OUR WHAKATAUĀKĪ
Kia ū ki te whenua i ngā whetu
Ka urungi ngā teremoana i te hoe.
Use the stars to guide you to your destination, and paddle with the currents that swirl around you.
Translation
Kia ū (to reach land, guide, arrive) ki te whenua (the land) i ngā whetu (use the stars).
Ka urungi (rudder, steer but also the act of entering) ngā teremoana (ocean voyage, the fast ocean currents) i te hoe (to paddle).
The concept
We partner with clients through their journey with learning. We help them set their destination with the strategy work we do, and then we plan the journey with them – how they will implement it. We travel with them on the journey – and as things change and challenges happen, we help them adjust and hold their course.
Kia ū ki te whenua i ngā whetu.
Ka urungi ngā teremoana i te hoe.
Use the stars to guide to your destination and paddle with the currents that swirl around you.
Our Whakapapa
Synapsys was founded by Phil Garing in 2004. With a background in law (practice and teaching), Phil saw emerging technologies and innovation in learning as powerful forces for change. His vision for Synapsys was, and is, a team who see the opportunities for learning to have a real impact in the world, and who themselves are capable and committed to making things happen.
Our name and our brand tells the story. Synapsys references the synapses in our brain. We think of synapses as the spark of creative thought, but they are also central to how we remember, and how we tell our body to take action. Synapsys stands for creative thought and action.
Synapsys also recognises the importance of systems – Synapsys. Creativity and action are great, but if we’re going to really have a meaningful impact, we need systems, structure and process. The two are not incompatible, they’re complementary. When we get the balance right, we have the vision, and we execute on it as a team, as partners with our clients.
From its initial focus in the Vocational Sector, Synapsys became recognised in the commercial sector – helping with the launch of the Z brand, and supporting Toyota New Zealand on its journey. Our influence continues today through clients such as WSP, Xero, Farmlands and Kiwibank.
The Canterbury earthquakes helped make us who we are. We kept each other going. We valued having jobs and meaningful work in tough times. And we knew how to look after each other as real people with families and challenging lives. It’s in our DNA and serves us well now in the time massive global change, and of Covid.
In more recent years our reputation in government has flourished; working across multiple agencies on projects ranging from national sector change initiatives to targeted resource development work.
Our service offerings have expanded from consulting and content development, to platforms and systems and to measuring the impact of our work. We understand learning as a whole system that is about people and change.
We learned to be a partner to our clients – to be brave enough to challenge them; to truly and honestly measure our success; to see the whole cycle through from strategic idea to action and systems, to standing with the change we create.
More recently we’ve embarked on our own journey into Te Ao Māori. We know we have much to offer, much to learn, and we’re committed to building partnerships to see it happen.
As with all things, Synapsys’ journey has shaped what it is. It also drives who the Synapsys team is, as people and as professionals.
Phil Garing
Managing Director | Manahautū
Founding Synapsys in 2004, Phil has 30+ years of experience in strategic consulting in transformation and capability development. With a background in law and tertiary education, he is passionate about embedding change management in learning design. He has led complex projects involving diverse stakeholders and sensitive environments while effectively measuring and communicating ROI.
He has also contributed to learning initiatives, including Learning City Christchurch, the Workforce Development Council Design Group, and the EdTech Executive Council.
Erin Black
Synapsys Advisory Board Member | Kaitohutohu | Independent Director | Impact Facilitator | Coach | Advocate (Ngāti Rangi, Te Mahurehure)
Erin is an experienced Business Leader and PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner with a strong background in management consulting. She is skilled in governance, commercial strategy, DEI, market research, CX/UX, project management, communications, and change. She holds a BCom focused in Business, Management, and Marketing, a BA in Psychology, and a DipGrad.
Her expertise in market research and analysis underpins her evidence-based decision-making and strategic insight at the board table.
Blair Waipara
Synapsys Advisory Board Member | Kaitohutohu | Director Strategy & Performance, Te Ara Hiranga (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāti Kahungunu)
Blair’s passion is for working on exciting & positively disruptive challenges with awesome people. His expertise encompasses developing asset strategies and business models, business scorecards and KPI dashboards, processes for governance and management reporting & investment cases for capital.
His professional involvement includes working with Iwi governance, Māori land governance and management, primary industry asset investment and development, technology and tool design and development, & deep engagement with Māori Landowners on numerous projects.
Nolen Smith
Growth & Engagement Partner
Nolen is a growth leader and entrepreneur with over 20 years’ experience in digital learning and innovation. As Growth & Engagement Partner at Synapsys, he supports strategic partners, clients and the Synapsys team in driving the company’s continued expansion.
He previously co-founded Kineo Asia Pacific, leading its expansion into the region’s largest digital learning provider, and Totara Learning, now a leading global learning management system. Nolen has also led strategic initiatives for Wavelength and advised both startups and established edtech organisations.
Lorraine Want
General Manager – Content | Pou Whakahaere Hoahoa
Lorraine leads the Content team at Synapsys, guiding learning designers in creating impactful content and learning experiences that align with clients’ strategies and goals. She also oversees programme management at Synapsys, ensuring we deliver on our commitments across the entire client base.
Lorraine is passionate about building strong relationship and seeing projects come to life to create impactful change.
Paul Stevens
General Manager – Technology Services | Pou Whakahaere – Mātaihangarau
Driving the strategic direction and operational excellence of Synapsys NZ’s Learning Management System (LMS) platform services. Paul leads cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, user-centric learning solutions for clients across government, education, and enterprise sectors. With a focus on platform innovation, client engagement, and continuous improvement to support impactful digital learning experiences. Paul is passionate about aligning technology with learning outcomes to drive organisational capability and growth.
Helen Moorcock
Project Co-ordinator & Service Delivery Champion | Kairuruku Kaupapa
Helen is a seasoned Programme Coordinator with extensive experience in New Zealand’s public sector, particularly in Māori development, policy coordination, and stakeholder engagement. She has supported Te Puni Kōkiri’s Te Pae Tawhiti team, focusing on mātauranga Māori and indigenous genetic resources. Across her career Helen has demonstrated strengths in governance support, agile project delivery, and cross-agency collaboration. She integrates Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti frameworks into her work, with operational precision, cultural insight, and strong relationship management.
Maire Smith PNZATD
Senior Learning Designer | Kaihoahoa mātauranga matua
With a demonstrated history of success in learning experience design, UX design, project management, and quality management, Maire has over 25 years of experience working on learning solutions for the government, energy, and rural sectors. Her award-winning designs help learners to transfer new concepts into their day-to-day practice on the job.
Virginia Forbes
Learning Designer | Kaihoahoa mātauranga
Virginia has over 20 years’ experience designing and delivering education programmes in diverse cultures and industries. She has brought her experience in creating dynamic curriculum design, blended learning environments and facilitation into the digital environment in both the public and private sectors.
Olumuyiwa Taiwo
Senior Platform Specialist | Kaimātaihangarau
Muyi is our Senior Platform Specialist, implementing, configuring and supporting our LMS solutions. With his wealth of experience as tertiary educator, software developer, infrastructure engineer and project leader, Muyi is well placed to approach a broad range of problems with an informed view of feasible solutions.
Jozefa Wylaars
Administration and Accounts | Whakahaerenga
Jozefa has been working with statistics and business systems her entire career; from government to education to horticulture. She has a passion for clear meaningful reporting, well documented processes and really enjoys supporting the team with HR and contractor liaison.