About David

I get it… you probably want to know a bit more about me, to help you decide. Read on, my curious inquirer…

The Journey Here

I’m David, calling Auckland home after a winding path that’s shaped how I see people and potential. My story starts in research engineering—PhD and all—but don’t worry, I’m refreshingly down-to-earth. Those years taught me to dig deep, ask better questions, and stay curious about what lies beneath the surface.

Then came decades in software development and agile coaching, where I discovered something unexpected: the technical challenges were rarely the real problem. It was always about communication, trust, and helping people work together authentically. That’s when I knew I’d found my calling.

What I Bring

ICF Associate Certified Coach with Mastery Level Transformative Coaching training—because I believe in doing this work properly. But more than credentials, I bring genuine care for seeing people thrive.

I’ve designed and delivered training for over 200 people in Nonviolent Communication, feedback skills, and presentation confidence. I’ve coached directors, senior leaders, and anyone brave enough to say “something needs to change.” Each conversation reminds me why I love this work.

The Human Side

Along the way, I’ve volunteered with teenagers (they keep you honest), built a house (patience is everything), toured New Zealand in a sports car (joy matters), raced mountain bikes (calculated risks), and somehow managed to stay happily married for 43 years. I’m now a grandfather to two little ones who remind me daily that wonder and authenticity are our natural state.

Why I Do This

I don’t want to retire because what brings me the most joy is working with individuals from any nation and culture, partnering with you to see the better, happier, unblocked version of you emerge.

Whether you’re wrestling with difficult conversations, finding your voice for presentations, or simply feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, I believe you already have everything you need. Sometimes we just need someone to help us see it clearly.

“The world needs to hear what you have to say.”

That’s not just a tagline—it’s what I genuinely believe about every person I work with. Including you.

Endorsements

In our team, David is regarded as the King of coaching. He’s frequently the preferred choice for coaching, with requests often specifying the need for his expertise. David’s passion lies in nurturing people and crafting training programs that foster improvement and growth. His exceptional ability to create training that is lucid, captivating, and enjoyable is unparalleled.

David is an expert communicator. His passion and skill set in coaching enables him to make a positive impact; He creates self-awareness, empowers and removing barriers at the individual level, which can have exponential benefits both personally and in a team/professional context.

I got a lot out of personal coaching + tips and tricks – this helped me on my journey.

David is also great at supporting and coaching the people leaders when we are faced with difficult individuals.

I would miss David’s deep care in coaching. David is an incredible coach who consistently clears the way for individual’s improvement in their journeys to being high performing individuals. David is a great sounding board, and I admire the way he will always bring the people aspect and NVC into these conversations.

David, I would like to thank you for your support on coaching conversations. Our recent interactions have started to give me the confidence in my approach and guides me to keep improving.

We were at a pivotal point in terms of our communication and team engagement. David stepped in, reviewed the situation, and mentored our team members. The impact was immediate. The insight and guidance he brought to our discussions and mentoring sessions were phenomenal, and we are already seeing the results.

You are always great at communication, open to feedback and provide a trusting and supportive environment to grow in.

David is amazing, he brings his true self to work and is true role model for the rest of us, he has an amazing tool set to help, he has made an impact to me, making me a better person and helping me live a happier life and that is a big deal and a big impact.

Personally, our coaching sessions are great, they give me new perspectives on issues and enable me to approach problems with different solutions that I might not think of. I appreciate his ability to dip in and out of coaching mindsets to suit the situation, and also to contribute based on your hands-on engineering experience at times.

His nature and approach means that he creates a space for me and others to be open and honest without any judgement from him. This helps to build a trustworthy culture with the teams and people he works with is so important. David is my go-to person if I feel I need some coaching or need to chat about something I am unsure of.

David’s deep understanding of people and what motivates and inspires them is of utmost importance to us as coaches. When you are struggling to find a way to get through to a person, David will inevitably have valuable suggestions to try.

I would miss David’s calm nature as well as his ability to challenge my thinking in a positive way. David acts with the utmost integrity and treats every person and every engagement with respect.

David has been clear in explaining ideas, insightful in providing advice, and respectful in giving feedback. He does so without drawing the attention to himself.

David is a great listener and he has often helped me to prepare for giving feedback and tackling difficult conversations. David is empathetic and caring which makes him a great coach. He is always there to help and passionate about helping people.

David cares deeply about people and helping everyone on their journeys. He has done some amazing work with teams.
He is always available to prioritise coaching conversations which people around the business and provide a listening ear and create the space for them to feel safe and heard. This is such a valuable skill as individuals can reflect on their issues and be gently guided and supported through to the best solutions for themselves as well as the business.

I find him extremely easy to work with and enjoy his calming nature. David is a very good listener and I found it easy to build trust with him as I can speak openly to him. He always listens with no judgement. David is the master of feedback and communication, and he is the go-to person to sought help with giving/receiving feedback and having difficult conversations.

David has been an invaluable pillar of support, not just for me but for many in the organisation. His exceptional coaching and mentoring skills stand out, and he has a remarkable ability to help others navigate both personal and professional challenges toward successful outcomes.

On numerous occasions, when I faced crossroads and needed guidance, David was the trusted confidant who helped me chart the best path forward. His empathetic and insightful approach has consistently led to positive outcomes.

David truly has a natural talent for coaching and mentoring, and he continues to make a meaningful impact on those around him. If you’re looking for someone to turn to during challenging times, David is the person to rely on.

David has always been a kind, thoughtful colleague to bounce ideas from, and particularly stepped up with coaching me through dealing with role difficulties. His care and attention to his work with me, and his focus on positive outcomes have remained a key highlight of my time.

David is an exceptional coach, one that is true to his mission of making life more wonderful for people. David does it through kindness, care, well-crafted communication, and skillful coaching. I could hear endless stories from the team members coached by David, how large an impact David had on them, as individuals and as a team.