Human-centred AI education for real workplaces
We’re a New Zealand-based team of educators helping organisations across New Zealand and Australia use AI safely and well. Our programmes build confidence, judgement and practical skills through live learning and ongoing support.
The people behind Avocado AI
Melissa Tang
Customer Success, Operations and Learning Lead
Melissa coordinates client onboarding and programme delivery, supports our facilitators, and helps improve our learning resources. She also facilitates, helping teams put AI to practical use at work.
Outside Avocado AI, she teaches dance and works with young people and children.
Jimmy Rainey
Facilitator
Jimmy combines creativity with an educator’s approach to AI. He helps teams understand what the tools can do, explore where they fit in their work, and build the confidence to use them with a clear purpose.
Mark Chirnside
Facilitator
Mark is an educator, business owner and composer. Alongside Avocado AI, he owns Crafted Coffee Company, bringing experience of both business and creative work to his teaching. He enjoys helping people learn with confidence and getting involved in creative projects that bring people together.
Grant Verhoeven
Facilitator
Grant brings more than a decade of leadership coaching and career development experience. He helps people get comfortable with AI, ask questions and build useful habits. Alongside Avocado AI, he runs Sparked, supporting leaders through pivotal moments in their careers.
Karen Leacock
Facilitator
Karen brings over 10 years of not-for-profit leadership and experience teaching business English overseas. She manages a Canterbury foundation supporting STEM education and is completing an MBA, bringing a curious, approachable style to AI learning.
Outside work, she enjoys biking, gardening and exploring the hills with her family.
Shahper Richter
Facilitator
Shahper is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Auckland, with 14 years of university teaching experience. Her work focuses on AI and digital marketing. She brings warmth, curiosity and practical examples to her teaching, helping people explore complicated ideas and try things for themselves.
Will Payne
Business Development Manager
Will helps organisations find a useful starting point for AI education and understand how Avocado AI’s programmes could fit their team and the way they work.
Outside work, he loves spinning tunes, playing instruments and catching a wave with his dog Rocko.
Tom Harris
Co-founder & AI adoption specialist
Tom brings psychology, research, user experience, ethics and philosophy to his work in AI education. He helps people think critically, adapt to change and make thoughtful decisions about using AI.
Outside work, he plays music with Yurt Party and keeps his dogs busy chasing tennis balls.
Cowan Henderson
Co-founder & Partnerships Lead
Cowan looks after partnerships, drawing on more than a decade in business development, strategy and helping businesses adopt new technology. He works with organisations to understand where AI education can support their people and goals.
Outside work, he enjoys music, the beach and good company.