Get to know our wonderful kaimahi
Alaina Balme - Managing Director
Alaina is a registered psychologist and the new Managing Director of Compass Seminars NZ. She continues to provide psychology services through a small amount of clinical work, alongside leading Compass into its next chapter. With a passion for supporting professionals who work with children and young people, Alaina brings both frontline experience and a strong commitment to accessible, high-quality professional development.
She is focused on building on Compass Seminars NZ’s reputation as New Zealand’s leading provider of training, while exploring fresh opportunities to connect, inspire and equip professionals across Aotearoa.
Outside of work, Alaina loves spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, and discovering new places around New Zealand. She holds connection and learning in high regard — values that she brings into her work everyday with Compass.
Alaina can be reached alaina@compass.ac.nz
Craig McKenzie - Founder
Originally from a background in Child and Adolescent social work, Craig found a gap in the social services sector for professional development delivered in the smaller regional centres of New Zealand. Committed to fulfilling this need, Craig founded Compass Seminars in 1998, serving as Managing Director since its inception and enthusiastically taking on many key roles including trainer recruitment, relationship management, business development and, most importantly, travelling tirelessly around New Zealand to host Compass events.
Compass is deeply saddened to share that Craig passed away unexpectedly in late 2024 due to an undiagnosed health condition. Craig spent 25 years working incredibly hard to build the company into the well-established and respected training provider it is today. He attended and hosted every Compass event that took place around Aotearoa New Zealand and became a familiar friendly face to each of the customers, colleagues, and organisations we work alongside.
While Craig will be sorely missed, he leaves a fantastic legacy of unwavering dedication to both his whānau and the professional development sector he was so passionate about.