From induction training for new people, to continued career progression and your REA Continuing Professional Development requirements, our team provide an in-house service that is unrivalled in the New Zealand real estate market.
Leonie Higgins - Head of Training
Leonie’s career in real estate spans over 3 decades and has been marked by numerous achievements and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Beginning as a salesperson in 1991 at the Henderson branch, 5 years in Property Management and 9 years as a tutor in Real Estate Studies at The Open Polytech of NZ plus more than 20 years in Branch Management, Leonie has a wealth of relevant knowledge and leadership skills which she puts to great use as Head of Training.
Lynece Wheaton - Training Coordinator
Lynece joined Barfoot & Thompson in 2020 as an Office Administrator for the Te Atatu branch covering both the Sales and Rentals departments. She was later promoted to Office Manager in 2022. Before Barfoot & Thompson Lynece had previous experience as a Real Estate Administrator with Harcourts. Lynece then joined the Training Department at Support Centre in 2023 as their Training Coordinator. Lynece's working career has spanned over different industries, including Sales & Marketing Manager for a Digital Printing Company and office Manager for a Corporate Branding and Property Evaluation companies.
As the Training Coordinator, Lynece helps with all enquiries from Sales Agents and Branch Managers, uploads all of the courses into Olle, and arranges multiple functions, including our verifiable training events and the Administrator Frontline Day. Lynece also helps the Trainers to coordinate their trainings; including our Base Camp and Pinnacle Performance Program, reports CPD hours to REA, marks attendance for non-verifiable and verifiable training and weekly/fortnightly communications to staff regarding our Training Events. If you need any help with Training, Lynece would be the first point of contact.
Glenn Slaughter - Sales Trainer
Glenn brings over three decades of invaluable experience to his role at Barfoot & Thompson, having established himself as a prominent figure in the real estate industry since 1985. With a remarkable track record spanning several successful stints, including his tenure at Harcourts Grenadier in Christchurch where he ranked among the top 10 salespeople, Glenn's expertise is unparalleled. Throughout his career, Glenn has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition as top salesperson of the month, top listing salesperson, and top auction salesperson. These achievements underscore his exceptional sales acumen and unwavering commitment to excellence.
In addition to his impressive sales achievements, Glenn is also a highly qualified professional, holding accreditation as a Trainer with the Real Estate Authority (REA), a National Certificate in Adult Education and Training, and accreditation as a DISC practitioner. These certifications attest to his dedication to staying abreast of industry best practices and his ability to integrate cutting-edge tools and methodologies into training initiatives. Glenn completed his AREINZ qualification - the National Certificate & National Diploma in Real Estate - and became an associate of the Real Estate Institute in 1995. This level of qualification positioned Glenn to run his own company between 2000 and 2010.
At the core of Glenn's responsibilities is the delivery of the Pinnacle Performance program, a comprehensive initiative designed to elevate sales professionals to new heights of achievement. Additionally, he facilitates non-verifiable training courses, provides assistance with branch-based training initiatives, conducts verifiable courses, and offers personalized coaching to salespeople seeking to enhance their skills and performance. Driven by a passion for helping others achieve their goals, Glenn's professional ethos is defined by his unwavering commitment to client satisfaction and his dedication to selling what is often considered the number one asset for most people.
Outside of work, Glenn enjoys spending quality time with his family, indulging in outdoor adventures, paddleboarding, cycling, guitar and propping up the Mitre 10 balance sheet.
Ina Murphy - Sales Trainer
Ina joined Barfoot & Thompson in 2009 as a salesperson at the Pukekohe branch, after a decade with a competing firm in Franklin - where she took on roles as branch trainer and recruitment officer. Now, Ina coaches new and experienced salespeople, runs the Pinnacle Performance Program, writes and teaches any other industry-relevant courses and presents verifiable material for Barfoot & Thompson.
Ina was born in East Germany and moved to Munich in 1981. Her career journey started with an apprenticeship in the hotel business, then specializing as a chef. In 1991, Ina turned one of her passions into another career and became a scuba diving instructor, allowing her to travel extensively as a relief instructor. From 1994 to 1996, Ina worked as a florist near Oxford before owning a café and catering business in Perth.
In 2001, Ina settled in New Zealand, where she ventured into real estate and never looked back. During lockdowns, Ina obtained her Branch Manager’s Licence and completed the in-house Elevate course. In 2017, Ina completed the REINZ Auctioneers course and competed in the NZ Auctioneer’s Championship for Novices that same year.
Ina has always believed in the importance of ongoing training for success. As a trainer, she enjoys catering to different learning styles and witnessing others succeed. Ina aims to make our salespeople more effective when dealing with the public without having to work harder and is convinced that proactive training strengthens Barfoot & Thompson's position in the marketplace.
Ina lives in beautiful rural Franklin and has a teenage daughter called Ella. In her free time, she loves to travel, get involved in local charity work and ride motorbikes on roads and racetracks.
Janet Tse - Systems Trainer
Janet worked as an associate salesperson at our Pakuranga branch for eight years. Her passion for learning and development led her to join the Training Department nearly two years ago. During this time, Janet played a crucial role in the implementation of Agentbox and VaultRE, which are leading CRM systems used by our company. As a systems trainer, Janet specialises in various platforms, including Docusign, Myinfo, Saleskit, Campaigntrack and more.
Aside from Janet's professional work, she finds joy in exploring the outdoors through hiking, indulging in culinary delights at new restaurants and travelling to different countries.
Nikita Culligan - Sales Coach
Nikita joined Barfoot & Thompson as a Residential Salesperson and later transitioned into a Customer Service Coordinator role. Drawing from both experiences, she brings a unique perspective to her current role as the Sales Coach in the Training Department. Nikita has been with the company for several years, evolving and playing a valuable role in the team's achievements.
Nikita has built strong client relationships throughout her career in Real Estate and adapted to the many dynamic market changes. In her current role as the Sales Coach, she leverages this experience to provide guidance and training to all salespeople new to Barfoot & Thompson and the industry, ensuring they excel in their roles.
In a professional sense, Nikita is passionate about relationship building and integrating Barfoot & Thompson's systems and processes to boost performance and exposure. She understands the challenges and opportunities in the industry and is dedicated to equipping the team with the necessary skills to thrive.
Outside of work, Nikita enjoys a variety of activities. Whether she's engrossed in a captivating book, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, or spending cherished moments with her family, she approaches life with enthusiasm and warmth.
Sandy Fitchett - Frontline Trainer
Sandy joined Barfoot & Thompson in 2004 as a sales agent, and in 2006, moved into an administrative role where she gained a sound knowledge of all the company’s systems and best practices. In 2020, Sandy extended her career by joining the Administrators Relievers team, where she further developed her skills in facilitating branch managers and administrative teams to support them in all aspects of their administrative requirements. Sandy was appointed as a Frontline Trainer within the Training Department in 2021, where she coaches, mentors and teaches our new and existing administrators in all of our systems and procedures to be successful in supporting a branch.
Sandy's career in real estate began in 1987 as an administrator for a local real estate company in West Auckland. She quickly discovered her passion for real estate and moved into a successful and rewarding residential selling career spanning nearly two decades.
Having spent nearly a decade in the military before her real estate career, Sandy brings ingrained strengths of discipline, dedication, integrity and loyalty to all that she does. These personal values align closely with those of the Barfoot & Thompson family, and Sandy is passionate and committed to educating others to reach their potential as competent administrators.
Outside of work hours, Sandy enjoys spending time with her family, daily walks around her neighbourhood with her dog, and gardening and maintaining her semi-rural lifestyle property.
Jacqui Rooney - AML Compliance Trainer
Jacqui has over 20 years of experience in real estate agency management, supervision and training. Most recently, Jacqui spent six years at Mike Pero in the role of National Supervision and Compliance Officer. Before that, she was head of training at the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ). Early in her real estate career, Jacqui was an auctioneer and managed real estate franchises.
