A look at what's been happening across #TeamGallagher
15 years and counting at Gallagher for Shane
We have great people at Gallagher - from Melbourne to Montana, Ontario to Otago, and with some tenures spanning decades, we think it's important to acknowledge our team. We recently celebrated Technical Support Manager for Security, Shane Keesom, who's been in the business for over 15 years and now works at our Hamilton site, where it all began.
Growing up in Te Awamutu, New Zealand, Shane was born and bred in the heart of the Waikato. After graduating secondary school, he completed a Bachelor of Information Technology at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). Not long after that, he started with Gallagher as a Technical Support Engineer in the Security team.
Despite Shane’s affinity for small-town New Zealand, he soon began to get itchy feet. That’s why, when a technical support role opened up in Gallagher’s European office, Shane jumped at the chance to stretch his legs a little further from home. For two and a half years, you’d find him assisting customers in diverse locations across Europe from 8 to 5, Monday to Friday. But on the weekends, he’d be in those locations himself - embracing every opportunity to travel.
Once he’d satisfied the travel bug, Shane returned to New Zealand and moved into a Senior Technical Support role, before being offered the chance to lead the team in 2014. “A big part of my role is making sure our customers and also the team are supported any time of the day,” Shane explains.
“I believe we have a great team that works together 24/7 to provide global customer support for our security products.”
Head to our blog to see the rest of Shane's journey at Gallagher here.
Protecting the endangered Brown Kiwi
In New Zealand and around the world, our Animal Management technology and fencing is mostly used to keep big animals in. But in a small park situated in the Central North Island of New Zealand, a team of conservation volunteers are using Gallagher technology to keep small animals out. The small animals are predators, and they’re being kept out to protect a wild population of endangered North Island Brown Kiwi.?
This aligns strongly with our company purpose - protect what matters most - and our brand value 'We are committed to a better tomorrow.'
In 2002, it was estimated that a remnant population of 200 eastern brown Kiwi remained in the Kaweka Ranges. Chick mortality due to predation by stoats, ferrets and dogs was so high, only one out of every 20 Kiwi made it to adulthood. Without strategic intervention, it was likely the Kaweka Kiwi would be extinct within 10 years.??
A few years later, the Environment, Conservation & Outdoor Education Trust (ECOED) was formed to reverse the decline. Through the work of its passionate volunteers, ECOED set up the Kiwi crèche at Lake Opouahi, a pest-free area surrounded by a pest-proof fence.??
We spoke to Phil Kay, who's been a Kiwi Creche volunteer since it's inception - read what he had to say, and how Gallagher helps protect what matters most here.
Supporting young entrepreneurs' sustainability goals
Gallagher was born out of an innovative and entrepreneurial vision. We continue to recognise and celebrate those same traits today, which is why we’re proud to support Young Enterprise Scheme (YES).
YES is an opportunity for students to unleash their inner entrepreneur and experience the start-up world firsthand - it's an experiential programme where students in Year 12 and 13 (16 to 18 years old) set up and run a real business. This year, one group caught our attention, and we wanted to share the good they’re doing for their community.
Four Year 11 students from Taupo-nui-a-Tia College put their heads together to find an sustainable alternative to clay bird targets. Clay bird shooting is a popular activity with corporate groups, hen and stag groups, and birthdays on Lake Taupo, and the toxic ingredients used to in the targets is causing marine life and the environment to suffer.
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Thus, Flying Left was born – consisting of Nicholas Steed, Nathaniel Higgins, Harry Febery, and Lilliah Wade. The group have invented an alternative clay shooting target which is completely biodegradable and environmentally friendly – something that is unmatched in the current market. Their targets have been specifically designed to dissolve in the water and become a part of lake or riverbeds and can be used on land like a standard clay target.
We caught up with Flying Left, who shared their vision and progress with us. Read the full story here.
Protecting what matters most for Australia's largest theme park operator
Village Roadshow Theme Parks, Australia’s largest theme park operator, provides some of the most thrilling entertainment rides and slides available anywhere in the world. Gallagher's security solutions are right behind the company - working to protect what matters most.
With its headquarters on the Gold Coast, Australia's holiday playground operates multiple sites including Warner Bros Movie World, Wet 'n' Wild Water World, Australian Outback Spectacular, Sea World, Paradise Country, and Sea World Resort & Water Park.
Key industry challenges include health & safety, preserving assets and ambience, and saving costs. That's where Gallagher could help, with values that include a commitment to creative problem solving, and to a better tomorrow.
Over 5 million visitors per year, from families to thrill seekers, flock to this world of fun with action-packed shows and rides, marine and animal attractions, and adventure across seven large scale properties. Peak days can attract between 10,000 and 15,000 guests.
When it comes to security, Village Roadshow Theme Parks have always chosen Gallagher as their long-term partner. A relationship that began in the mid-1980s, has grown to meet the expanding demands of each park. Today, Gallagher operates across a network of 10 key locations, with a global team of more than 1,300 people, and a dedicated team to support the Australian market.
"The Gallagher platform is very versatile and able to work with Village Roadshow Theme Parks’ needs better than other products.” explains Mark Cullen, Security Manager for Village Roadshow Theme Parks.
Read the rest of the case study here.
Introducting our Animal Management product head
Chris van der Loo joined Gallagher in August 2022 as General Manager Global Product & Technology for Animal Management and is excited to play a part in the next chapter of developing smarter, simpler solutions that make farm life easier, more profitable and more sustainable.
“I chose Gallagher for a number of reasons,” Chris says.
“Gallagher has such a strong reputation in New Zealand and around the world as an innovator. I’ve worked in agritech in the past and the opportunity to join and be part of the Gallagher story is a huge honour.
“In my first few weeks, I’ve seen how driven people are, and the extent of just how proud people are of the brand has blown me away. I get a high sense of satisfaction from that. The thing that affirms Gallagher as a leading company is how many people have been here for 10, 20, and even 30 years and beyond.”
Head to our blog to see the full interview with Chris here.
great to see a wonderful company spirit matched by the highest technical quality