About Us

Bernadette Ryan-Hopkins

As head of Ryan + Alexander’s executive search function, I run a rigorous recruitment process. Over the past three years, we have placed recruits of the highest calibre in to a number of impressive roles across regional New Zealand. Our clients include Robotics Plus, Hancock Forest Management and Comvita.

Executive search is my speciality. I have developed a keen instinct for recognising individuals with international-standard expertise who will fit, and thrive, in regional New Zealand. Throughout my 16 year career, I have helped large corporates fill senior roles in London, Singapore, China, Italy, the US and various points between. I have specialised across a number of sectors, including financial services and agribusiness, and been tasked with responsibility for placing senior executives in roles such as CEO, operations and general management.

I was born in Invercargill and raised in Rotorua but have lived and worked around the world – from Japan, to the United Kingdom, to Holland. I returned to the Bay of Plenty in 2013, with my husband and two boys in tow, to work for Zespri International. I managed the company’s mid- to executive-level global recruitment and further honed my instinct for the attributes which set outstanding candidates aside from the pack. In 2016, I left Zespri, and Kiri and I founded Ryan and Alexander Consultancy.

Examples of local clients I have worked with:

• Zespri International
• Eastpack
• Planttech Research Institute
• Addiction Foods
• Jace Group

Kiri Burney

I head Ryan + Alexander’s professional services function and I love nothing more than partnering with clients to find people that will help their business thrive, and, on the flip side, helping candidates understand what opportunities are out there and find their next great career move.
Since launching Ryan + Alexander with Bernadette in 2016, I have helped place countless candidates in to great roles across the Bay of Plenty.

Our clients include

• Zespri
• Eastpack
• Robotics Plus
• Classic Builders

I developed a talent for professional services recruitment when managing a fast-paced temp desk in the United Kingdom. I have a reputation for making great job placements at speed.
On return to New Zealand, I landed a role with Madison Recruitment in Auckland. I managed a dual recruitment desk and 10 consultants. We worked at a furious pace, ranging across a variety of sectors, including public health and finance. Though we worked swiftly, I took pride in my team’s reputation for thorough checks and thoughtful, effective matching.
After a short stint in Nelson, my husband was transferred to Tauranga, and we jumped at the opportunity to move our family to the Bay of Plenty. I set up a local offering for Madison and, after maternity leave with my third child, co-founded Ryan + Alexander.
While I got my start in recruitment in the centre of London, I’m a farm girl at heart. I grew up on a dairy farm in a small town in the mighty Waikato, and I really enjoy connecting with our many agribusiness clients.

Examples of clients I have worked with:

• Zespri
• Eastpack
• Classic Builders
• BOP Regional Council
• Robotics Plus
• Plus Group
• Lysaght
• Stratum
• RCP

Renee Hanley

I started my professional life whilst travelling the world on my OE. I was based in London and Dublin for nearly three years, working in the fast-paced world of Investment Banking.

On returning to New Zealand, I fell into recruitment at Madison Recruitment. My formative recruitment years were in the Contact Centre team, where we did temp and perm recruitment and the team were often juggling 100+ roles at any one time. I spent some time managing this team before moving into a role as a Technical Recruitment Consultant. In this role, I had my first taste of search and strategic sourcing, recruiting difficult to find roles, both in the local and offshore markets. I had my first child and Madison were excellent at supporting my return to work and I worked part-time over the next couple of years while I had my two children. 13 years later, it was time to leave Madison and try my hand at internal recruitment.

Since early 2016, I’ve worked at Downer NZ as a Senior Consultant managing a team of three recruitment consultants and looking after a portfolio of senior technical positions in the transport services sector. This role involved working as a business partner with various stakeholders and strategic sourcing of some extremely hard to fill roles.

I was born in Auckland and lived there most of my life. But in January 2018, my family was seeking a lifestyle change so we decided to move to the sunny Bay of Plenty where I continued to work for Downer NZ up until recently. A small world it is, and I re-connected with my old Madison colleagues, Bernadette and Kiri, and before I knew it I was heading back to agency recruitment with R+A. I’m excited about being part of this small boutique – yet growing – recruitment agency and embedding myself in the local recruitment market in the BOP.

Examples of clients I have worked with:

• Downer NZ
• Auckland Council
• Hamilton City Council
• Southern Cross Healthcare
• Coca Cola
• Tower Insurance
• Opus Consultants
• 2 Degrees
• Westpac

Holly Johns

Originally from the UK, I came to New Zealand in 2002 having completed a law degree and deciding to travel for a year. I backpacked around Australia and Indonesia for 4 months before coming here and never leaving!

I spent time travelling and experiencing some of the incredible NZ sights before settling in Auckland and starting a retail role. Once we realised we wanted to call NZ home, I began a career in Administration, starting in a Reception role and moving into a PA then an EA position at a large nationwide company. Here I learnt a massive amount about working at the heart of an Executive team and supporting the team to grow the business.

After starting our family we took an opportunity to move to the Bay of Plenty, away from the big city and into the beach lifestyle. I worked for a solar power company here in the BOP, before taking several years out to complete our family.

The opportunity to work at Ryan+Alexander came along just as I was starting to think of engaging my work brain again, and it is very exciting to get back into the office and be working with such a dynamic team! 

Lynda Stewart

Born and raised in Wellington, my career began in the retail and business banking world, after which I moved into Leadership, Career Coaching and Training Roles. I have been fortunate in being exposed to many different divisions and business units, providing me a broad understanding of business and human resourcing needs, and allowing me to live in various locations across New Zealand. I travelled and lived abroad before deciding to settle in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in 2013.

A real highlight was my work as a career coach in one of New Zealand’s largest corporates, during a challenging time of mass redeployment and redundancies – not only was I able to make a real impact and help over a hundred people find their way through an unexpected change in their lives, but also in discovering a new pathway and mastering the steps required in the job search process. This experience became invaluable in Leadership roles that followed, allowing me to manage through change, build effective teams and motivate others to become the best they could be, by retaining my vision as a supportive, enthusiastic leader working towards the common goals of the organisation.

In 2018, I welcomed the opportunity to join the talented team at Ryan + Alexander, where I began as Candidate Manager assisting and guiding our candidates along their career pathway. Recently moving into an Associate Consultant role, where I continue to work closely with candidates as well as supporting our clients in sourcing the best suited candidate to fill their temporary positions.

Liz Kennedy

I have been fortunate enough to recently join the exceptional team at Ryan & Alexander as a Sourcing Consultant.  My role is to support Bernadette with her Executive searches; yet with my extensive recruitment background I have also been able to pick up and run my own roles.

Like many, my career in recruitment began on my OE in London. I enjoyed my time in London recruiting temporary and contract roles into the Legal field and there was no doubt in my mind that I would continue in the industry upon my return to New Zealand.  When I joined Robert Walters in Auckland, I got my first taste of permanent recruitment as I was Manager for the Finance Permanent division.  Working on Senior permanent roles within the greater Auckland area set me in good stead to make the next move in my career in-house, as Talent Acquisition Manager for ANZ.  Here I was responsible for the Executive recruitment and supported and managed a team of Talent Acquisition Specialists.  I was with ANZ for nearly eight years and by the end I had three children and had moved to Tauranga!  

Ryan & Alexander have offered me a great opportunity to return to work in a part time capacity which works well with my young family. I am loving getting to know the friendly people and successful businesses in the sunny Bay of Plenty and I look forward to working with more of you.