Meet the team

 The Management Team

Gary Collins

I started with the company in 1997 as the General Manager and have always been involved in the publishing industry - since I was knee-high to a grasshopper - you could say it's in the blood!

Due to having an excellent team of people we have experienced steady growth over the last 13 years and now have offices on the Gold Coast and Melbourne as well as our head office operation in Christchurch. We have launched several new companies along the way including a job site, a dog and cat food distribution company and several more publishing arms particularly into the Australian market.

I am now the Managing Director of the Group and as such focus on the future growth of the business. This includes two recently launched new ventures - Awareness Today and Safe Bottles - which, due to my personal interest in health and fitness, I am very passionate about.

I am excited about the future opportunities for our business and our staff.

You can contact me at: gary@academy.net.nz

Rebecca Harris

I’ve grown up in publishing, from the “cut and paste days” to the digital age and now as GM I’ve been involved in most aspects of the industry.

After more than a decade with Academy and partaking in everything from desktop publishing, to expos and distribution, sourcing suppliers and managing the teams to ensure “we do what we say we do” I now sit back and watch it all happen – not!

Balancing the needs, wants and desires of advertisers, readers, suppliers, staff and contractors to ensure everyone is happy means each day is different, but with the same goal – to produce positive, informative and engaging publications.

You can contact me at: rebecca@academy.net.nz

Read Rebecca's Rant

Di Barclay

I have been a member of the Academy team since 1994 and started with the company as a Sales Representative. During the course of my time with the company I have worked in the Sales, Production, Editorial and Administration departments which has given me a thorough understanding of the essential elements involved in compiling the publications we produce.

Currently, as the Operations Manager, I look after special projects, Advertising Agencies, Audited circulation and day to day Management of the Magazine Sales team. I am also responsible for the Human Resources department so have a position with huge variety which I thoroughly enjoy!

You can contact me at: di@academy.net.nz

Jonathon Taylor

I joined the Academy ‘family’ as we like to call it as a junior reporter in late 2001. After cutting my teeth writing features, profiles, news and reviews, was made chief reporter a year later and began overseeing daily newsroom activities, while still writing for the publications.

In 2005 I became editor and now look after the entire editorial team and oversee all our publications’ content. In this day and age of mass communications our editorial philosophy is to give readers ‘information they can use,’ and the editorial direction for all our publications is based around this premise.

You can contact me at: editor@academy.net.nz

Meet the Editorial Team

Kylie Moore

I have been working at Academy Publishing since 2005, when I started out as an Office Junior.

Now, as Administration Manager, my role includes several duties for each of the companies under the Academy umbrella.

Outside of work I like to spend time with my partner Michael and our dog Max. My family is also involved in Harness Racing so I enjoy nothing better than being outside with the horses.

You can contact me at: admin@academy.net.nz

Meet the Administration Team

Ian Knott

Production Manager

I've been part of the Academy Production Team for almost 2 years but have been in the media/print industry for 25 years and hold formal pre-press qualifications.

As Production Manager I facilitate the smooth running of our busy production department and ensure our products meet deadline and our own very high standards.

In my spare time I am a freelance writer and am arguably the most published reviewer in NZ, having had regular columns in major newspapers, magazines and websites in NZ and overseas for the past 16 years.

I’m an avid gamer/gadget freak and recently decided to retire from football goalkeeping to return to one of my first sporting loves - golf. I am also a husband and father to my lovely wife and three kids.

You can contact me at: ian@academy.net.nz

Meet the Production Team

Frank & Stein