Sustainability Leaders
Our People
Executive Team
General Manager
Meet John, our General Manager at Waste Options, John isn’t just leading a company; he’s bringing it home. Born and bred in Rotorua New Zealand and has studied at Massey University in Palmy, John envisioned a business that would prioritise customer needs driven by a clear vision for a truly customer-focused waste management solution.
With a wealth of experience in leading people and driving business transformation, John champions organisational excellence through effective leadership. He’s passionate about creating safe, clean, and cost-effective environments that lead to better safety, financial results, and a thriving company culture.
John’s knack for building strong relationships and engaging with stakeholders at all levels fosters trust and confidence. He has extensive experience developing and implementing management strategies that drive sustainable growth and business development while boosting operational efficiencies.
His unwavering commitment to a customer-first philosophy guides our entire team. Every decision, change, or improvement at Waste Options aligns with our customers’ needs and expectations. By advocating for this customer-centric approach, John not only cultivates a culture of excellence but also drives our overall business strategy toward delivering exceptional service, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty across New Zealand.
Executive Team
HR/Office Manager
Say a big hello to Sandra, our amazing HR / Office Manager here at Waste Options! Our company thrives on giving reliable, customer-first waste management solutions, and Sandra has been absolutely instrumental in building the internal systems and operational standards that help us deliver that service excellence every single day.
With a strong background in sales and leading teams, Sandra is celebrated for her practical approach and her calm, steady hand. She’s the magic behind the scenes, making sure all our day-to-day operations run smoothly, always supporting our fantastic team and helping us reach our bigger company goals. Her focus on keeping things efficient, safe, and ensuring everyone’s wellbeing has really helped shape our workplace into a place where quality shines and accountability thrives!
Sandra is truly brilliant at building strong, trusting relationships – whether it’s with our clients, our team members, or our partners. She has this wonderful ability to listen, adapt, and deliver solutions that ensure we stay nimble and truly responsive to what our customers need.
At the heart of Sandra’s leadership is a deep sense of empathy, unwavering reliability, and a genuine belief that amazing service always starts with an amazing team. She’s dedicated to keeping everything she does to the highest standard, and her leadership truly reinforces our company’s core values. Sandra plays such a central role in driving continuous improvements across every part of our business!
Executive Team
National Operations Manager
Say hello to Paul, our truly incredible National Operations Manager here at Waste Options! He’s been a vital part of our team for over five years, bringing a treasure trove of experience from his senior and executive roles at a leading national waste and recycling company. Paul’s expertise means he’s always ready to lend a hand and support both our wonderful Waste Options staff and our valued clients across every part of our service.
Paul actually joined the resources sector over 15 years ago, drawn in by the exciting, fast-paced nature of the industry. What he loves most is the chance to make a real, positive, and lasting environmental impact through our client networks. He finds this blend of dynamic work and meaningful contribution both fun and incredibly rewarding – definitely a fulfilling career path!
Here at Waste Options, Paul wears many hats! He brilliantly oversees our contractors and key client relationships, champions awesome business improvement initiatives, manages our talented national account managers, and, of course, ensures safety and compliance are always top-notch. He’s absolutely dedicated to keeping the highest standards of service, safety, and efficiency for all our clients. Thanks to Paul’s forward-thinking approach, Waste Options stays super agile and adaptable, ready to tackle any challenge that comes our way with a smile!
Executive Team
Head of Finance
It’s an absolute pleasure to introduce Shahnaz, our wonderful Head of Finance here at Waste Options! Keeping our finances running smoothly is super important, and Shahnaz plays such a pivotal role in making sure all our financial processes are efficient, spot-on accurate, and totally reliable.
Shahnaz has been brilliantly leading our accounts team for over six years. She’s a whiz at automating accounting processes, which means everything is handled with even greater accuracy and efficiency – how smart is that?! She meticulously oversees accounts payables, making sure all our fantastic suppliers are paid correctly and on time, keeping everything flowing without a hitch. Her expertise also extends to managing all our company’s finances, including accounts receivables and payroll. She’s the one who ensures every invoice, both coming in and going out, is perfectly accurate, and she handles all our tax submissions and applications like a pro.
But Shahnaz isn’t just about numbers; she’s also incredibly dedicated to helping her team grow! She’s passionate about training and developing the accounts team, fostering a culture where everyone can continuously improve and shine. Her fantastic leadership and innovative ideas have truly made a huge difference to our company’s financial stability and overall excellence. She’s even been recognized for her amazing work in boosting accuracy, efficiency, reliability, and helping us save costs!
Shahnaz absolutely loves the Waste Options culture. She really appreciates how closely everyone coordinates and works together across all departments, showcasing our team’s incredible ability to achieve common goals. She’s a true asset to our team!
Executive Team
Head of Brand & Marketing
Allow us to introduce Tarryn, our absolutely amazing Head of Brand & Marketing here at Waste Options! From whipping up dazzling campaigns to building vibrant online communities, Tarryn is a true digital wizard who turns brilliant ideas into pure online magic. With a heart that beats for all things marketing and a mind that’s always happily humming with the freshest trends, she has this incredible knack for captivating and connecting with people in ways that just stick with you.
Tarryn’s passion truly shines when she’s harnessing the incredible power of social media. She thrives on creating content that genuinely resonates and driving results that practically shout for joy! As the heart of our brand, she masterfully manages our social media strategies, brightens our online visibility, and nurtures fantastic customer engagement – all while keeping everything wonderfully subtle and delightfully effective. Whether she’s dreaming up super creative content or diving deep into digital performance, Tarryn makes sure everything perfectly aligns with our company’s goals, keeping us fresh, fearless, and totally unmissable in the best way possible!
When she’s not making digital dreams come true, you’ll probably find Tarryn happily lost in the pages of a good book, obsessing over finding the perfect song for her latest playlist, or conjuring up the next big, brilliant idea over a strong, comforting coffee (or, let’s be real, an even stronger, giggle-inducing meme!).
Executive Team
Head of Subcontracting & Compliance
Meet Jarrod, our incredible Head of Subcontracting & Compliance here at Waste Options! Jarrod hopped aboard at the start of 2023, bringing with him a fantastic 22 years of experience from the Freight Forwarding world. He’s a true pro at managing relationships with suppliers and customers, and we’re so lucky to have him.
With over 200 contractors under his wing, Jarrod plays a absolutely vital role in making sure everyone is happy and compliant. He’s the one who ensures all our subcontractors meet our customers’ needs and uphold our gold-standard ISO accreditations (that’s 9001, 45001, and 14001!). Having worked with all sorts of systems in his past, he’s a huge fan of our super user-friendly online compliance portal, especially since it’s totally free for our contractors – how great is that?
But Jarrod isn’t just about compliance; he’s also our go-to Events Coordinator! You can always count on him to lighten the mood and show up in the perfect costume for any occasion. He truly adds so much warmth and fun to our team!
.
Executive Team
Head of Sustainability
Say hello to David, our fantastic Head of Sustainability here at Waste Options! He’s truly passionate about helping our customers shine and achieve their sustainability goals, no matter how big or small. David is your go-to person for navigating things like GECA and NABERS requirements, and he’s always buzzing with ideas to continuously improve your waste diversion and avoidance efforts.
What really makes a difference is the high-quality, accurate data Waste Options provides. It gives such a clear picture of all your successes and highlights wonderful opportunities for growth. David loves teaming up directly with our customers’ sustainability teams to boost training, create clearer signage, and introduce exciting new recycling streams – all designed to make your journey easier and more impactful.
Thanks to our amazing, extensive network of contractors (which includes some of the most innovative resource recovery businesses out there!), David has all the tools at his fingertips to maximize your waste diversion. At Waste Options, circular solutions are a top priority; we’re all about exploring reuse options and connecting with exciting, emerging resource recovery companies to help foster a healthier, more diverse industry for everyone.
With an incredible 25 years of experience in sustainability, starting way back in Landcare and moving through a brilliant career in Facilities Management (FM), David truly gets the pressures building managers face. He’s a master at aligning our solutions to perfectly meet your unique needs. He’s here to help you every step of the way!
Executive Team
Head of Customer Strategy & Innovation
Let’s talk about Karen, a truly wonderful addition to the Waste Options family! She’s a seasoned pro in the commercial and industrial world, bringing over 20 fantastic years of industry expertise with her. We’re so thrilled to have her incredible knowledge here with us.
Throughout her impressive career, Karen has built and nurtured relationships with some of the biggest names around the globe, spanning exciting sectors like transport, healthcare, and aged care. What really sets her apart is her genuine, deep understanding of what customers truly need and expect. She’s absolutely dedicated to crafting smart strategies that meet those demands perfectly.
Karen now lovingly oversees multiple customer portfolios here at Waste Options. She’s a real driver of positive change and improvement, working hand-in-hand with both our customers and our amazing Account Managers. Together, they explore exciting new solutions, ensuring everything is not only feasible but also implemented beautifully. Karen makes sure everyone is comfortable and confident with comprehensive training and smooth transitions to any new platforms and tools. She’s all about making things better and easier for everyone!
Executive Team
Head of Customer Care
Gaby has poured her heart into Waste Options for over eight years, truly shaping our customer service philosophy and becoming a huge part of why our customer retention rate is so incredibly high, almost 100%!
As the warm and dedicated leader of our Customer Care Team, she makes sure every single client interaction feels positive, professional, and genuinely enjoyable. Thanks to Gaby’s thoughtful guidance, her team has put in place a “three-ring policy,” ensuring customer inquiries are always handled promptly and efficiently. This friendly and proactive approach, combined with their deep understanding of the waste management industry and a wonderful sense of team stability, allows them to build lasting, almost family-like relationships with clients, always tailoring services to fit their unique needs.
The constant positive feedback from our clients is such a testament to the dedication and professionalism Gaby and her team bring every day, truly reinforcing Waste Options’ reputation for delivering a positive, professional, and enjoyable customer experience. Outside of work, Gaby absolutely loves spending precious time with her family in Auckland, and her ultimate happy place in the world is making memories at the Rainbow’s End theme park.
Executive Team
Team Lead of Customer Care
Kellee is truly the powerhouse of our Contract Admin team! She leads with such innovative thinking and amazing dedication, especially when it comes to our National Contracts. Having been with Waste Options for six wonderful years, Kellee brings a wealth of experience and a genuine, deep commitment to doing things brilliantly.
She has a special knack – and a real passion – for Dangerous Goods and all things liquid, which has made her our absolute go-to expert in that field. But it’s not just her incredible technical know-how that sets her apart. Kellee’s strong work ethic, deep understanding of our industry, and her true, heartfelt passion for customer care make her an absolutely invaluable part of our team.
We honestly feel so lucky to have Kellee here, driving us forward and setting such high standards every single day. She’s a gem!
Executive Team
Customer Care Team
Kia Ora! Meet Tash, a warm and friendly voice from our customer care team, always ready to lend a helping hand.
Customer care isn’t just a job – it’s about whakawhanaungatanga (building connections) and ensuring everyone feels valued. Drawing inspiration from the tight-knit communities and genuine friendliness found throughout New Zealand, Tash approaches every interaction with manaakitanga (empathy and a true desire to help). She’s your go-to for support that feels as comforting as a visit to family.
Executive Team
Head of Business Improvement
Meet Muthu, our wonderful Head of Business Improvement here at Waste Options! When you team up with us, Muthu is actually a huge part of what makes your waste management experience so much smoother and better, focusing on three key areas: Efficient Invoicing Processes, Accurate Reporting, and fantastic Quality Assurance.
Muthu truly streamlines all our invoicing, making sure everything is super clear and easy to understand. You can say goodbye to tangled paperwork or any confusing statements! By making our invoicing procedures flow seamlessly, Muthu helps Waste Options reduce delays and get our services to you even faster, making everything more efficient for everyone.
Her team also meticulously looks after our consolidated invoicing, ensuring every single detail is perfectly aligned. That means you can wave goodbye to those annoying billing errors! Plus, with Muthu’s focus on accurate reporting, we can really keep an eye on how we’re doing, spot trends, and make the best decisions to serve you even better.
Muthu is also big on quality improvement, always digging in to find the root causes of any little hiccups or errors in invoicing. By standardizing our processes and putting great quality control measures in place, she helps us continuously enhance our overall service quality, ensuring you always get the best from us.
In a nutshell, Muthu’s incredible expertise ensures you get wonderfully smoother invoicing, perfectly accurate reporting, and genuinely cost-effective processes every time you work with Waste Options. She’s a true asset!
Request a Quote
Looking for a waste management service that feels like coming home? That’s what we aim for at Waste Options. Our team, led by folks who genuinely care, is here to make sure your waste needs are handled with the kind of professionalism, efficiency, and warmth you’d expect from a trusted friend. Get in touch with us today for a free quote, and let’s experience the difference together as we help keep our New Zealand communities clean and green.
