Research active
Academic Staff.

Dr Semisi Taumoepeau

Email: semisit@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 210

I am currently Associate Director of the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI) based at AUT University, which brings together experts from around the world to deliver innovative research solutions for the industry. Recently a member of the NZ Institute of Pacific Research (NZIPR), a NZ government sponsored research body, based at University of Auckland and am currently working under Professor Simon Milne with other colleagues on a project: Private-sector investment in the Pacific (drivers and barriers in developing island economies). Previous positions included Tonga’s Director of Tourism (1979-2003); a founding member (1982; and, in the 1990s, Chairman) of the Tourism Council of the South Pacific (TCSP) / South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO); Chairman of the Association of the South Pacific Airlines (ASPA) (2001-2002); board member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the key tourism authority in the Asia Pacific region (1988-1991); CEO of Royal Tonga, the Tongan national airline (2000-2002); and was board member of the New Zealand Tourism Industry Association Board (2009 - 2011).

I hold a BSc in Chemistry (University of Auckland), an MSc in Tourism Planning and Development with thesis on Tourism development and air transport linkages in the Pacific (University of Surrey), and a PhD (University of the Sunshine Coast) on Economic Sustainability of Airlines of the South Pacific.

Recent publications and consultancy assignments in several South Pacific countries include economic impact studies, South Pacific aviation, and tourism strategic plans and HRD plans for several SPTO member countries, tourism & hospitality training in Tonga and an ongoing tourism accreditation and quality assurance project for the Tongan Tourism Ministry.

Dr Martin Mahler

Email: martinm@ais.ac.nz

Dr Martin has an extensive background in Marketing and Business Development in New Zealand and abroad. More recently, Dr Martin has been working for prestigious universities in China namely Nanjing University, Southwestern University (Chongqing), Heilongjiang Institute of Technology and the Southwestern University of Finance and Technology (Chengdu), teaching a raft of business-related courses prior to joining the Auckland Institute of Studies.

At AIS, Dr Martin has taught courses in Economics as well as Marketing while currently focusing on supervising internship and research students in addition to management of the BA Programmes. His research focus is on the use of technology in marketing. Dr Martin also has a keen interest in learning about Māori language and customs having completed a New Zealand Certificate in Māori Business and Management and a New Zealand Certificate in Tikanga (Mātauranga Māori) Te Pōkaitahi Tikanga (Kaupae 4).

Dr Leonie Menzies

Email: leoniem@ais.ac.nz

Phone: +64 9 815 1717 ext 220

Leonie has extensive experience in tertiary education. Prior to joining AIS in 2016 as a Senior Lecturer, she spent a decade in private and public sector tertiary institutions in South Africa, including the Nelson Mandela University and the Vaal University of Technology. She holds a PhD from North-West University, South Africa and has a research interest in economic development, with much of her previous research in the field of sustainable tourism development.

Manuel Turcios

Manuel has over 20 years of experience in Learning and Development, managing multilevel Competency Acquisition Programmes and designing and implementing various Organisational Development initiatives. His career includes significant positions in the industry, including HR management roles in multinational organisations, complemented by a strong academic background since 2015. His scholarly work has encompassed lecturing, instructional design, implementing e-learning initiatives, and updating master's level curricula.

Terry Leotta

Email: terryl@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 815 1717 ext 839

Dr Nitin Seth

Email: nitinrajs@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 0211343195

Nitin has over 40 years of experience in professional practice and teaching in global marketing and international strategic management. He has considerable experience in industry engagement, and MBA course development and teaching at AACSB accredited universities in New Zealand, Australia, and India. He has widely traveled across the USA, Europe, and Middle East countries for international marketing. Nitin has represented AIS at various MBA Directors Forum in Australia and New Zealand and is also a member of the NZ Marketing Association.

Nitin’s publications and research contributions include the following:

Research Publications

• Du Plessis, A. J., Saito, L., Mangalaraj, D., Seth, N. (2016). The Servant-Leadership Philosophy Incorporated in the Corporate Culture of a Culturally-Diverse Retail Company in New Zealand: A Case Study Approach. Paper delivered at the WBFAMC Conference 28-29 November, Auckland, New Zealand
• Du Plessis, A. J., Indavong, S., Fourie, L De W., Seth, N. (2016). Creating and Managing of Business Strategies to Enhance Brand Awareness for SMEs, in the Handicrafts Sector in Laos. Paper presented at GBATA Conference (proceedings ISBN: 1-932917-12-8) 17-21 October, Dubai, UAE
• Du Plessis, A. J., Keovilay, P., Marriott, J. R., Seth, N. (2015). Effective motivation practices that could enhance employee performance in the mining industry. Paper presented at 29th ANZAM Conference proceedings, 1-4 December, Queenstown, New Zealand. 2013: Seth. N.R. & Bathula, H. (2013) presented a research paper on “Knowledge of Global Organisational Realities and Implementation  Skills of MBA Students”, ANZIBA Conference, Sydney, 18 – 20 April 2013
• Seth. N.R. & Bathula, H. (2012) presented the paper “From Born Domestic to Global Challengers: Indian Multinationals Rewriting the Theory of Internationalisation” for a conference on Leveraging India: Strategies for Global Competitiveness in Sydney, Australia, April 11, 2012.
• Bathula, H., Seth. N. R. & Karia, M. (2011). Political Corruption and Accountability: An analysis of recent events in a large emerging economy. First Australasian Business Ethics Network Conference. AUT University, Auckland, December 2-3, 2011.
• Seth. N. R. (2011). Measuring Customer Outcomes: Are We Using the Right Customer Analytics? First Annual Symposium, AIS St Helens, Auckland, 27 June 2011.

Contributed towards Research Environment

• Seth, N R. (2018, October). Special Lecture delivered to Postgraduate students on the topic: "Customer Engagement in a Networked Society". Presentation conducted at the Jagan Institute of Management, New Delhi, India.
• Seth, N R. (2018, October). Special session delivered to faculty members on the topic: "Aligning and Measuring Learning Outcomes". Presentation conducted at the Jagan Institute of Management, New Delhi, India.
• Seth, N R. (2014, December). Delivered a special lecture under "The Leadership Series" to MBA students. . Presentation conducted at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, India.
• Seth, N R. (2011, August) Conducted a “Need gap analysis” for AIS institute’s research journal (Journal of International Education and Business) and designed a marketing plan. AIS, Auckland, New Zealand.
• Seth, N R. (2010, August) A comprehensive study of performance and potential of all faculty members at AIS St Helens by designing a competency mapping assessment tool and plotting the competencies using the competency matrix grid. AIS, Auckland, New Zealand.

Beena Lal

Email: beenal@ais.ac.nz

Phone: 815 1717 ext 847

I joined AIS in 2012 as a full time business lecturer in the Business Programme, teaching various accounting courses which include auditing, and both financial and managerial accounting up to advanced levels.

Together with a string of accounting qualifications including a Masters in Accounting from AUT, I also have  vast teaching experience at both secondary and tertiary levels in Fiji and New Zealand.  Prior to AIS, I taught at a few tertiary institutions in New Zealand and at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji as an accounting lecturer. While in the secondary system in Fiji, my roles included Head of Department of Commerce and Deputy Principal. I also worked for the Fiji Ministry of Education assisting in developing accounting curriculums. 

According to me, making a difference to the lives of our students is really rewarding, seeing them taking a step forward in their lives to achieve their goals.

Dr Wikus Erasmus

Email: wikuse@ais.ac.nz

Dr Wikus obtained his PhD in IT Management from the University of Johannesburg, focusing on the governance of information systems projects, programmes and portfolios. An information systems specialist at heart with a Master's in Business Management, he strongly advocates for ever-greater collaboration and the merging of the business and technology realms. The need to do this has never been greater, and the opportunities never so varied. He entered academia in 2010 after gaining experience as a project manager and trainer in industry. He served numerous terms as Deputy Head for a Business IT academic department as well as programme coordinator for various tertiary courses. He joined AIS in 2023, having made New Zealand his home, and was appointed as a senior lecturer, presenting modules in software development, user experience and project management.

Kar Wen Choe

Email: karwenc@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 221

Sawsan Al-Shamaa

Email: sawsana@ais.ac.nz

Phone: 815 1717 ext 813

I started teaching at AIS in 1997 in the International Business programme and ventured out into other programmes teaching Maths, Managerial Economics and Research Methods.

At present, I am a full time staff member in the Business Administration programme teaching Quantitative Methods, Business Research Methods and Marketing Research and Decision Making and also supervising and coordinating research dissertations. 

I have a wealth of teaching experience (since 1980) and that has provided me with many opportunities to assist and interact with students from a lot of different educational and cultural backgrounds, particularly with their challenges in quantitative analysis and statistics.

I have also published a text book, five research papers and also presented papers at conferences.

I have a daughter and a son, and four lovely grandchildren. My interests lie in travelling and spending time with my grandchildren both here and in the UK where my daughter resides with her family. 

Bob Beaver

Email: bbeaver673@gmail.com

I was a Senior Lecturer in a Teachers College in Zimbabwe, before working as a training Officer and Training Manager for three companies in South Africa. Since coming to New Zealand in 1995, I lectured at Unitec Institute of Technology for 21 years in HRM and business management. I have taught Human Resource Management as a contractor at AIS for 6 years.

I have published articles in HRM and presented papers in Australia, China and South Africa.

I am married with two grown up daughters and a grandson. My interests are playing music in orchestras and small groups, and making plastic models.

John Cunningham

I am a chemical engineer and have worked in manufacturing and company development, operations management and senior executive roles in listed corporates. I spent 15 years with Fernz Corporation, the last 12 years as the Corporate Development Manager with responsibilities including local and offshore initiatives in start-up, joint venture and acquisition for company growth.

Setting up Caltech Capital Ltd as a venture capital comany we invested over 10 years and exited with overall profit.. I have experience in creating strategic alliances between companies, both in NZ and offshore, particularly in the US. I am currently a Director/Chairman of a number of companies, including Climsystems Ltd, mining and extraction company Resin and Wax HoldingsLtd. and NZIMMR. I am also a fourth term director of Nelson research organisation the Cawthron Institute.

I contract lecture in Waikato University’s MBA program and also at Auckland’s AIS MBA and PG Dip.

I chaired and was a long time member of the MSI TechNZ advisory panel and continue as an expert reviewer with Callaghan Innovation and MBIE. As President of IPENZ in 2001 I steered the Institute through the new CEng Act and from IPENZ received environmental awards for some of my engineering work.

As part of my pro bono contribution I have been a judge for more than 15 years for the Business Excellence Awards in Auckland and have also judged business Innovation and technical awards in NZ and internationally.

I graduated BE (Chem & Mat) Auckland University, Dip BIA Auckland University, ME (Environmental). And am a member of FIChemE, FEngNZ, FIEAust, MRSNZ, MIoD and am a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Scientist.

Some of my leisure interests include flying (CPL), working with guide dogs, running - half marathons, marathons and Masters Games, trekking in Nepal, playing golf and tennis and working with guide dogs. I have two adult children and four grand children.

I can be contacted on +64 9 377 2002, 64 274 814 614 or john@ignitionpartner.com

Claude Oberto

A senior financial professional with particular expertise within the financial services industry and the funds/wealth management and trustee industry.

Claude has held the position of Managing Director of NF Global Limited since January 2014.

His past roles include Director and shareholder of Amanah Ethical Limited, consultant to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and Vice President (Treasury) of Citigroup New Zealand and HSBC New Zealand.

Claude holds an MBA Degree, is the Independent Chairman of New Zealand Financial Advisers Association, Independent Chairman of Bank of Baroda (NZ) Limited and a past Chairman of the Community Organisations Grant Scheme (COGS – a New Zealand government initiative).

He is the author of the book, Foreign Exchange for Managers – a practical approach and a lecturer on the MBA Programme at AIS Business Management School.

Paul OBrien

Email: paulobrienenzed@gmail.com
Phone: 0275 917061

Paul is a passionate businessman who provides mentoring to Kiwi SME companies who want to export goods mainly in the Pharma, food, healthcare and wellness sector. Currently, Paul is a GM for an NZ skincare company on a 12-month contract to grow their export base.

Academically Paul has an MBA and Diploma in Marketing ( Dip Bus Mktg ) from the University of Auckland plus an NZIM Business Diploma from AUT.

Career highlights include;

• Board roles for Amcal Chemists, Health 2000 and Look Good Feel Better ( a women’s cancer charity, pro bono board role for ten years, mostly as Treasurer)
   
• Two CEO roles for both Good Health Products and Easiyo Yoghurt over seven years 
   
• Multiple GM roles for API Consumer Brands, One Pure Water, GMP Dairy and Douglas Pharma.
   
• AIS lecturing for 15 years in Strategic Marketing plus more recently Product Development and Brand Management.
   
• Export award winner of 3 Westpac business awards as well as Supreme Winner when CEO of Easiyo in 2010.
   
• Judge of Auckland Chamber of Commerce business awards plus past judge of Export NZ Business Awards over the last 6-7 years
   
• Past President of the NZ CTFA ( Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Assn ) Past President of Eden Epsom Tennis and Squash Club 
   
• Life Member of Les Mills Gym and determined to stay fit and healthy.

Paul has a wife Helen and two children at Victoria University in Wellington

John Tan

Email: johnt@ais.ac.nz

John has been practicing and teaching the leadership and strategic management for a large number of years. In addition to teaching in academic institutions, John has also been involved in leadership training on a corporate level.

Apart from his teaching and training pursuits, John goes to Cambodia twice a year and engages in the provision of medical aid to the people in the villages. Additionally John has also been raising money for the installation of hand-pump wells and the development of self-sustaining projects.

John’s publications and presentations include the following:

Clydesdale, G. & Tan, J. P. G. (2009). Preparing students for front-line management. Journal of European Industrial Training. 33(7), 594–613
Tan, J. P.G. & Matheny, J.M. (2005). Developing an Idealized Succession Model. Presented at the 2005 ANZAM Conference in Australia
Tan, J.P.G (2001). The Inspirational Leader. Kuala Lumpur: Professional Skills Trainers

Havea Hikule'o Fonua

Email: haveaf@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 214 

I am a full time staff member, since 2009, teaching database and software development, and information technology system and concept to both international business and information technology students, and also supervising IT students in their final projects.

I have a wealth of industry work experience in IT systems in departments of the Tongan government, as well as in the private sector including Digicel Tonga Ltd (mobile communication system) and the Tonga Development Bank (IT system).

Rakesh Kumar

Email: rakeshk@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 237

I started teaching at Auckland Institute of Studies in 2008 and have taught Information Technology Project Management, Requirement Modelling courses and also Coordinating Information Technology Projects.

I have a Masters in Computer Applications and over 10 years of teaching experience at post-secondary and degree level. I have taught people from various countries with significantly different age groups and cultural backgrounds. I enjoy interacting with people from different countries, languages and accents. 

Dr Ershad Ali

Email: ershada@ais.ac.nz

Phone: 815 1717 ext 622

I am a Adjunct Research Professor at Auckland Institute of Studies, New Zealand. Prior to this position I was a Research Facilitator of the College of Business at Massey University, New Zealand; Research and Development Director at Energy Information Services, New Zealand; and a Member of the Bangladesh Civil Service. I also worked with international development agencies.

I received a Master of Science degree from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; Master of Engineering Science from the University of Melbourne, Australia; and PhD in Economics from Massey University, New Zealand.

I have over 100 refereed publications and obtained the AIS best researcher award in 2014. I was also appointed visiting professor of Tianjin Normal University, Jingu College, China in 2014.

My research interests are the internationalisation of education, international trade, development economics, and technology transfer.