Team

REANNZ has a small, highly committed and dedicated team of 15 people - the core which have a deep experience in telecommunications. To get in touch with one of our team, simply contact us.

REANNZ managers

Steve Cotter - Chief Executive

Steve joined REANNZ from the US Department of Energy's Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) in 2011. As the head of ESnet, he was responsible for providing high-performance networking to thousands of researchers and scientists at more than 40 national laboratories and research institutions. Prior to ESnet, he served as Google’s network deployment manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Before being hired by Google, Steve worked for Internet2 as Deputy Operations Officer and was CEO & President of their wholly owned subsidiary, FiberCo. Steve got his start in telecommunications and networking at SBC Global Communications (now AT&T), serving as director in the network engineering and construction departments, and also in optical networking as an engineer and program manager at Cisco Systems. Steve earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering at the US Naval Academy and an MBA from Boston University. He also served eight years as an officer and helicopter pilot in the US Marine Corps.

Sam Sargeant - Chief Information Officer and Business Development Manager

Sam joined REANNZ in 2013 from FX Networks where he served as Chief Information Officer, leading the automation and management of their internal systems. Prior to FX Networks, Sam served as CTO of Modica Group, a well-respected provider of Internet hosting and mobile marketing systems, which he co-founded in 2002. Originally from Christchurch, Sam has over 20 years of experience in the networking and telecommunications fields, starting as a router test engineer and moving through a number of roles from network engineer to developer and consultant. Sam is well-placed between technology and business to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by any organisation. Away from work, Sam has a young family and enjoys learning something new every day.

Nicole Cherry - Corporate and Finance Manager

Nicole joined REANNZ from accountancy firm KPMG, after working with REANNZ in a commercial advisory capacity for 2½ years. As REANNZ's Corporate & Finance Manager, Nicole is responsible for corporate operations at REANNZ. She ensures that REANNZ operates in an efficient and financially sustainable manner, ensuring the network retains advanced infrastructure capabilities now and in the future. Born and bred in Wellington, Nicole earned a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at Victoria University. Nicole studied international and comparative business law in Hamburg, Germany and following that worked in finance roles for a number of media agencies in London. Nicole is a chartered accountant, and on winter weekends you will find her snowboarding or enjoying a game of hockey.

REANNZ staff

David Brownlie - Senior Network Engineer 

David's primary responsibilities are in the day-to-day operation of the network, including design, service delivery and tier-3 support. He maintains relationships with members of the network, vendor technical staff and other research and education networks. David joined REANNZ from Datacom where he managed a team designing and implementing tools for the management of enterprise systems. Prior to that, he worked at Telecom Advanced Solutions and as a network and security consultant for a variety of organisations. He was involved in the architecture and delivery of the global network for the New Zealand Dairy Board prior to the Fonterra merger. David graduated from Victoria University with degrees in criminology and social policy.

Andrew McKegg - Senior Network Engineer 

Andrew specialises in network operations, providing tier-3 support to network members, as well as service delivery and network design. He also maintains relationships with vendor technical staff, network members, and other research and education networks. Andrew was most recently at EDS where he was technical lead of the network engineering team, providing global engineering and delivery of networking services for blue-chip clients such as General Motors. He has also worked at Telecom Advanced Solutions as a design engineer and the Bank of New Zealand as an infrastructure specialist.

Jamie Curtis - Senior Network Engineer 

Jamie is involved in technical activities ranging from network operations to work alongside the engagement team. Jamie helps to ensure that the technical requirements of our members can be effectively communicated to the rest of the REANNZ team as well as ensuring that REANNZ developments are focused towards areas that will best support the future requirements of members. Jamie has worked in the network research community for over 12 years as a senior member of the WAND network research group at the University of Waikato, having graduated there with a BCMS (Hons.) in 2000. During his time with the WAND group, Jamie specialised in both active and passive network measurement research. Jamie was also involved in WAND's CRCnet rural Wi-Fi research project, which continued though successful commercialisation as Lightwire. Jamie led the technical development of many of Lightwire's products, including their student Internet management system.

Dylan Hall - Senior Network Engineer 

Dylan works on all technical matters relating to the day to day operation of the network. He keeps REANNZ connected to vendors, members and other research and education networks, providing design, service management and tier-3 support expertise. Dylan was a network engineer at Citylink for 6 years and spent 8 years with TelstraClear prior to that.

James Wix - Senior Network Engineer

James has recently returned from the United Kingdom where he worked at DANTE as an IP Engineer focusing on network design. DANTE operates the industry leading GÉANT backbone network that interconnects Europe's national research and education networks, providing high speed connectivity to 40 million students, researchers and academics. Before moving to the UK, James was IP Team Leader at Kordia for 5 years, and before that an engineer and technical specialist at Woosh. James studied biology and psychology at the University of Waikato and data and systems analysis at Oxford. For some strange reason James collects cookbooks and enjoys traveling.

Sam Russell - Network Engineer 

Sam was among the first intake of students to the network engineering degree at Victoria University, and graduated in 2011 with first class honours. He has previously worked in technical support at Tawa College, as a tutor at Victoria University, and as a web developer. At REANNZ, Sam provides engineering and technical support skills. Sam enjoys playing guitar, learning new languages, and migrating his home network to IPv6.

Susi Cosimo - Project Co-ordinator

Susi provides broad support across REANNZ, including internal operations, project management and engagement. She is also responsible for leading product related process-development and assists with the organisation’s legal and commercial compliance obligations. Susi is well attuned to the New Zealand Internet industry after working at InternetNZ for over 7 years in a variety of roles. She started her career working at New Zealand Red Cross as an Event Coordinator for 3 years. Susi has a Bachelor of Media Arts from WINTEC and in her spare time loves painting, gardening and playing with her pooch.

Nicola Chu - Accountant

Nicola is REANNZ's accountant. She is responsible for financial reporting and analysis for the management team, board and government. Nicola spent the past 8 years as the accountant for CWA New Media, throughout its acquisition by Learning Media. Her introduction to Internet-based companies started in San Francisco, where she worked for 4 years. Prior to that she worked in in London in the banking industry. Nicola holds a Bachelor of Commerce & Administration in Accounting from Victoria University and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. 

Marilyn Scannell - Office Administrator

Mazz is REANNZ's office executive, and supports the REANNZ team by ensuring the office operates efficiently and effectively. Mazz originally trained and practiced as a teacher before joining the financial sector where she held a number of senior roles including development of the insurance arm of a bank, establishment of the first help desk operations, quality assurance of large data transfer projects and numerous other project coordinator and management roles. She has tertiary qualifications in education and psychology. Mazz is also active in the wider community and holds positions of responsibility on numerous educational and community boards. She has a wide range of interests including reading, the arts, travel, furniture restoration, community development, sailing, skiing and golf.

Nichole Hodges - Accounts Assistant

Nichole is our accounts assistant, responsible for REANNZ accounts payable and receivable. Nichole ensures our suppliers are paid in a timely manner and our customers are invoiced accurately. Please contact Nichole if you have any queries in either of these areas. Nichole is returning to the work force after a break to take care of her family. Prior to being a full-time mum, Nichole worked in various financial roles in New Zealand – Icebreaker, and overseas – Gillette UK. In her spare time, Nichole enjoys playing tennis and going on family bike rides.

Dr Miriam Hughes - Relationship Manager

A sociologist, Miriam is a relationship manager at REANNZ, applying her background in educational institutions and the public sector to engagement with REANNZ members and partners. Previous experience includes 7 years in education and public-policy roles, including a focus on public education and engagement within the field of disaster and emergency management. She has an abiding belief that productive, well-managed corporate relationships can positively influence business and policy outcomes, and this underpins Miriam’s approach to her work at REANNZ. Outside of work Miriam’s interests include cooking, dinner parties, photography, social media, reading, writing, and spending time with her husband, blended family and very pampered greyhounds.

Douglas Harré - Relationship Manager

Douglas joined REANNZ in April 2013 from Core Education where he held a senior ICT role. Douglas trained originally as a geography and outdoor education teacher and taught at secondary schools in New Zealand and the UK. In 2002 he moved to Wellington to take up an ICT role at the Ministry of Education where he was involved in the setting up of a national advisory service for teachers, the deployment of broadband to schools, negotiating national software agreements and the provision of professional development programmes for schools.    Douglas has also worked for the World Bank in Egypt, been an aid worker in Solomon Islands and in other seemingly distant lives, has been a professional raft guide, a bicycle mechanic in London and planted trees in northern Canada. He has a B.Sc in Geography from the University of Canterbury.