Meet the team

We’re a very diverse and somewhat odd mixture of people, which makes Driving Creek a truly unique, vibrant and authentic workplace. Our people are passionate about what they do, whether it is pottery, conservation, engineering or outdoor adventure which makes Driving Creek an enriching place to work and visit.

Management Team

Hey, my name is Jesse. I’m originally from Rotorua and spend my time skiing, mountain biking, surfing and sailing my little yacht t-bear (which I probably spend more time fixing than actually sailing).

I have a strong background in tourism that began as a ski instructor at 18. After graduating from Otago University, I brought my skills and experience to Driving Creek and managed the setup of our zipline canopy tour in 2017, which I now manage along with the railway, health and safety, and marketing.

Jesse

Manager of Tourism Operations

Hi I’m Kate, I grew up here in beautiful Coromandel. I Love working to help protect our special local environment and native species - like our kiwi! The success of conservation at Driving Creek, and across our neighbouring properties, is a tribute to the amazing conservation team that I am lucky to work alongside.

Kate

Conservation Manager

Kia Ora, my name is Casey. I finished school in 2015 and made the move to Coromandel to start working at Driving Creek and have been here ever since. I have been coming to Coromandel since I was 4 so it has always been my second home. In my spare time I enjoy fishing, hanging out at the beach and I am also currently studying business.

Casey

Business Administrator

Hi, I am Neil, I have Driving Creek’s best job as I get to regularly work with all the cool staff, fellow directors, trustees, friends of Driving Creek, as well as the artists, conservationists, and engineers that support our work.

Driving Creek is an amazing and fun place like no other and it is an absolute privilege to lead the expanded team. I spend my days mostly tied to my laptop and cellphone with a reparation for drooling over spreadsheets and dreaming up crazy new visitor attractions, most unfairly mocked by colleagues.

When not working my passions are mountain biking and skiing.

Neil

Executive Director

Hey, my name is Jesse. I’m originally from Rotorua and spend my time skiing, mountain biking, surfing and sailing my little yacht t-bear (which I probably spend more time fixing than actually sailing).

I have a strong background in tourism that began as a ski instructor at 18. After graduating from Otago University, I brought my skills and experience to Driving Creek and managed the setup of our zipline canopy tour in 2017, which I now manage along with the railway, health and safety, and marketing.

Jesse

Manager of Tourism Operations

Hi I’m Kate, I grew up here in beautiful Coromandel. I Love working to help protect our special local environment and native species - like our kiwi! The success of conservation at Driving Creek, and across our neighbouring properties, is a tribute to the amazing conservation team that I am lucky to work alongside.

Kate

Conservation Manager

Hi, I am Neil, I have Driving Creek’s best job as I get to regularly work with all the cool staff, fellow directors, trustees, friends of Driving Creek, as well as the artists, conservationists, and engineers that support our work.

Driving Creek is an amazing and fun place like no other and it is an absolute privilege to lead the expanded team. I spend my days mostly tied to my laptop and cellphone with a reparation for drooling over spreadsheets and dreaming up crazy new visitor attractions, most unfairly mocked by colleagues.

When not working my passions are mountain biking and skiing.

Neil

Executive Director

Kia Ora, my name is Casey. I finished school in 2015 and made the move to Coromandel to start working at Driving Creek and have been here ever since. I have been coming to Coromandel since I was 4 so it has always been my second home. In my spare time I enjoy fishing, hanging out at the beach and I am also currently studying business.

Casey

Business Administrator

Customer Service Team

Hi my name’s Georgina, I’ve lived in Coromandel for 7 years and have a 4 year old daughter who keeps me busy! In my spare time I love going to the beach and hanging out with friends.

Georgina

Customer Service Team Member

Kia Ora, my name is Mary Lee. I was born here in Coromandel Town and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. I love gardening, pottery and time with family and friends.

Mary

Customer Service Team Member

Kia Ora, my name is Mary Lee. I was born here in Coromandel Town and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. I love gardening, pottery and time with family and friends.

Mary

Customer Service Team Member

Hi my name’s Georgina, I’ve lived in Coromandel for 7 years and have a 4 year old daughter who keeps me busy! In my spare time I love going to the beach and hanging out with friends.

Georgina

Customer Service Team Member

Zipline Team

Hi my name is Saskia and these are the things I’ve learned in life. Everything tastes better with parmesan. Dont! Ever! Brake for possums! All you really need is a bicycle and a tent.

Saskia

Conservation Team Leader & Zipline Guide

Hi my name is Susan. I grew up coming to Driving Creek Railway regularly with my family. Barry Brickell, the creator of DCR, is my great uncle. I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and sailing. Currently I’m studying traditional herbal medicine and New Zealand sign language, both through online schools. I look forward to seeing you on the zipline.

Susan

Zipline Guide

Hey I'm Caitlin and I'm from Edinburgh in Scotland. I only just arrived in New Zealand in November and I'm already in love with the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. Back in Scotland I was an outdoor instructor teaching paddlesports as well as working up in the trees on high ropes courses. I love running, hiking, swimming and look forward to exploring more of New Zealand on my days off.

Caitlin

Zipline Guide

Hey my name is Summer, I grew up in Taupo but spend my winters at Mt Ruapehu and summers (Ha) in the tropical Coromandel! You can find me basking on a beach or shredding on the mountain. Yeww!

Summer

Zipline Guide and Social Media Coordinator

Hey my name's Bailey, originally from Hamilton! I am currently studying down in Queenstown and here at Driving Creek on an internship program. I enjoy all things outdoors from kayaking to camping and hiking! I am also really into cars and anything to do with a motor, mostly into older Japanese cars that I spend my time tinkering around with and fixing / building.

Bailey

Zipline and Rail Tour Guide

Hey, I’m Kate! I am originally from the Waikato, but at the moment I am a uni student studying in Christchurch during the year and ziplining in the summer. I’m studying down South and exploring new places has been awesome! I love road trips with friends and anything outdoors or adventurous. I usually spend my summers in the Coromandel with family, and I’m excited to be up here full time as a guide this summer!

Kate

Zipline Guide

Hey I'm Caitlin and I'm from Edinburgh in Scotland. I only just arrived in New Zealand in November and I'm already in love with the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. Back in Scotland I was an outdoor instructor teaching paddlesports as well as working up in the trees on high ropes courses. I love running, hiking, swimming and look forward to exploring more of New Zealand on my days off.

Caitlin

Zipline Guide

Hey my name is Lucy, I grew up in Thames/Auckland, I am currently a uni student in Auckland during the year and a zipline guide this summer! When I’m not slaving away at the library, you can find me going on hikes with my friends, spending all my money on food and swimming at the beach. Can’t wait for an awesome summer on the zipline!

Lucy

Zipline Guide

Hey, I’m Kate! I am originally from the Waikato, but at the moment I am a uni student studying in Christchurch during the year and ziplining in the summer. I’m studying down South and exploring new places has been awesome! I love road trips with friends and anything outdoors or adventurous. I usually spend my summers in the Coromandel with family, and I’m excited to be up here full time as a guide this summer!

Kate

Zipline Guide

Hey my name's Bailey, originally from Hamilton! I am currently studying down in Queenstown and here at Driving Creek on an internship program. I enjoy all things outdoors from kayaking to camping and hiking! I am also really into cars and anything to do with a motor, mostly into older Japanese cars that I spend my time tinkering around with and fixing / building.

Bailey

Zipline and Rail Tour Guide

Hey my name is Summer, I grew up in Taupo but spend my winters at Mt Ruapehu and summers (Ha) in the tropical Coromandel! You can find me basking on a beach or shredding on the mountain. Yeww!

Summer

Zipline Guide and Social Media Coordinator

Hi my name is Saskia and these are the things I’ve learned in life. Everything tastes better with parmesan. Dont! Ever! Brake for possums! All you really need is a bicycle and a tent.

Saskia

Conservation Team Leader & Zipline Guide

Railway Team

Hi, Doug here. I moved to Coromandel a few years ago after years of looking for somewhere with forests and sea close together, and lots of holidays spent on the Coromandel Peninsula made it the obvious choice. I enjoy both fishing and conservation work as hobbies. Hope I can help others enjoy this place as much as I do, with the legacy Barry has left for us all.

Doug

Rail Tour Guide

Kia Ora everyone, my name is Ray. I love the outdoors and working in an adventurous environment is my absolute passion so I look forward to sharing it with you!

Raina

Rail Team leader

Hi all, my name is Carmel. I started working at Driving Creek in November 2021, driving the trains. Now I’m spending more time in the pottery which I love. It’s great that I can develop the skills I learnt while studying ceramics in Galway, Ireland.

Carmel

Rail Tour Guide & Pottery Tutor

Hey guys, my name is Russell. I’m originally from hamilton. I spend my time fishing and helping my lady with driftwood sculptures.

Russell

Rail Tour Guide

Hey guys, my name is Russell. I’m originally from hamilton. I spend my time fishing and helping my lady with driftwood sculptures.

Russell

Rail Tour Guide

Hi all, my name is Carmel. I started working at Driving Creek in November 2021, driving the trains. Now I’m spending more time in the pottery which I love. It’s great that I can develop the skills I learnt while studying ceramics in Galway, Ireland.

Carmel

Rail Tour Guide & Pottery Tutor

Hi, Doug here. I moved to Coromandel a few years ago after years of looking for somewhere with forests and sea close together, and lots of holidays spent on the Coromandel Peninsula made it the obvious choice. I enjoy both fishing and conservation work as hobbies. Hope I can help others enjoy this place as much as I do, with the legacy Barry has left for us all.

Doug

Rail Tour Guide

Kia Ora everyone, my name is Ray. I love the outdoors and working in an adventurous environment is my absolute passion so I look forward to sharing it with you!

Raina

Rail Team leader

Pottery Team

I've had a fascination with clay from an early age and this led me to gaining a Bachelor of Ceramics and Glass from Sunderland University in 1987. Two years later, I emigrated to Aotearoa where I landed at Driving Creek spending over two years potting and working on the railway development at Driving Creek. Coming full circle, I am now back at Driving Creek again working to develop the Pottery. In between times, I've had a successful career in both ceramics and Glass, showing widely in Aotearoa and also internationally (Australia, UK, USA).

Sam

Pottery Team Leader

Hey, I am a Finnish addition to the pottery team and the most reluctant potter of us all, though being slowly converted with North’s hard work. 

On a daily basis I am trying to keep the artistic types in line, take care of the office side of things, organise courses, coordinate residencies and keep the communication going in the form of our newsletter and social media posts.

Meri

Pottery Administrator

Hi I’m Riccardo born in 1991. I completed a Visual Communication Design Degree at Massey University Wellington in 2012. I went on to work in interior design in Italy before coming back to New Zealand and discovering pottery. I’m interested in exploring and harnessing the local raw materials to make my clay and glazes.

Riccardo

Pottery Tutor & Production Worker

I started pottery in 2014 when I became an apprentice at the Leach Pottery in St Ives. I worked as part of the production team there for eight years and now I'm at Driving Creek to start a new production studio. I love making pots for everyday use and I'm particularly interested in wood firing.

Callum

Production Pottery Lead & Tutor

Hi, I’m Riyah from Cornwall. I’ve always been a very creative person and have a love for art, ceramics and nature. Driving Creek brings all of this together so I'm super happy to be part of the team here.

Riyah

Pottery Social Media Coordinator & Collections Coordinator

Hi, I’m Riyah from Cornwall. I’ve always been a very creative person and have a love for art, ceramics and nature. Driving Creek brings all of this together so I'm super happy to be part of the team here.

Riyah

Pottery Social Media Coordinator & Collections Coordinator

Hey, I am a Finnish addition to the pottery team and the most reluctant potter of us all, though being slowly converted with North’s hard work. 

On a daily basis I am trying to keep the artistic types in line, take care of the office side of things, organise courses, coordinate residencies and keep the communication going in the form of our newsletter and social media posts.

Meri

Pottery Administrator

Hi I’m Riccardo born in 1991. I completed a Visual Communication Design Degree at Massey University Wellington in 2012. I went on to work in interior design in Italy before coming back to New Zealand and discovering pottery. I’m interested in exploring and harnessing the local raw materials to make my clay and glazes.

Riccardo

Pottery Tutor & Production Worker

I've had a fascination with clay from an early age and this led me to gaining a Bachelor of Ceramics and Glass from Sunderland University in 1987. Two years later, I emigrated to Aotearoa where I landed at Driving Creek spending over two years potting and working on the railway development at Driving Creek. Coming full circle, I am now back at Driving Creek again working to develop the Pottery. In between times, I've had a successful career in both ceramics and Glass, showing widely in Aotearoa and also internationally (Australia, UK, USA).

Sam

Pottery Team Leader

I started pottery in 2014 when I became an apprentice at the Leach Pottery in St Ives. I worked as part of the production team there for eight years and now I'm at Driving Creek to start a new production studio. I love making pots for everyday use and I'm particularly interested in wood firing.

Callum

Production Pottery Lead & Tutor

Engineering Team

My name’s Jade, I’m from Coromandel and when I’m not helping fix and maintain the trains or railway tracks, you can find me skateboarding or stockpiling obsolete video games and 90’s Japanese cars. If I had superpowers, I would be like Homelander.

Jade

Engineering Team Member

Hi I’m Paul, I grew up in Colville and went to school in Coromandel. I am also a beekeeper and manage 250 hives. Any spare time that I have is spent on or in the water free diving, rock fishing and surfing. I enjoy the diversity of people and the work at Driving Creek.

Paul

Engineering Team Member

I have been working for DCR for 30 years now and I have been involved in lots of very interesting projects. I enjoy the problem solving aspect of my job, trying to work things out and improve them. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and the Coromandel outdoor lifestyle.

Beran

Engineering Manager

Hi my name is Nathan, I am from Coromandel and I occasionally attend uni in Auckland. When I’m not studying I’m watching as many rom coms as humanly possible. I also enjoy long walks on the beach, swimming and camping in nature. My favourite part of my job is waving to all the customers on the train as they pass.

Nathan

Mechanical Engineer Intern

Hi my name is Nathan, I am from Coromandel and I occasionally attend uni in Auckland. When I’m not studying I’m watching as many rom coms as humanly possible. I also enjoy long walks on the beach, swimming and camping in nature. My favourite part of my job is waving to all the customers on the train as they pass.

Nathan

Mechanical Engineer Intern

My name’s Jade, I’m from Coromandel and when I’m not helping fix and maintain the trains or railway tracks, you can find me skateboarding or stockpiling obsolete video games and 90’s Japanese cars. If I had superpowers, I would be like Homelander.

Jade

Engineering Team Member

I have been working for DCR for 30 years now and I have been involved in lots of very interesting projects. I enjoy the problem solving aspect of my job, trying to work things out and improve them. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and the Coromandel outdoor lifestyle.

Beran

Engineering Manager

Hi I’m Paul, I grew up in Colville and went to school in Coromandel. I am also a beekeeper and manage 250 hives. Any spare time that I have is spent on or in the water free diving, rock fishing and surfing. I enjoy the diversity of people and the work at Driving Creek.

Paul

Engineering Team Member

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