Our people

We invest in the best. Our integration and data team are fully trained across all leading technologies and have significant experience over a broad range of industries and verticals.

Ashley Helm

Managing Director, Co-founder

Ashley Helm

Managing Director, Co-founder

Ashley brings his considerable experience as a Managing Director, Program Director and CIO to Adaptiv Integration. He has a first-rate track record in strategic development and solution delivery for enterprise clients, producing significant benefits for some of New Zealand’s largest and most well-known companies, as well as internationally connected and global businesses.

Having spent 25 years bringing large scale systems to market both in New Zealand and globally, Ashley draws on exceptional experience and knowledgeable leadership to ensure professional and profitable outcomes for Adaptiv clients.

Ashley is passionate about leading the charge towards increased standards of IT consulting services within New Zealand and loves the results when integration solutions are used effectively to unlock the productivity hidden within enterprise IT silos.

As well as heading up one of the country’s leading integration solution design, development and delivery companies, Ashley is also MD of C3 Post Trade, ICM Asia Pacific and Hydrogen Apps.

Away from the office, you’ll find Ashley walking his dog, fundraising for charities, travelling and running.

Nikolai Blackie

Principal Architect, Co-Founder

Nikolai Blackie

Principal Architect, Co-Founder

One of New Zealand’s premier Integration experts and a specialist cloud architect, Nikolai’s job is to help Adaptiv clients to make the most of their current technology stack. As Principal Architect, Nikolai oversees all integration strategies, methodology, standards and technical direction, and works closely with enterprise clients to be certain that integration solution designs are fit for purpose.

Nikolai co-founded the company in 2010, confident that his strong background in integration and systems development would ensure business success. He brought his many years of commercial experience designing and integrating bespoke software products across finance, education, FMCG, manufacturing/distribution and not-for-profit.

Since then, Nikolai has developed over a decade of senior integration experience across wide-ranging industries, including power, retail, utilities, food manufacture, construction, transport/distribution, education, and finance. Nikolai also has significant experience in all aspects of enterprise scale web application integration and SaaS.

As well as calling on his considerable experience with Dell Boomi and MuleSoft Anypoint Integration solutions, Nikolai is a certified Microsoft VTSP in both BizTalk and Azure. He is regularly engaged by Microsoft to consult with clients on their behalf for these solutions.

In his ‘spare’ time, Nikolai enjoys classic cars, cycling, record collecting, and drinking Islay single malt whisky.

Phil Cullen

General Manager

Phil Cullen

General Manager

Phil leads a highly experienced team of consultants and integration specialists to ensure Adaptiv’s clients increase the industry value of their business technology.

Phil was educated at St Paul’s College, Dublin, and has over 30 years’ experience in ICT, financial management and ERP implementations for customer-centric organisations in the UK and New Zealand. Before taking on the General Manager role at Adaptiv, he was Associate Manager of Business Applications at Dimension Data. In charge of delivery, support and quality assurance across ERP, CRM, SharePoint, Custom Development (.Net) and K2, he supported clients across New Zealand and Australia.

Phil is adept at improving business processes with Microsoft Azure Integration Services, BizTalk Server, Dell Boomi, MuleSoft and Solace.

Outside of work, Phil is Chairman of Eden Rugby Club - New Zealand where he looks after the governance of the club leading the Exec Team. After completing 15 years on various committees he is now a position to drive the club forward.