About Us

Milo began working commercially off Canada’s west coast. He has taught internationally and settled in New Zealand in 2002. Within his career he has taught for various other institutes but has now developed his own Maritime School. Milo is the founder of STNZ and is passionate about bringing practical and effective learning pathways into the industry for future mariners.

Qualifications:

• ASA Instructor
• Master NC (USCG)
• Skipper Coastal / Offshore (NZ)
• Inshore Launch Master (NZ)
• Marine Engineer Class 6 (NZ)
• Master <24m NC (Australia)
• STCW Advanced Fire Fighting
• STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft
• Certificate in Tertiary Teaching (Level 6, NZ)
• Maritime Radio instructor & examiner
• RYA Powerboat Instructor
• Advanced Sea Survival Instructor
• Amateur Radio operator (ham)

Phil has been teaching & tutoring in the marine industry for over 20 years and recently left the Royal New Zealand Navy after 26 years to be our Training Manager. Phil spent over 10 years at sea travelling the world on various warships and is enthusiastic about learning and finding the best way to help people achieve their goals.

Qualifications:

• Skipper Coastal/Offshore (MNZ)
• Skipper Restricted Limits 24m (MNZ)
• Master Yacht <24m (MNZ)
• Yachtmaster Offshore (200 Ton) Commercially Endorsed (RYA/MCA)
• Yachtmaster Ocean (200 Ton) Commercially Endorsed (RYA/MCA)
• RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, Trainer & Examiner
• RYA Advanced Power Boat Instructor
• RYA Powerboat Trainer
• Sea Survival Instructor
• National Certificate in Adult Education and Training (Level 4)

Before heading to sea, Ruby qualified as an educator. She then spent 5 years serving on commercial vessels, most recently in the South Pacific on a 40m commercial super yacht.

Qualifications:

• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (200 ton) Commercially Endorsed
• PADI Open Water Diver, Advanced Diver and Rescue Diver
• Skipper Restricted Limits (24m)

Capt. Valentino is on a well-earned sabbatical most of this year.

Valentino migrated with is family to NZ 9 years ago and has 8 years of teaching within the industry. He also has 23 years of sea experience on many different cargo ships trading internationally. Some of his other roles within the industry include, Marine Superintendent and Cadet training officer. Valentino is passionate about training and sharing his experience and knowledge with fellow mariners.

Qualifications:

• Master Mariner (F.G) Unlimited
• Certificate in Tertiary Learning and Teaching (Level 6)
• Train the trainer Certificate (Simulator)

Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change – Jim Rohn

Barry’s maritime journey began aboard the brigantine Soren Larsen in the South Pacific at age 20, learning traditional seamanship. He served in the Royal New Zealand Navy and Volunteer Reserves for 17 years as a Marine Technician, specialising in marine electrical. Post-navy, Barry worked for Otago Polytechnic as an electrical engineering program manager for 15 years while volunteering with Coastguard Dunedin, where he became a skipper and senior instructor.

Qualifications:

• Skipper Restricted Limits
• Certificate in Tertiary Learning and Teaching (Level 7, NZ)
• Diploma in Engineering – Electrical Engineering (Level 6, NZ)
• ISC Coastguard Master

Mark completed a fishing cadet course to kick start his career straight after college. After working on fishing vessels for 16 years, he moved on to the oil and gas industry for a further 6 years. When he became a father, he stopped working at sea full time and now does occasional relief jobs and volunteers as the Master on the dental and medical ship YWAM Koha.

Qualifications:

• Master Fishing Unlimited
• Chief Mate Foreign Going
• Master <500Gt Unlimited
• STCW Ancillaries
• GMDSS

Steve grew up near the sea in Nelson, fostering a lifelong connection to boats both recreationally and commercially. Over the past 27 years, he has built a diverse maritime career, including deep-sea fishing, water taxis, tall-ship sailing tourism, youth development, research vessels, and tankers.

For 13 years, Steve served as Mate and Master with the Spirit of Adventure Trust, where he honed his skills in leadership and mentoring. Passionate about teaching, he now enjoys helping students gain confidence, master new skills, and discover their potential in the maritime industry.

Qualifications:

• Master <500GT Unlimited – STCW 95
• Ringfenced – Off Shore Master Unlimited
• Ringfenced – Inshore Launch Master
• GMDSS Radio Operator
• Watchkeeper Deck (formally known as 2nd Mates Foreign Going)
• International Sailing Endorsement – Square Rig, Fore and Aft Rig
• Australian Coxswain
• NZ Marine Engineering – MEC 5
• Australian Engineering – MED 2 NC
• Currently working towards NZ Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching Level 5

Dave is an accomplished maritime professional with extensive experience in commercial shipping and port management. Known for his strategic vision and leadership, Dave has significantly enhanced operational efficiency, safety, and profitability in various roles, including Harbour Master in New Zealand and Australia. With a flair for communication and relationship building, he excels in driving teams towards success. Dave’s commitment to innovation and excellence in maritime services marks him as a distinguished figure in the industry and we are pleased to have him join us as a tutor.

Qualifications:

• Port Facility Security Officer Port Nelson
• Open Water Pilot Port Nelson
• Harbour Master Port Nelson
• Certificate Equivalent Competency MCA. Master FG
• RYA Yachtmaster Examiner Yachtmaster Ocean / Yachtmaster Offshore
• RYA Certificate of Competency Yachtmaster offshore
• Certificate of Competency, Master Foreign Going
• Mate Foreign Going Certificate
• CBES Yachtmaster Examiner /Instructor
• 2nd Mate Foreign Going Certificate

Nick has been sailing commercially and recreationally for over 10 years. He has worked in diverse roles, including expedition documentary work and training RHIB drivers. When he’s not boating commercially, he contracts in the film and construction industries and volunteers with Wellington Coastguard Rescue.

Qualifications:

• SRL <24m
• RYA Powerboat Level 2
• Pre Hospital Emergency Care
• Category 1 Offshore First Aid
• PADI Open water diver, SSI Diver Stress and Rescue

Lucinda has a strong connection to water sports. She started her working career as a swim instructor and lifeguard. After many years working internationally as a coach, workshop facilitator, team leader and senior manager in education, both in the corporate and tertiary setting, she set sail with her husband on their yacht for an extended cruise around the Pacific.

She has worked with Milo in leadership development for the Navy Cadets and is highly experienced in team building and conflict management training at the international corporate level. She brings her enthusiasm and experience to help drive continuous improvement in Skipper Training NZ.

Qualifications:

• Master of Arts Leadership & Training
• Bachelor of Arts Psychology & Sociology
• Diploma in Recreation Management – Aquatic Specialist

Gisella’s fascination with language led her to study Education, specialising in English. After teaching in Chile, she started travelling to explore different cultures and further develop her skills.

Gisella has crewed professionally on an international expedition vessel and worked on domestic charter vessels. She has also done some work maintaining our training vessel.

Her main role is supporting students with language and learning challenges. Outside of work, she loves spending time outdoors, especially on her surfboard.

Melissa immigrated to NZ with her family in 2022.  She was the co-owner of their family business (commercial & earth-moving vehicle repairs & sales) in South-Africa.  She comes from a strong business/administration background with 21 years experience.  She enjoys being at the ocean and loves being outdoors.

Qualifications:

• NSC – Small Business Management
• Naui – Scuba Diver

Pip brings extensive experience across the education sector, having taught at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels before moving into leadership and workforce development. She has a strong background in operations and project management and is passionate about fostering collaborative relationships to ensure training is innovative, effective, and inclusive for learners from all backgrounds and walks of life.

As an ex-builder, if Pip isn’t on a reno job in the weekend, she loves to fish or dive for kaimoana and gets out for a ride on her motorbike whenever she can.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Teaching and Learning
• Certificate of Arts (Psychology)
• PADI Open Water Diver

With a strong background in content marketing and writing, Isabella is tasked with promotion and communication on social media and print media, and takes great pride in making our student workbooks as user-friendly as possible. Isabella loves hiking and mountain biking in the nearby national parks and getting out on the water whenever she can.

Qualifications:

• NZ Diploma in Small Business and Project Management
• Diploma in Proofreading and Editing – New Zealand Institute of Business Studies
• Master of Science
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Arts

Growing up in Auckland, Vicki’s love of the sea began with a trip on the Spirit of Adventure as a teenager.  She then pursued a career in Aquaculture, which led her to sunny Nelson and eventually into the education sector as a tutor and quality systems manager. Vicki focuses on STNZ’s quality review systems to help maintain our high standards and ensure that we meet the needs of our students and the maritime industry. In her spare time, Vicki enjoys getting outdoors in her garden, tramping, water sports and skiing.

Qualifications:

• Master of Science Aquaculture & Fisheries Management
• NZ Certificate in Aquaculture (Level 4)]
• NZ Certificate in Seafood (Level 4)
• Bachelor of Agricultural Science
• PADI Advanced Diver and Specialty Diver (Photography)

Meg grew up sailing around the world with her parents before returning to New Zealand in 2004. After completing her schooling in Nelson, she pursued studies at Victoria University. Over the past eight years, Meg has worked in the yachting industry, primarily in the Mediterranean, USA, and Caribbean, progressing to the role of bosun/mate on superyachts ranging from 35 to 50 meters. Now back in New Zealand, she serves as the shore-based bosun at STNZ, supporting our growing fleet.​

Qualifications:

• Yachtmaster offshore (commercially endorsed)
• ⁠MCA GMDSS, EDH
• MCA Yacht Rating
• PADI Open Water / SSI L1 Freediving
• Degree in Design Innovation

Robin’s diverse career journey spans farming, ministry, real estate, and a significant focus on business, leadership development, and education. He co-founded a leading hairdressing enterprise in the South, transitioning into tertiary education as a director and tutor of a leadership development program in partnership with NMIT, delivering NZQA qualifications at levels four, five, and six. Recently, Robin ventured into the maritime sector by acquiring the Nelson Ferry. He has completed the SRL course with Skipper Training NZ and is now proud to join the team and support the next generation of students.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Certificate in Tertiary Learning and Teaching
• Diploma in Business and Management Mastery
• Skipper Restricted Limits

Sharon brings a unique blend of maritime and social service experience to our team. After six years on commercial yachts across the Mediterranean and Caribbean, she returned to Nelson, embracing a role in the disability sector.

Sharon’s commitment to empowering individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their goals mirrors her own adventurous spirit.

An avid outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking, embodying the resilience and determination she fosters in others.

Denise enjoys recreational boating and fishing and loves getting out on the water in the amazing backyard of the Abel Tasman. Denise comes to us with a background in law, extensive overseas travel and most latterly the joint ownership of a very successful small business.  As our operations manager she is tasked with streamlining our systems and processes.

Qualifications:

• LLB
• NZ Diploma of Business
• Diploma of Personnel Management
• Diploma of Management
• Padi Open Water Diver