The People Behind StaplesVR

Lisa is the CEO of Pacific Catapult, a Seattle-based advisory firm that guides CEOs, founders, and boards to achieve elevated business outcomes. She brings decades of operating experience, helping organisations deliver strong operational performance, successful transactions, and leadership excellence. Lisa is known for her strategic insight and ability to support leadership teams through growth and transformation.

Håkan is an experienced business leader, board member, and sustainability executive with a strong track record of building and scaling innovation-driven businesses. With executive leadership experience from IKEA Group and deep expertise in sustainability, commercial strategy, and business transformation, he is recognised for turning innovative ideas into successful and scalable ventures.

Today, Håkan is the CEO of Net Zero Company and serves on several boards, bringing extensive experience in growth strategy, innovation, investment, and organisational leadership. He is passionate about helping companies combine strong commercial performance with long-term sustainable value creation.

Adam is an entrepreneur and co-founder of ForeFlight, the pioneering flight planning platform widely adopted by pilots and aviation teams worldwide. He led engineering and operations from its founding through to its acquisition by Boeing, scaling the company into an industry leader. Adam now serves as CEO of Tailsight, where he is driving innovation in aviation TechOps with AI-powered solutions that optimise maintenance, resources, and fleet operations.

Jon Sandbrook builds and supports next-generation technologies and solutions across emerging industries. He is a founder, advisor, investor, and executive with over 20 years of experience growing companies and innovation ecosystems in technology, agriculture, food, biotechnology, and advanced engineering. He specialises in leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver strategy, commercialise technology, and unlock transformative partnerships and growth. His experience spans startups, corporates, and social ventures, with a focus on initiatives that drive both commercial impact and meaningful industry change.

Aliesha is the Founder of Staples VR, bringing over 25 years of experience in VR, AR, and emerging technology development. She leads the company's vision in creating advanced training solutions for the aviation and defence sectors. An Independent Director, Aliesha is recognised for her expertise in innovation and digital strategy. She is passionate about leveraging immersive technologies to drive meaningful transformation and global impact.

Alex is an investment professional with a strong track record across private and institutional markets, specialising in investment strategy, portfolio construction, and risk management. She has successfully built high-performing portfolios delivering strong long-term, risk-adjusted returns. Alex brings governance experience across multiple boards and directorships, including early-stage and growth businesses. A collaborative and values-driven leader, she is passionate about ethical investing and fostering positive social and environmental impact through her work.

After nearly a decade with StaplesVR, Krystal is a senior leader heading the development team and driving the delivery of complex, innovative projects. She is known for her strong leadership, fostering collaboration across disciplines and guiding teams to produce high-quality immersive experiences. As a creative problem solver, she thrives in dynamic environments and takes a hands-on approach to both strategy and execution. Krystal is deeply committed to continuous improvement, team growth, and making a meaningful impact through technology and design.

Steven is a Software Engineer with industry experience across Unity, Unreal, and multiple programming languages including C++, C#, Python, and Luau. A graduate of Media Design School, he previously spent three years at Wētā Workshop, where he contributed to Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game. He has also worked on projects including Path of Exile, Path of Exile 2 and Grow a Garden.

Luke is a programmer specialising in game development with the Unity Engine and C#, with experience delivering cross-platform titles across mobile, PC, and VR. He also has a strong background in C++ and graphics programming, building custom engines using OpenGL and DirectX.

Feanor is a generalist game developer with experience in C# programming, animation, and technical art. He studied Game Design at AUT with a minor in Photography, and uses a range of skills to help build rounded AR/VR experiences.

Charlie is a versatile 3D artist specialising in modelling, sculpting, and texturing for game development, with additional strengths in digital illustration across a wide range of styles. He also brings creative depth through interests in music composition, storytelling, and filmmaking.

Jessica is a Junior Game Developer with a strong passion for 3D Modelling and Game Design, and has experience across tools including Maya, ZBrush, Unity, and Unreal Engine. She focuses on 3D character and environment models, aiming to create immersive and engaging game worlds.

Jett is a Game Developer contributing to projects across the Staples VR team, supporting both technical and creative workflows. He specialises in programming, 3D modelling, VR, and app development, with a strong focus on problem solving and practical delivery.

Andrew is a Game Developer with a background in Digital Design (Game Design) from AUT and experience studying Computer Science at the University of Auckland. He specialises in game programming, motion capture and 3D modelling, with a strong focus on problem solving and cross-disciplinary development.

Antonio is a digital artist and game developer with over two years of experience in 3D modelling, C# programming, 2D assets, and AR/VR development. He holds a Bachelor of Design in Digital Design (Game Design) with a minor in Motion Capture, and has a strong passion for character design and storytelling.

Kane is a proactive 3D Artist and Game Designer specialising in photogrammetry, VR development, and real-time environments for games and virtual production. He is passionate about creating meaningful and impactful interactive experiences in the spaces of VR training, cultural heritage and entertainment.

Pui Yee is a Bachelor of Design graduate from AUT, majoring in Game Design with a minor in Motion Capture. She has a strong interest in technical art, visual composition, and narrative environments, with skills spanning 2D/3D asset creation, game engines, and foundational C#.

Rachael holds a Bachelor of Media Arts in Visual Arts and Graphic Design, along with a Graduate Diploma in Creative Technologies, UX/UI Design.

She integrates UX/UI into the product development process to help deliver an optimal user experience from the outset.

Debbie is a strategic leader and highly experienced advisor known for her ability to connect ideas, people, and opportunities to drive meaningful outcomes. With a diverse career spanning global corporates, government, defence, and industry, she brings deep expertise in business strategy, branding, and international market development. Debbie is a natural relationship-builder with an extensive network across New Zealand and internationally, and a strong track record in fostering collaboration between government, industry, and stakeholders. She is passionate about supporting teams and partners to succeed, bringing energy, insight, and a people-first approach to every challenge.

Aaron joined Staples VR following more than 12 years of service in the Royal New Zealand Navy. As a Defence Project Manager, he leads project delivery and stakeholder engagement, translating defence requirements into practical, fit-for-purpose technology solutions. Aaron is passionate about transforming defence training through immersive technology, with a strong commitment to delivering innovative solutions that enhance capability, readiness, and training outcomes.