Our people

Lisa Gray

Founder and Partner – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 973 5470
E: Email Lisa Gray

English-born, but now a proud Kiwi, Lisa has worked in recruitment for over 20 years, during which time she’s always been a hands-on recruiter. She set up Tyler Wren in 2017 to establish a recruitment business based in New Zealand with particular expertise in Design & Build, Law, Accountancy & Finance and Banking & Financial Services. All areas where she has experienced a famine of candidates in New Zealand.

Lisa has trained and successfully managed many recruitment teams, but continues to work closely with candidates and clients to provide the best opportunities available.

She believes in qualifying and understanding her candidates’ skills, personality and aspirations in order to carefully match these with her clients.

Having spent 14 years with a large corporate recruiter across Britain, Lisa has a strong understanding of the UK recruitment market. This, together with 8 years recruiting in New Zealand, means Lisa has a deep understanding of how and why New Zealand is a great opportunity for both local and European-based candidates.

Having personally placed thousands of people into new roles, she has established herself and Tyler Wren as the premier New Zealand career experts.

And, like most life-loving Kiws, Lisa loves a game of golf, wine, hiking, barbeques and spending time at the pristine, sandy beaches that surround New Zealand.

Scott Stapleton

Partner –Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 973 5471
E: Email Scott Stapleton

Scott has over 7 years dedicated recruitment experience and has also run his own businesses. Having led teams in both New Zealand and Australia, Scott still works as a hands-on recruiter, loving the role and enjoying creating new opportunities in careers and lifestyle for his candidates. As a recruitment partner, Scott is Tyler Wren’s “go to” guy for highly-skilled roles, in particular within the building consultancy sector throughout New Zealand.

Typically Scott recruits roles within:

– Architecture

– Building Surveying

– Professional Quantity Surveying

– Project Management (Consultancy)

Scott builds great relationships because he’s a down-to-earth, hardworking Kiwi guy who manages his clients’ and candidates’ expectations well and always goes that extra mile for them. He thoroughly understands the markets so his clients and candidates trust his judgment when reviewing their strategies.

When Scott’s not at work, he’s at the gym or out on the golf course. He loves a vodka and soda now and again and can eat a 1-litre tub of ice-cream in 8 seconds. Randomly, he can also play the bagpipes pretty well! 

Natasha Toehemotu

Partner – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 930 9827
E: Email Natasha Toehemotu

Tasha has taken an interesting route on her way to a career in recruitment. Starting out in an accounting firm, Tasha then moved into insurance sales before finding her calling as a passionate recruiter. Her favourite moments in recruitment is when a candidate is absolutely overjoyed to accept a great job offer – one that will elevate their career and enhance their lifestyle. 

Since 2016 she has specialised within the CA space and has long standing relationships with Big Four, Mid Tiers, large, medium to boutique sized firms across New Zealand. She covers roles within business advisory services, tax, audit, corporate finance, forensics and a few cross over roles. She works with local candidates, Kiwi returners and those who want to relocate the the land of the long white cloud.

Auckland born and raised, Tasha loves indulging in cuisine (and the odd drop of wine) as well as ticking off countries on her bucketlist with her other half. From time to time, her two adorable pooches (Panda and Kobe) make an appearance in the office, creating plenty of ooohs and ahhhs!

Stevie Doubleday

Partner – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 930 9828
E: Email Stevie Doubleday

Stevie has worked in recruitment since 2015, both in the United Kingdom and now back in New Zealand. Originally from Auckland, Stevie completed a Bachelor of Business and then gained a couple of years experience in marketing before doing the typical Kiwi OE to London.

Two years working and travelling abroad made Stevie realise how much she loved New Zealand and she made the decision she was ready to come home and settle back in Auckland, although it did take her five months, with three months backpacking in South East Asia, to get her here.

Stevie has recruited in a number of industries, including Office Support, Accounting and Finance and now Legal – in both the permanent and temporary job space. Her passions lie with matching candidates to their dream roles, ensuring the right culture fit in order to further their careers. Since making the switch to the Legal market she has found her niche and clicks with Lawyers, Legal Executives and Secretaries alike. 

Stevie understands how daunting it can be to move jobs, cities and countries and to come home, so is always available to lend an ear or give advice. Just don’t get her started talking about travel!

Out of the office, Stevie enjoys spending time with friends and family, whether that’s hiking in the great outdoors or having a cheeky wine – although her next travel destination (Country number 46) is never too far from her mind.

Simone Storey

Partner – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 972 9313
E: Email Simone Storey

Simone came into recruitment after many years in commercial business support roles within the building consultancy industry. Through her experience in this sector, Simone has developed unique skills essential in understanding the complexities and challenges consultancy can bring. Which makes her the ideal recruiter in these attractive employment areas.

Simone is an effective, results-oriented recruiter who is detailed and considered in her approach to finding the right people for her clients.  

She believes that relationships based on trust and mutual understanding always result in the right outcomes for both candidate and client.

Simone enjoys music and can often be found singing in the office, much to the annoyance of “some” of her colleagues (who shall remain nameless). She also enjoys socialising with friends and family, good wine, food, and lots of laughs.  

Auckland born and raised, she loves hanging out with her husband and young son, playing touch rugby, practising yoga and catching up with friends.

Kirsty Ballot

Partner – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 972 9988
E: Email Kirsty Ballot

Kirsty specialises in the multi-disciplined Civil Consultancy space with a core focus on water, environmental, transport, geotechnical and civil engineering roles across New Zealand. With a recruitment career that started in 2008, she has extensive in-house and agency-based experience in South Africa, London and NZ, she’s worked at both ends of the table, and strives to make the recruitment process as efficient and smooth as possible.

Whether you’re an offshore candidate or a local Kiwi based Civil Engineer, Kirsty is passionate about changing lives by matching you with exceptional opportunities, and finding talented individuals to add value to her client’s businesses! 

Having emigrated to New Zealand a few years back, she understands the enormity of the decision and how vital it is to ensure it’s the right career move and lifestyle change for you and your family.  

In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors and exploring new parts of Auckland, travelling around NZ and finding the latest spots to visit and of course spending quality time with her young family.

Gary Bloxham

Partner – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 974 9072
E: Email Gary Bloxham

Originally from South Africa, Gary has worked in the Insurance and Financial Services sector for 20+ years in South Africa; Rest of Africa and Switzerland to then developing a career in recruitment in New Zealand since 2015. He has led teams in the Insurance & Financial Services sectors including his most recent roles in recruitment in New Zealand. With his passion for Insurance & Financial Services, he works closely with candidates to understand their career aspirations and with his background knowledge in this sector, coupled with a strong NZ network, is well placed to make great employer/employee relationships.

Gary moved to New Zealand with his partner of 9 years in 2015 with the good fortune of having a softer landing as they have a wide family and friendship support circle, which “kiwi-fied” him to make New Zealand home! Having taken the decision to embrace a complete change in career direction into the world of recruitment the transition was smooth taking into account his broad background in Insurance & Financial Services, he quickly developed a solid network in this space.

On the weekends’ Gary and his partner can be found enjoying the outdoors and are keen foodies who enjoy entertaining both at home or be it a new dining experience with a few cheeky wines.

Leonie Stapleton

Kiwi Mum – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 973 5470
E: Email Leonie Stapleton

Leonie is our Kiwi ‘Mum’ – dedicated to support relocators and their families as they transition to New Zealand.

With a wealth of expert and local knowledge, she’s your ‘go-to’ person to ensure the process to NZ is as painless as possible, in fact the opposite – smooth and enjoyable.

Leonie’s experience includes working in Land Information and Subdivision Planning with local City Councils and Government Departments in Dunedin, Christchurch, Napier and Waimakariri. (She can tell you how to pronounce that one too!)

Having moved and resettled in both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand – eleven times, in both large cities and small provincial towns, she provides useful insights and practical advice in how to get the best out of living down under.

Leonie has two grown children and two young, delightfully entertaining grandsons. 

Having friends and family spread across New Zealand means she also can recommend a host of favourite restaurants and holiday spots across the country.

Leonie loves tramping in the beautiful South Island National Parks, beach-walking and exploring local coast and harbour areas – by jet ski.

She also makes amazing homemade fudge! (a national pastime!).

Ilaria Biuso

Partner – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 972 2672
E: Email Ilaria Biuso

Ilaria has had a varied career spanning the Arts, Communications and Sales spheres. Upon completing her Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Ilaria worked across Auckland’s gallery space for a couple of years before moving to France to be closer to pain au chocolats, awesome art, and her Italian family.

Fast forward a few years, Ilaria was back in the northern hemisphere, this time living in East London where she worked in communications for a craft brewery. It wasn’t until she came back to Auckland that she found her vocation in recruitment.

Before joining Tyler Wren, her most recent role was in temporary recruitment specialising in the legal, corporate and insurance industries. She is passionate about bringing candidate and client together and making that perfect match.

Outside of work, Ilaria has a keen interest in music, travel and anything food related. You can find her unnecessarily scoffing at all hours of the day thinking about her next travel destination.

Melissa Marshall

Partner – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 930 8521
E: Email Melissa Marshall

Melissa has spent majority of her working career in the Legal space.  She has worked in most areas of law and at both top tier and boutique type law firms.  Her most recent law role was within an insurance litigation law firm, where she had a varied role involving events, marketing, and executive level support to the partners.

She decided that she wanted a bit more out of her career and enjoyed the people side of her role so made the move into recruitment.  Before coming on board at Tyler Wren she recruited within the insurance space, focusing mainly on insurance brokerages.

She has now decided to go back to what she knows, which is legal.  With a focus on general practice within Auckland and the wider Country.

Outside of work she is mum to a 10 year old boy, Kash and an 8 month old French Bulldog, Luna.  She and her partner enjoy finding beautiful places to walk and explore, eating good food and spending time with their family and friends.  She also enjoys a night in watching a good movie or series on Netflix. If you catch her on the right day in the office, she will often bring Luna along to her candidate meetings for a cuddle.

Ben Holloway

Partner – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 930 8520
E: Email Ben Holloway

Ben found his way into the world of recruitment after many years in sales and management.

With five years experience under his belt, he understands how life-changing the right role can be for a candidate and how valuable the right candidate can be for a business. He has also built an ethical, transparent way of working with his contacts to ensure that expectations are met for both parties.

In the UK Ben worked in construction before backpacking across Australia. Unable to bring himself to return to the cold winters in England, he found himself settling in Auckland. After a decade in Aotearoa, he understands the way NZ businesses work and considers himself a Kiwi.

Ben loves all things football and is a devout Manchester United fan. When he is not playing football, or supporting his team, you will find him spending time with his two young daughters.

Vikki Cox

NZ Recruitment Specialist – Based in UK
T: +44 (0) 741 913 0546
E: Email Vikki Cox

Vikki has over 10 years’ hands-on experience in recruitment and candidate sourcing with the UK’s largest specialist recruitment agency, 9 years of which were spent working alongside Lisa Gray. She has worked within different sectors, including Accountancy and Finance, and Office Support, covering the temporary, permanent and contract markets.

As a recruitment consultant she understands how the right role can change someone’s life, and as an army wife she understands how intimidating an overseas move can seem.  This combination of professional experience and personal empathy makes her the ideal person to work alongside candidates interested in exploring the possibility of moving to New Zealand.

Vikki has travelled across New Zealand and appreciates what an amazing country it is, and what life is like there. She has a fond appreciation for the wines of Marlborough, the beauty of Waiheke and the calmness of Lake Pukaki.

Having recently returned from a Cyprus posting, she is once again enjoying life in the UK with her two young children and husband. When she is not in the gym, you will find her in the kitchen cooking up a storm for her family, who would describe her as loyal, committed and outgoing.

Vanessa Bolton

NZ Recruitment Specialist – Based in New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 972 9312
E: Email Vanessa Bolton

Vanessa has worked in recruitment for 15 years both in the UK and NZ. She started her recruitment career in the UK working in the Banking and Finance space resourcing roles for part qualified and qualified accountancy teams. After living the fast-paced London lifestyle for 2 and a half years, New Zealand was calling; so Vanessa returned to settle back into life here in 2003. After arriving and spending some time with a small search firm; she decided to assist with the setting up and running of a new boutique recruitment agency.

Her focus was successfully sourcing and placing technical candidates into both permanent, contract and temporary roles across multiple industries with a main focus on the scientific market. Vanessa has a good understanding of the permanent, contract and temporary needs of clients whilst also establishing and maintaining excellent relationships with candidates. She is very results driven and works hard towards sourcing only the best talent for her clients and making the right job match for her candidates.

In her spare time, she enjoys riding horses and has two daughters 10 and 12 which keep her busy on the weekends. She also enjoys travel and spending quality time with family.