About Us
Background & Our Funding
The Hairdressing Industry Training Organisation was formally wound up, and liquidated at the end of June 2023. HITO’s mission was to support employers and apprentices in their journey through on-the-job training with the ambitious goal of the hair industries to become 100% NZ Qualified in the Hairdressing and Barbering.
Hair Industry Support and Opportunities Charitable Trust (HISO) was formed July 1st 2023, and the reserves retained from HITO have been invested. Every year this fund will become available at set dates. It is determined the trustees will always only spend the interest, and not always all of it every year.
HISO is a charity that is independent of any Government or Training Organisations. The Trustees are from the industry and represent New Zealand wide. The trustees would like to see these funds used for the betterment of the Hair Industries long into the future.
The Trustees
Craig Stinson - Chair
Owner of Calibre Salon in Wellington
Craig’s passion for the Hairdressing Industry has spanned more than 30 years and has employed, mentored and trained apprentices and employees to support the future of the Hairdressing profession.
Craig considers himself a visionary and strategic thinker demonstrating this through his business acumen, development and implementation of training programmes.
Peter Wells - Deputy Chair
Owner of Ali Barber in Wanaka
Pete is a qualified barber passionate about the Barbering Industry. The owner of 2 barbershops, Pete has supported and trained many apprentices through their qualification. As an advocate for the barbering industry Pete wishes to lift the standards of the Barbering Industry and highlight barbering as a viable career choice.
Jacqui Victor
Owner of True Grit in Christchurch
Jacqui has employed, mentored, trained and qualified many stylists over her 30 years of owning salons . Jacqui leads her “dream team” of stylists in her beautiful purpose build salon in Christchurch. Employment of apprentices is mandatory at True Grit . Apprentices are our future in this industry. Working on the floor 3 days a week keeps Jacqui in touch with her people whether they are the clients, team or the business partners.
‘I love being the mentor, the person who guides my team in the right direction not just professionally but personally. Hairdressing is all about the people.”
Andrew Cobeldick
Senior Stylist at Buoy in Wellington
Andrew is a Master Stylist and Colourist currently working at Buoy in Wellington. Andrew is very active in the Hairdressing community and is a regular finalist in the creative hairdressing competitions. Andrew’s awards include the AHIA New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year 2024 and the NZ Hairdresser of the Year in 2018.
Andrew is a sought after stylist and has worked at fashion weeks across the world.
‘ I believe in lifting people up and doing my part to foster a collaborative and supportive hair community’
Anne Millar
Auckland
Anne has been dedicated to hairdressing for most of her life and has been a salon owner in Auckland for over 50 years. In that time Anne has trained many apprentices and assisted in qualifying many more as an Industry Assessor.
Anne has been the New Zealand representative on the IPSN Board to raise the profile of Hairdressing around the world.
“My main passion is seeing Apprentices achieve their goals.“
Greg Murrell
Owner of Ryder in Auckland
Over a multi-decade career, Greg has become renowned for his hair-cutting and editorial styling skills through his work in the salon, media and the fashion industry.
Since opening Ryder in central Auckland in 1999 it has become one of New Zealand’s most recognised boutique salons and Greg has trained and mentored many people in that time.
Passionate about training standards and encouraging creative opportunities in an ever-changing hairdressing landscape, Greg is also highly motivated about positively advancing the reputation of hairdressing as a credible career choice.