OUR PEOPLE
SAMANTHA MILLS
DIRECTOR
Samantha, Group has over 25 years of management and leadership experience within both the public and private sectors. Samantha has proven experience managing and implementing new business and complex change initiatives over multiple sites and well as extensive knowledge of Contact Centre/Help Desks and their technology. Samantha has excellent commercial knowledge within business and consumer fields along with strong Client Relationship Management skills, ensuring a no surprises approach for clients. Samantha is an expert in maximising the value that Purple Ink can provide to our clients by way of sharing insights, our “ínk sights’” and managing risk for our clients’ organizations and businesses which are especially important for Government clients.
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With an IT background Samantha’s knowledge and understanding of data and its security ensures all data and personal information is secure as it possibly can – no easy challenge in today world.
STEVE WAGNER
PROJECT LEAD & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Based in Christchurch, Steve joined Purple Ink in 2024 in our business development portfolio to lead and grow our data collection, insights and research footprint.
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Steve has lived and breathed data collection for over 20 years with leadership roles at IRD, Stats NZ and more recently within one of NZ’s leading research and insight agencies.
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Steve understands the nuances in collecting high quality data that informs quality decision making. With a strong operational background, Steve has successfully collected data using telephone, face to face, paper, and online data modes within NZ as well as in the Pacific.
SACHUDA NAIKAR
BUSINESS MANAGER
Sachuda joined the Business Group in 2012 and has now been with our business for more than 10 years.
He has over 15 years in 24x7 contact centre services for high profile government, local government and Corporate clients.
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Coming from both a strong finance, collections, and risk background, Sachuda is heavily focused on service performance, customer engagement and compliance.
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He leads by example and rolls his sleeves up to get a job done and done well. Our team love his fair and considered approach.
EVIE STRAWBRIDGE
INSIGHT ANALYST
Joining our team in 2025, Evie has an enthusiasm for uncovering hidden gems within the data to provide clients with actionable insights. Evie has excellent communication and storytelling skills. These strengths enable her success in creating guides/surveys, report writing and presentations.
Evie recognises the importance of understanding the purpose of the research and ensuring this is the focus at each stage of the project. After completing a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Marketing, Evie found her passion within Market Research.
Within her two and a half years of experience in the industry, Evie has worked on, and Project Managed across a variety of industries and different research methodologies, therefore she is equipped with a range of experience to confidently lead projects end to end
JULIA RIBERIO
OPERATIONS LEADER
Since moving to New Zealand in 2018, Julia has gained diverse experience across a range of different roles, bringing an outgoing and dynamic personality to the table. She is a results-oriented professional with a passion for events, communications, and leadership.
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With a bachelor’s degree in social communication, (major in Public Relations) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Event Management, Julia brings a strong academic foundation to her work.
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Her experience includes project management, client relationship development, and team leadership, honed through key operational roles within the research and events management industries.
Julia is a confident communicator, highly organized, and motivated to learn, consistently exceeding expectations in fast-paced environments. She simply ‘gets shit done’.
MARLIZE NORTJE
BUSINESS SUPPORT MANAGER
Marlize began her career as a customer service representative and found a passion for delivering top-level customer experience. She was able to develop this into teaching others to provide the same level of service as she upskilled into her management role. Within six years, Marlize developed various skills across all business areas from quality assurance, analytics reporting, client relations and team leadership to her current team success-focused role.
“I am at the forefront to implement any change and the evolution of technology into the contact centre space to futureproof our communication and be the best in the business.