Wairarapa

Brett Wooffindin

Brett is a Director at Sidekick Lawson Avery, helping rural, commercial and high net-worth clients understand their financial position and make stronger decisions for the future.

Brett started his accounting career in 2004 and has worked closely with rural clients since 2015. He works primarily across the rural sector, including sheep and beef, dairy, arable and viticulture, as well as commercial property, high net worth individuals and large businesses. Brett is a Chartered Accountant and also holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Management with First Class Honours from Lincoln University.

Clients often come to Brett when they need clarity around where their business is heading. He helps with budgeting, cashflow, succession planning, expansion, equity partnerships, tax planning, structuring and reporting systems, bringing a calm, practical and big-picture approach to the conversation.

Brett enjoys problem-solving alongside clients and helping them understand not just where their numbers are today, but what the trends are telling them about the road ahead. For Brett, good advice is about connection, timely communication and spending more time looking forward than backwards.

Outside work, Brett enjoys rugby, league, cricket, golf, reading, travel and socialising. He likes to run and has recently taken up swimming, although much of his time is spent with his kids. He is also a Director of Wairarapa Building Society and Sidekick Holdings, and a Trustee for Wings Over Wairarapa.

Jennifer Martin

Jen is a Director at Sidekick Lawson Avery, working with a broad range of clients across business, farming, professional services and investment structures.

A Chartered Accountant since 2011, Jen has signficant experience in accounting and business advisory. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in Accounting, Economics and Commercial Law from Victoria University of Wellington. Jen became a Director of Lawson Avery in 2020, which later became Sidekick Lawson Avery in 2025.

Clients often come to Jen when they need a clear head and a steady hand. Whether they’re working through business structures, tax positions, growth decisions, succession planning or the next stage of their business, Jen helps make the complex feel more manageable. She has a practical way of breaking down technical detail into plain-English advice, giving clients the clarity they need to make confident decisions.

Her style is calm, considered and genuinely supportive. Jen enjoys the conversations where clients can talk through what’s been sitting in the “too hard” basket and leave with a clearer sense of what to do next. For her, good advice is not just about getting the numbers right – it’s about helping people understand their options, think ahead and move forward with confidence.

Outside work, Jen is mum to three children, including twins, and is busy juggling school, activities and family life. When she gets time for herself, you’ll usually find her at the gym.

Rob Royle

Rob was born and raised in Wainuiomata before moving to the Wairarapa in 2015 with his wife and two young boys.

Rob studied at Victoria University completing a BCA and post-Graduate Diploma in Accounting before qualifying as Chartered Accountant in 2018.

Prior to joining Lawson Avery in 2018, Rob had worked at another local accounting firm and worked in the finance team at The Salvation Army.

When Rob isn’t in the office or chasing his kids around, it’s likely he’ll be out pig hunting with his dogs.

Jaimi Stewart

Jaimi is a Chartered Accountant who joined Sidekick Lawson Avery in 2021, bringing local knowledge and a strong technical foundation to the team. Born and raised in the Wairarapa, she understands the region and the people she works with. 

A Massey University graduate, Jaimi works with clients across a range of industries, supporting them with clear, practical advice. 

Outside of work, she enjoys playing and watching sport, particularly squash and golf, and spending time with friends and family. 

Svetlana Dumanovskaya

Svetlana is a Chartered Accountant with a strong focus on the dairy industry and rural agribusiness, bringing over a decade of experience across Chartered Accountancy practices. She joined Sidekick Lawson Avery in 2021 and has built a reputation for her depth of knowledge and practical approach. 

A Massey University graduate, Svetlana is also actively involved in the Dairy Industry Awards, having previously served as a Regional Manager and continuing to support the judging process. 

Originally from Crimea, Ukraine, she has called the Wairarapa home since childhood. Outside of work, she enjoys time on her family farm in Martinborough with her partner, their dogs, and two young helpers. 

Jhellaica Manjares

Jhellaica is a Chartered Accountant with international experience and a strong foundation in both corporate and professional services environments. Originally from the Philippines, she began her career as a Certified Public Accountant, with roles at PwC and IBM, before moving to New Zealand. 

She joined Sidekick Lawson Avery in 2021, bringing a thoughtful, client-focused approach and a strong technical skillset. Her experience spans audit, finance and advisory, allowing her to support clients with clarity and confidence. 

Based in Masterton since 2013, Jhellaica is a busy mum of two and enjoys staying active. Outside of work, you’ll find her running, playing social sports, or learning something new – currently the guitar. 

Hiona Haeata

Hiona was born and raised in the Wairarapa and spent 10 years living in Australia. She moved home in 2022 to be closer to family.

She completed her certificate level 4 in accounting and bookkeeping, then completed her registration as a BAS Agent, and is now currently working towards her bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Prior to coming on board with Lawson Avery Hiona worked at another CA Practice in the Gold Coast
as a bookkeeper, developing her skills she grew a passion for accounting.

Out of the office Hiona loves spending time with her daughter and family and looks forward to
exploring the beautiful outdoors and scenery that she missed.

Robyn Morgan

Robyn is a Wairarapa local with over a decade of experience in the accounting industry. She brings a practical, down-to-earth approach and a strong understanding of the local business community. 

An Accounting Technician, Robyn is currently working towards becoming a Chartered Accountant and is passionate about helping clients better understand their numbers and make confident decisions. 

Outside of work, she and her husband are kept busy with their two children. She enjoys a good coffee, a gluten-free treat, and taking time to unwind. 

Karan Kumar

Karan joined Sidekick Lawson Avery after relocating to New Zealand, bringing over nine years of experience in accounting across New Zealand and Australian clients. His background includes extensive work in farming, taxation, commercial accounting and investments.

With both a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA, Karan has a strong technical foundation and is highly experienced in cloud-based tools, particularly Xero and Figured, helping clients manage their finances with accuracy and efficiency.

Now based in Masterton, he is enjoying settling into the Wairarapa community. Outside of work, Karan has a keen interest in emerging technologies, including crypto and AI, and is a passionate cricket fan.

Neha Patel

Neha brings a strong academic background and a client-focused approach to her role at Sidekick Lawson Avery. Originally from India, she moved to Masterton in 2020 and has since built experience within the New Zealand banking sector. 

She holds both a Bachelor and Master of Commerce, along with a Graduate Certificate in Taxation from Victoria University of Wellington, and is currently working towards her Chartered Accountant qualification. 

Known for her strong communication skills and attention to detail, Neha enjoys supporting clients and building positive relationships. 

Outside of work and study, she enjoys creative pursuits and spending time with her daughter and family. 

Nicole Sim

Nicole joined Sidekick Lawson Avery in 2021 and plays a key role in keeping the office running smoothly, while supporting clients with payroll and day-to-day administration. Known for her organised approach and can-do attitude, she enjoys building strong relationships and creating a welcoming environment for both clients and the team. 

Raised on dairy farms across the Wairarapa, Nicole has a natural understanding of rural life and enjoys working with people from all walks of life. 

Outside of work, she loves getting outdoors with her dogs, exploring local walks, and spending time with family and friends. 

Helen Pauley

Helen is a Marlburian who has travelled the world and landed back here. Having a varied work life from managing a regional office for a multi-national advertising firm, owning a hospitality business to practice management of a medical practice, Helen brings a bucket load of skills. Communication is her flag ship skill and she enjoys problem solving. Resourceful and fun, pretty much sums her up.

She is married to Gary, who is a Business Advisor and in their spare time they love to travel to family & friends, experience the great outdoors and discovering new recipes and flavours, accompanied by a glass of fine wine.

Ric Thorpe

Ric is CEO of Sidekick Holdings, helping grow the Sidekick group while supporting our offices, people and clients to be more successful.

Ric has been involved with Sidekick since 2010 and became CEO in early 2025. His background sits across business growth, marketing, sales, strategy, technology and client experience rather than traditional accounting. This gives Ric a different lens within the accounting world, with a focus on helping business owners make better decisions, understand where they are heading and connect the right advice, people and systems around them.

Ric works closely with ambitious business owners, growing SMEs, regional businesses and people who are trying to build something bigger or better. He also spends a lot of time with accounting firm owners, partners and leaders who are thinking about growth, succession, joining Sidekick or building a stronger future for their team and clients.

Clients often come to Ric for clarity, growth ideas, a fresh perspective and honest conversations about what needs to change. He helps people work through growth decisions, marketing and sales opportunities, technology, AI and automation, leadership, succession and turning loose ideas into practical plans. Ric is especially good at joining the dots between marketing, sales, systems, people and numbers, helping business owners focus on the things that will really move the dial.

His style is straight-talking, energetic and practical. Ric likes big-picture thinking, but he is always focused on turning ideas into action. For him, good advice should make business feel clearer, less lonely and more manageable. He believes business owners do not need more noise – they need clarity, confidence and practical help from people who genuinely want them to win.

Outside work, Ric enjoys spending time with family, cars and motorbikes, travel, good food, coffee and finding interesting places. He is naturally curious and enjoys learning about new ideas, technology, business models and people. Ric has also been involved in community and charity activities, including running 50km for Life Education Trust Canterbury, and is interested in supporting young people, business owners and regional communities where Sidekick can make a positive difference.

Steph Holt

Steph is the creative mind behind Sidekick’s brand – making sure everything from marketing campaigns to internal events reflects who we are and what we stand for. With over 15 years of experience in design and strategy, she loves finding fresh, meaningful ways to bring the Sidekick story to life. From shaping how our brand looks and feels to creating moments that connect our team and clients, Steph brings a mix of curiosity, energy, and heart to everything she does.

Outside of work, Steph enjoys spending time with her teenage son, road-tripping in her self-converted campervan and tending to her ever-growing veggie patch – a creative outlet that balances her busy, design-filled days.

Manoli De Silva

Manoli keeps the team running smoothly, making sure all the day-to-day details are taken care of. She has a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of London and a master’s in international relations from the University of Colombo, she has worked across law firms, UN agencies, and the government sector. Her experience in different environments gives her a strong eye for detail and a knack for keeping things organised and on track.

A massive foodie, Manoli loves cooking and trying out new restaurants. She also enjoys running and staying active, and likes to unwind with a good book and a glass of wine. Most of all, she treasures spending time with her husband and their two young daughters.