about Shifting Gears foundation

Founded in 1991 by Ian Oldham, Shifting Gears comprises a group of like-minded individuals committed to helping leaders, and organisations through leaders, grow.

We fulfil this commitment by working with leaders from business and community sectors, to create stimulating, challenging, and diverse learning environments.

Our Foundation Partners embrace the seemingly opposite characteristics of 'fierce independence' and 'strong interdependence'; a recognition of the huge gains that arise from self-reliant people working in partnership.

This special approach produces an environment that keeps us on our toes and stimulates learning, creating on-going improvements in how we work with our customers. In short, we practise what we advocate and have a strong sense of professionalism, enthusiasm, and fun.

Foundation partners

Through their individual businesses, our partners pursue a wide range of interests. Where applicable, contact details are listed below each entry.

Ian Oldham - founder Shifting Gears

Spanning six or seven 'careers', my working life has covered operational and executive positions in electronics, aviation, retailing, quality assurance, and quality improvement. This varied background has resulted in many insights and lessons into how people and organisations operate and contributed greatly to my development of practical, skills-based programmes.

Over the years my focus has steadily shifted from working with 'things' to to working with people - especially people operating as leaders. The result has been the amazing opportunity to engage with many leaders looking to improve the way that they lead themselves and others.

In a rapidly changing world, changing organisational structures, processes (even buildings) is relatively easy compared to the shifts that leaders need to make as they implement the changes. I see it as essential that we support them in creating meaningful and sustained shifts in how they operate.

For over twenty years, my drive with Shifting Gears, has been the  honing of concepts, skills and processes that are pragmatic, well-grounded and deliver real-world benefits to leaders.

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Valma Retter - programme manager

Helping people in the community, plus extensive travel, has given me a wide appreciation of how people interact with each other and the benefits of our work. My work brings me into direct contact with many people and I enjoy being a part of the learning process and seeing them develop.

A background in law, aviation, banking, and administration has provided me with extensive opportunities to use and refine my organisational skills. Now, working with Shifting Gears, I am able to draw on, and extend, my experience in organising things 'behind the scenes' as well as in dealing directly with people.

A special pleasure is being involved in the design of Shifting Gears materials such as the 'SG Memory Jogger' and workshop presentation materials.

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Glenys Gwynne - regional manager New Zealand

For the past 10 years I have worked in organisations on a consultancy basis. Over that time, I have come to admire people who are not only highly effective at work, but are also actively working to achieve balance in their lives.

Having balance in your life includes not only looking after yourself but also dealing well with those around you: being noticed and appreciated for how well you interact with others is an achievement in itself. Having worked as a coach, trainer and facilitator, I have experienced a great joy in helping others gain new knowledge and skills to achieve in this area.

I have great faith in the Shifting Gears programme and was first introduced to it when I came across the book, serendipitously, many years ago.  I have seen people use the processes and information to great effect and am proud to be associated with a development programme that emphasises what is important in life.

Glenys Gwynne
Resolute Consulting
Auckland New Zealand

Phone: +64 27 415 7519
Email: glenys.gwynne@xtra.co.nz

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Andrew McFadden - programme leader

I am passionate about creating lasting positive change in the lives of people and have been at work as a change catalyst for the past decade. As a professional facilitator, trainer and coach, I specialise in learning and development and have worked across a broad range of areas including corporate, social services, and not-for-profit sectors in both Australia and New Zealand.

I am committed to working with programs that have impact, integrity and authenticity and I have found Shifting Gears to be one of the few programs that consistently deliver to a very high standard. I have seen first hand the profound change in people that the Shifting Gears suite of programs creates and I am proud to be associated with Ian and the team. 

Andrew McFadden
Consultant/owner
Hamilton New Zealand

Facilitator/trainer

Phone: +64 7 855 5973
Mobile: +64 27 575 7214
Email: ajmcfadden@xtra.co.nz

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Benny Lam - regional manager China/Hong Kong

Benny Lam
Action Consulting International Ltd
Room 1801, Wing On Central Building
26 Des Voeux Road, Central, Central, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 9171 7519
Email: bennylams@gmaiil.com

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Shifting Gears
PO Box 31-493
Lower Hutt
Wellington
New Zealand

Bus.  64 4 566 0097

Email:  info@shiftinggears.co.nz

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