Meet our Trainers

Troy Twomey

Troy, originally a mechanic, made a jump to the NZDF as a soldier in the NZ Army, where he spent the next 12 years.  Troy worked with Land Search and Rescue for many years, and during peace-time in the military, was able to work and train with the Army’s own Fire-Fighters, allowing Troy to build further on his Rope Access and High-Angle Rescue skills.  Troy became an instructor within the Army “Land Operations Training Centre” in Waiouru, and after a few years an opportunity arose to leave the Army and work for an industry training company in the Bay of Plenty, teaching Fall Arrest, Confined Space Entry and Specialist Rescue Techniques.  When out of the Army, Troy noticed the large void of realistic training within industry, -with too many people simply going through “tick-the-box” training courses. Troy then started Elite Training Services, and since, has developed all of the courses that the company runs, with a distinct focus on realism. Clients have also enjoyed the “realistic training” that Elite Training Services delivers. Troy linked-up with Ropeworks Managing Director, Scott Savage to start contracting for rope access work. With both a training and a working side to the companies, this was obvious that it would only lead to greater skills and experience in the company. Troy holds NZ certificates in Rope Access, and stays up-to-date by being part of the Industrial Rope Access Association of New Zealand (IRAANZ), and is also a national assessor for Certificate of Competency’s (CoC’s) in rope access.

Troy and his wife Kyla can be found mountain biking or tarmac rallying in their spare time. Targa NZ is the year’s main highlights, which you can see by checking out their their YourTube channel.

Kevin McCombe

Kevin, after leaving the military, went on to join the New Zealand Fire Service in an operational capacity. For the past 20 years he has actively been instructing, assessing and moderating confined space and specialist rescue techniques, and specialist skills, such as gas testing, breathing apparatus, first aid, and general fire safety.  Also conducting audits on rescue, and emergency procedures and operations.  Kevin has used his knowledge of New Zealand and Australian standards to design and write confined space policies and procedures, and to establish a complete emergency packages for various companies.  Kevin brings to the Elite Training team, a global understanding of emergency management, and how local industrial companies can benefit from site specific emergency planning.  Although generic training has its place, Kevin is aware that Elite Training Services prefers to work with industry to create training solutions that marry the Worksafe NZ requirements, with a company’s needs for job/site specific applications.  Along with all other members of the Elite Training team, he continues working in all the relative industries as well as instructing/training, keeping a current and expert approach to your companies training requirements.

James Weidmann

James began his career as a fitter welder with Page MacRae Engineering, spending many hours in confined spaces no one else wanted to enter.  That lead to a career move to Australia, traveling around the country and pacific Islands while learning everything from rigging to Crane Driving and spending much time conducting engineering work at height.  James in his lucky ways then returned to NZ after 6 years and joined a small tourism company, building, setting up and installing, auditing, and training tourism operations around the world.  James spent a lot his time guiding and teaching people with zero experience to stay safe at height.  In 2015 James was looking for more of a challenge (mainly more work) and started contracting to Elite Training as a specialist trainer.  His specialty and passion is working at height.  He has spent many years safely throwing people off structures, which gives him a unique ability to help stop people from falling from them.  James holds the New Zealand Certificate in Rope Access.  When not in the class, James still gets out on the job doing the real work, climbing in things and swinging off them.  If Kyla ever lets him have time off, James enjoys Hunting fishing and Adventure Tourism.

Steve Smylie

Steve has spent 35 years as a Fire-Fighter within the New Zealand Fire Service.  In this time, Steve has held many roles, but held on to a passion for rescue.  30 years of his career has been spent on a Fire Service Rescue appliance.  Whether it’s a positive, or a negative, his time on a rescue appliance has meant that Steve has had to deal with many industrial accidents, both at heights, and in confined spaces.  Although it is very clear that Steve brings a sound knowledge of rescue with him (as Steve is a recipient of the New Zealand Bravery Medal for his actions after the Christchurch earthquake), he continues to work in industry, to maintain his knowledge of the latest cutting edge techniques.  Steve brings this knowledge with him to Elite Training Services, and with his personality, he simply slipped into the team without an issue.  Steve has a sense of humour that industry trainees will relate to, and his background gives his training credibility

Dion Wilson

Dion served six years as a fuel injection specialist, and utilised his spare time in being an active part of the Local Coast Guard and Dive recovery Team. In 1996 Dion took on a career as a full time fire fighter.  This opened the door for new opportunities and experiences from gaining accreditation as a BA technician, to going on to being the Tutor, teaching and re-certifying BA technicians.  Dion expanded his training roll from BA, to a trainer for the Realistic Fire Training Building; recruit fire fighter training; and the Fire Service’s new Incident Command Unit.  He has also been heavily involved in the Advanced Line Rescue Team.  Then along came Elite training services, allowing Dion add to his training skills and sound BA knowledge to an already well qualified and professional team.  The feedback from Dion’s training is always exceptional, and his ability to relate to trainees helps him achieve excellent results.  Information is always absorbed easier from a person that live and breathes their subject matter.  Dion has taken to growing the Elite Training Services name in the Gisborne area, so if you are over this way, get in touch and see what training he can offer that is specific to your requirements.