), where comes the art of influence, distraction, storytelling, patience and emotional intelligence.
  • And fishing, whether catching them or not its great to be out at sea.

Life defining moments:

  • Getting married, becoming a dad, his wife's death
  • Winning the overall gold at the European multi-media awards in Amsterdam for his previous company 'WebMedia' website.
  • Doing an Inipi ceremony (sweatlodge) with Wallace Black Elk

Wade Jackson


Wade Jackson (BA in English & Japanese, Post graduate Diploma in Drama) has been involved in the performing, healing and martial arts for over the last 15 years. It has taken him around the world where he has studied with masters in their field and he integrates his amazingly varied background into everything that he does.

As a consultant and keynote speaker, Wade has worked with thousands of people ranging from CEOs and senior executive teams, to Universities and Militaries to non-profit organisations.

Wade is a double world improvisation champion and founding member of The Improv Bandits, world renowned improvised comedy act. Fluent in Japanese, Wade has three internationally recognised black belts in martial arts and has studied Zen Shiatsu, Japanese acupressure massage based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. With a post-graduate Diploma in Drama and Diploma in Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapy, Wade is a certified Neuro Linguistic Programming practioner who has also studied Emotional Freedom Technique.

Passions:

  • Wade loves to perform. He has acted in film, television and on stage internationally, had his own radio show and has been interviewed by every major publication, television and radio station in NZ.
  • Wade loves to learn. He understands NZ Sign Language and is dedicated to learning a new skill each year.
  • Wade loves to help others. He runs private therapy and coaching sessions and is a proud sponsor of the Foundation of Youth Development, a not-for-profit organisation that runs the Project K, Stars and Kiwi Can programmes in NZ schools.

Life defining moments:

  • Living in Japan, getting married, becoming a father.
  • Wade is married to Evie Ashton and they live in Auckland, New Zealand with their daughter Sabina, son Axel, and two dogs Sophie and Scamp.

Alastair Ness

(MBA)

Business Development Manager


Alastair brings a wealth of experience gained from running his own Sales and Marketing business here in Auckland as well as working with larger companies such as PwC and Logica.

Originally from the UK, Alastair has worked in a variety of fields from the travel industry to Accounting firms, from small start ups to global companies.

As he says, "I have seen a lot of changes over the years, but the common theme to any successful change, whether in a business or personal context, is getting the people involved to buy in to the change. That is why I chose to join Mind Warriors - having just completed my own personal JOLT Challenge, I can see the potential the programme has to make a real difference, not only to those doing it, but also to the people around them. It gives you valuable life skills and I think everyone should do it."

Passions:

  • The most important thing in Alastair's life is family, and he always makes the time to spend with his wife and two sons.
  • Alastair enjoys keeping fit and can be found at his local tennis club at least 3-4 times per week. He also enjoys cycling and kayaking as well.
  • Alastair loves to travel, and over the years has spent time in many countries including England, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Belgium, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Sweden, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Canada, USA, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and even Australia !

Life defining moments:

  • Getting married, and becoming a father to his two boys.
  • Gaining his MBA
  • Moving to New Zealand ("I wish I had done it years ago")

Jo Hayes

Business Administrator


Jo brings with her more than 20 years experience in business. Jo has worked within Sales & Marketing, Hospitality & Events Management, Office Management and Natural Health. Jo's career within NZ started with a National Sales Manager role within a small Hotel Group, this brought her further into the world of events management and Jo worked as Executive Administrator at the Sales & Marketing Institute of NZ organizing many events - and where she met Wade Jackson!

Following this Jo worked in Office Management positions for several small organisations in NZ where her roles have been diverse and all encompassing. It was after the birth of her daughter that Jo became more interested in Natural Health & whilst on Maternity leave embarked on training with Natural Fertility NZ to become a Natural Family Planning Educator, which she continues to do outside of her work at Mind Warriors.

Jo is originally from the UK, but in 2003 decided that she would like to see the world, and began the trip that would ultimately change her life completely! Armed with her round the world ticket Jo's second stop was New Zealand where she planned to spend 6 months working to save for the rest of her trip. Some nine years later, one successful permanent residency application, one Kiwi husband and daughter - and Jo is still here!! She never used the rest of her ticket! Jo loves to learn and develop her skills & knowledge and is currently training in Hypnotherapy and making plans to train as a life coach within the next 5 years

Passions:

  • Jo is passionate about Natural Health, particularly Natural Fertility. She is a trained Natural Fertility Practitioner teaching couples and individuals to manage their fertility naturally.
  • She is learning Tai Chi and loves the calmness she experiences whilst doing it.
  • Jo loves music (of most kinds) & outings to the movies.
  • Spending time with family and friends.

Life defining moments:

  • Singing in a choir at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
  • Taking her OE in 2003 from her origins in the UK and making the decision to stay in NZ.
  • Bungy jumping off the Auckland Harbour Bridge in 2003.
  • Skydiving 15,000 feet over Lake Taupo.
  • Becoming a Mother to daughter Sophie in 2010, and a wife to Nigel in 2011.