Our people

Ashley Helm

Ashley Helm
Managing Director, Co-founder
Ashley brings his considerable experience as a Managing Director, Program Director and CIO to Adaptiv Integration. He has a first-rate track record in strategic development and solution delivery for enterprise clients, producing significant benefits for some of New Zealand’s largest and most well-known companies, as well as internationally connected and global businesses.
Having spent 25 years bringing large scale systems to market both in New Zealand and globally, Ashley draws on exceptional experience and knowledgeable leadership to ensure professional and profitable outcomes for Adaptiv clients.
Ashley is passionate about leading the charge towards increased standards of IT consulting services within New Zealand and loves the results when integration solutions are used effectively to unlock the productivity hidden within enterprise IT silos.
As well as heading up one of the country’s leading integration solution design, development and delivery companies, Ashley is also MD of C3 Post Trade, ICM Asia Pacific and Hydrogen Apps.
Away from the office, you’ll find Ashley walking his dog, fundraising for charities, travelling and running.

Nikolai Blackie

Nikolai Blackie
Principal Architect, Co-Founder
One of New Zealand’s premier Integration experts and a specialist cloud architect, Nikolai’s job is to help Adaptiv clients to make the most of their current technology stack. As Principle Architect, Nikolai oversees all integration strategies, methodology, standards and technical direction, and works closely with enterprise clients to be certain that integration solution designs are fit for purpose.
Nikolai co-founded the company in 2010, confident that his strong background in integration and systems development would ensure business success. He brought his many years of commercial experience designing and integrating bespoke software products across finance, education, FMCG, manufacturing/distribution and not-for-profit.
Since then, Nikolai has developed over a decade of senior integration experience across wide-ranging industries, including power, retail, utilities, food manufacture, construction, transport/distribution, education, and finance. Nikolai also has significant experience in all aspects of enterprise scale web application integration and SaaS.
As well as calling on his considerable experience with Dell Boomi and MuleSoft Anypoint Integration solutions, Nikolai is a certified Microsoft VTSP in both BizTalk and Azure. He is regularly engaged by Microsoft to consult with clients on their behalf for these solutions.
In his ‘spare’ time, Nikolai enjoys classic cars, cycling, record collecting, and drinking Islay single malt whisky.

Phil Cullen

Phil Cullen
General Manager
Phil leads a highly experienced team of consultants and integration specialists to ensure Adaptiv’s clients increase the industry value of their business technology.
Phil was educated at St Paul’s College, Dublin, and has over 30 years’ experience in ICT, financial management and ERP implementations for customer-centric organisations in the UK and New Zealand. Before taking on the General Manager role at Adaptiv, he was Associate Manager of Business Applications at Dimension Data. In charge of delivery, support and quality assurance across ERP, CRM, SharePoint, Custom Development (.Net) and K2, he supported clients across New Zealand and Australia.
Phil is adept at improving business processes with Microsoft Azure Integration Services, BizTalk Server, Dell Boomi, MuleSoft and Solace.
Outside of work, Phil is Chairman of Eden Rugby Club – New Zealand where he looks after the governance of the club leading the Exec Team. After completing 15 years on various committees he is now a position to drive the club forward.

Rhiannon Rogers

Rhiannon Rogers
Technical Analyst, Developer
Rhiannon is an essential part of the Adaptiv support team. As well as liaising with clients to ensure the best delivery and support outcomes, she regularly develops and tests complex integration solutions.
Working across both the support and development teams, Rhiannon has experienced numerous integration projects, honing her skills with Microsoft Azure, MuleSoft, BizTalk and Dell Boomi. She is a graduate from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Applied Computing, and prior to Adaptiv, worked in CMS consultancy producing HTML content.
Rhiannon has a proven ability to quickly embrace new integration technologies and collaborates conscientiously with clients and other members of the Adaptiv team.Sheis a certified Dell Boomi Professional Developer and Production Administrator and recently achieved her MuleSoft Certified Developer certification.
Her main interest outside of work is music, and she’s skilled on both the piano and guitar.

Harris Kristanto

Harris Kristanto
Consultant
Harris works closely with the whole team to deliver and implement integration solutions for Adaptiv clients. He’s also closely involved in planning and testing solutions.
Harris is an integration specialist with considerable experience across Microsoft Azure and Dell Boomi Integration solutions. Being a tech enthusiast and computer savvy from a very young age has allowed him in handling the learning curve of new technologies. He joined Adaptiv after finishing his Bachelor’s degree at AUT, and has since been involved in a variety of enterprise integration projects across different industries.
Proactive and a fast learner, he’s not afraid to go extra mile to meet or beat deadlines. A certified Microsoft Certified Professional in both C# and Azure, Harris is in the perfect position to consult with clients on their behalf for these solutions.
Harris is a keen landscape photographer, and enjoys exercise in his spare time.

Simon Clendon

Simon Clendon
Principal Consultant
Simon’s long association with Adaptiv Integration and ICM (Adaptiv’s partner company)puts him in the ideal position to oversee integration strategy and deliver to the high standards that are our business’ hallmark.
Since Simon graduated from Auckland University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, he’s worked with some of New Zealand’s largest and most well-known companies across wide variety of industries, and more recently, in central government.
The last decade of senior integration experience has seen him develop productive relationships with small specialist trading houses to large Fortune 500 companies. It’s his job to liaise with clients and vendors across time zones and locations, co-ordinating integration development and ensuring deadlines and budgets are met.
Simon is a certified Microsoft Technology Specialist in BizTalk. And he’s equally at home on projects with industry standard messaging formats (e.g. FpML and SWIFT), as with bespoke client and vendor formats.
When he’s not at work, Simon regularly competes in ultra-marathons.

Philip Durrant

Philip Durrant
Principal Consultant
Philip is involved in all aspects of client engagement, from discovery to delivery. He makes sure Adaptiv is abreast of the ever-changing technological landscape, and ensures each solution is driven by business outcome, not technical dogma.
Philip’s extensive IT industry experience spans over 15 years with leading companies in finance, retail, manufacturing/distribution, utilities and incentive marketing.
He’s delivered successful projects for Adaptiv clients using on-premises solutions like Microsoft BizTalk, as well as cloud-centric platforms such as Dell Boomi and Microsoft Azure. His expertise also covers high level architectural engagements, undertaking technology evaluation and creating options papers for business sponsors.
Philip is equally comfortable taking an overarching architectural role on a client’s project, or leading from the front to deliver complex and challenging solutions. He holds a Bachelor of Information Science with First Class Honours, and is a certified Dell Boomi Professional Developer.
In the limited free time he gets with a young family, Philip likes to go to see live music.

Li Si Chan

Li Si Chan
Senior Consultant
Li Si is an integration specialist currently working with some of New Zealand’s largest companies and globally influential offshore financial institutions. Her role is to integrate client platforms with market data utilities. Li Si bridges the gap between business and technology, turning our client’s outcomes into technical requirements, quickly and effectively.
Self-managing and highly proactive, Li Si is thorough, and delivery focussed. Known for her dedication and going the extra mile to meet deadlines, she is respected by clients and colleagues alike for her quality delivery. As well as MuleSoft Developer, BizTalk Server and Dell Boomi Integration certifications, she is qualified in Microsoft Programming in C#. She also has considerable experience working with industry standard messaging formats (including SWIFT, FpML, ebXML, EDIFACT and IMS), and is skilled at integrating these with market SaaS platforms and other standard systems and interfaces.
Li Si reads, bakes, knits and practices Bikram yoga, as well as following the latest Microsoft technologies, during her leisure time.

George Phillips

George Phillips
Consultant
George is responsible for the development, analysis, design, implementation and support of Enterprise Service Bus, API and iPaaS solutions. This includes work on implementing automated build and releases (DevOps) for Adaptiv’s clients, using products such as Octopus, TeamCity, TFS and Azure DevOps.
A Bachelor of Information Science (with a double major in Computer Science and Information Technology) from Massey University, George has spent the last five years supporting and developing multiple solutions for Adaptiv clients in retail, utilities, construction, transport/distribution, education and finance.
George’s focus is on delivering solutions to our high standards. His attention to detail produces quality developments, resulting in deployments going through with no issues. He is certified on multiple platforms, including Dell Boomi, MuleSoft, ADAPTX and Microsoft Azure, and is qualified in Microsoft Programming in C#.
George is extremely interested in Cloud technologies and enjoys travelling, food and video games outside of work.

Hardik Patel

Hardik Patel
Support Manager
Hardik co-ordinates the end-to-end activities that are essential to maintaining the application and technical support Adaptiv’s valued clients expect. As well as providing ownership and leadership, he also performs the hands-on support, diagnosis and resolution needed to solve any technical problems and issues.
Hardik has over 19 years’ experience in application and technical support across a wide range of industries, which includes working alongside developers in the development and maintenance of client projects. A dedicated application support professional with extensive experience in customer service roles, he creates excellent working relationships at all levels.
Hardik is customer focussed and delivers consistently high levels of service to Adaptiv clients. Very much part of the team, he’s also known for his initiative when completing tasks independently.Adept in a wide range of applications, including Microsoft BizTalk, MuleSoft and Azure, Hardik has also completed and obtained the Dell Boomi Professional Administrator Certification.
Outside of work he enjoys spending time with family and watching sports.

Dragos Buleandra

Dragos Buleandra
Principal Consultant
As part of Adaptiv’s technical leadership, Dragos is involved in every stage of client engagement. He works quickly and logically to achieve the best outcomes, without ever compromising quality or losing sight of the original requirements.
An experienced IT professional with excellent architectural, development, technical and analytical skills, Dragos also excels in utilising middleware, enterprise, IVR, web based and desktop applications. He’s consulted for a wide cross-section of leading companies, and has experience in the telecommunications, health, retail, manufacturing/distribution and utilities industries.
Dragos is equally comfortable taking an overall architectural role on a client project, or leading from the front to deliver complex and innovative solutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Informatics and is also a MuleSoft Certified Architect, Developer and Integration and API Associate, as well as being a qualified Dell Boomi Architect and Developer.
In his spare time, Dragos enjoys taking part in sports, outdoor activities, or simply relaxing with a good movie or listening to music.

Ellen Dumper

Ellen Dumper
Office Manager, Assistant Accountant
Ellen worked in various financial and administrative roles, both in New Zealand and overseas, before joining Adaptiv, providing essential support and assistance to a wide variety of teams.
She now manages administration processes across the whole company, plans and delivers events, and carries out a range of financial processes for the business.
Ellen enjoys outdoor activities when she’s not at work, including hiking and skiing.

Manisha Patel

Manisha Patel
HR Advisor
Manisha’s main role is to make sure every member of Adaptiv’steam is engaged and fulfilled. She’s involved in all aspects of recruitment, change management, and workplace strategy. Her performance enhancement work includesproviding advice, support and one-to-one coaching.
Manisha is a Master of Commerce in Management and Employment Relations and has a special interest in wellbeing in the workplace. Culture understanding and engagement initiatives are an important part of her job, as well as monitoring and encouraging learning and professional development. Her strengths include employment relations, HR project management and organisational development.
Outside of work she enjoys travelling, hiking and walking outdoors, spending time with family and friends, yoga, and anything creative.

Vanessa Ford

Vanessa Ford
Finance Manager
Vanessa provides strategic financial support on all Adaptiv’s business decisions and carries out all our essential budgeting and forecasting activities.
A qualified Chartered Accountant with over 15 years in a senior accounting role and KPMG audit experience, she uses her skills and expertise to make ongoing process improvements across all aspects of the finance function, benefitting colleagues and clients alike. Her eye for detail and future-focussed approach, coupled with her excellent communication skills, means everyone is kept ahead of the game at each step in the business process.
Outside work she enjoys spending time with family, travel, reading and hiking.