About Us

Welcome to Coastguard Boating Education, the leading provider of recreational boating education in New Zealand

Coastguard Boating Education (CBE) was formed in 1979 as a non-profit organisation to provide a comprehensive range of boating courses throughout New Zealand. The organisation is registered as a Private Training Establishment with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

Coastguard Boating Education staff and tutors are highly experienced and qualified to ensure the best learning experience for students.

Board of Directors

John Cowan

Brooke Archbold; MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit)

Marilyn Brady

Callum Gillespie

Andrew Murray

Alistair Thomson

Head Office Team

Kirstin Brown

General Manager

Kirstin is a highly-experienced educator with a wide range of experience in private training establishments in both the domestic and international sectors. Her previous roles include Director of Studies at Dominion English Schools, National College Director at Academic Colleges Group, National Operations Manager at Whitireia Polytechnic and more recently Education Director at the Real Estate Institute. She has several teaching qualifications and a PG Dip in Business from Auckland University School of Business.

Email: kirstin.brown@boatingeducation.org.nz
Phone: (09) 361 4708
Mobile: 022 043 5376

Jason Rowledge

Head of Training

Jason has an excellent level of maritime technical knowledge coupled with a strong maritime training and management background. He holds an MNZ inshore Launch Master, is an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, Powerboat Level 2 and PWC Instructor. Diving is a favourite past time with both advanced and rescue diving accreditation and his position as Head of Training for CBE ensures his adult teaching and assessor qualifications are well-utilised. Before teaching Jason worked around the world aboard various super yachts as both captain and crew.

Email: jason.rowledge@boatingeducation.org.nz
Phone: (09) 361 4711
Mobile: 021725993

Tracye Mossman

National Course Coordinator

Tracye has gained valuable experience in the Marine Industry having come to us from NZ Marine Association as Project Leader for the Auckland on the Water Boat Show and Race Management Coordinator for the NZ Millennium Cup Superyacht Regatta in the beautiful Bay of Islands. Her high organisation and people skills are well suited to her role as National Course Coordinator for Coastguard Boating Education.

Tracye currently resides on her ketch in Westhaven Marina and is very passionate about safety on the water. You find her out on the water most weekends, enjoying sailing and exploring.

Email: tracye.mossman@boatingeducation.org.nz
Phone: 09 361 4702
Mobile: 021 026 65365

Stuart Birnie

Course Development Manager

Stuart comes from an Audio Visual background, starting with TVNZ then working primarily in Tertiary Education. In 2003 he changed his career path and went maritime. Stuart has worked mainly with traditional vessels and youth development since, including a time overseas as Senior Master of Spirit of Bermuda. He counts himself very lucky to be able to skipper such vessels as Aotearoa One, R Tucker Thompson, Jane Gifford, Ted Ashby, and Breeze. He holds RYA, NZ Maritime, and Adult Teaching qualifications and is passionate about assisting others to better themselves

Email: coursemanager@boatingeducation.org.nz
Phone: 09 361 4709
Mobile: 020 412 858 98

Ross Winterburn

Maritime Educator

Ross has taken on the role of Maritime Educator at our Westhaven office, continuing his extensive service to the maritime industry: training in the use of marine safety equipment, helicopter underwater escape training and work for Auckland Regional Council environmental monitoring programs. Ross has been a SAR volunteer for Auckland Coastguard (Heavy Rescue Vessel and Air Patrol) for 25 years, and a Boating Education tutor since 1996. His work in our Westhaven office centres on supporting the Head of Training and Manager – Course Development as well as keeping course resources up to date.

Email: Ross.Winterburn@boatingeducation.org.nz
Phone: 09 361 4705

Sarah Psaila

Safe Boating Project Co-ordinator

Sarah has taken on the role as the Safe Boating Project Co-ordinator. She trains the trainers to deliver a nationwide programme devoted to educating young people with the essential safe boating concepts such as life jacket use, safety gear and response to common water-based situations. Sarah is an active SAR volunteer for Auckland Coastguard and an active volunteer for the Waterwise schools programme. These have given Sarah a wealth of knowledge for the Safe Boating Programme.

Email: safeboating@boatingeducation.org.nz
Phone: 09 361 4706
Mobile: 022 197 8295

Sarah Pengelly

Assessment Administrator

Sarah is the Assessment Administrator. She issues all certificates for CBE and The Royal Yachting Association (RYA).

Email: sarah.pengelly@boatingeducation.org.nz
Phone: 09 361 4712

Liz Norquay

Course Adminstration

Liz has joined the team to support the delivery of boating education nationally having served Coastguard's aims for many years in administration roles at the regional office. She is part of the team which co-ordinates classroom-based courses and brings administrative skills and experience in scheduling classes, sourcing venue and liaising with our tutors. Liz owns a cruising yacht with her partner and enjoys lending a hand in conservation projects.

Email: liz.norquay@boatingeducation.org.nz
Phone: (09) 361 4710

Maribeth Harvey

Office Administrator (Education)

Maribeth joined CBE in August 2017 following several education based roles. Her role with CBE involves NZQA,TEC and Fees Free compliance, quality assurance and evaluating and improving learning outcomes. She also administers the National Callsign Database and issues MMSI numbers. Maribeth is a music loving, adventurous, nature nerd, passionate about marine and NZ bird conservation.

Email: Maribeth.harvey@boatingeducation.org.nz
Phone: 0800 40 80 90