About Us | History | Staff Profiles | tickles

The greatest companies and products demand good people, good relationships and much care. We're proud to have such a wonderful team, let us introduce you:

Brian Bennett, Managing Director (Auckland); HNC (Electrical & Electronics)
Joined March 2001
Known to many people through his extensive background at most levels within process control and instrumentation, Brian began his working life as an electrician, completed an engineering degree, among other roles worked in project and sales management and lectured in science at Poly Tech - along with many recent years in general management. Every bit the engineer (we mean this in the nicest way!).

Brian lives up to a well earned reputation for wide knowledge of the industry, integrity and being a true pleasure to work with. A great rapport builder, this is surely Brian’s greatest talent.

Will answer his phone any time of the day, every day of the week! Once upon a time used to boat and golf (distant memories) and used to garden (still out there on the very occasional day) but has quit mowing lawns ... whoops, spoke too soon, back to mowing the lawns and major clearing up of a big garden!

Brian Birch; Support (Christchurch); City & Guild of London, Full Technology Certificate (Electronics & Instrumentation); REA (Electrical)
Joined October 2001
Both our 'Brians' go back some 30+ years and 3 companies. Brian is on his 3rd time around with Streat Control, having retired twice thus far.

Now working 2 days a week (Wed & Thurs) it leaves Brian just enough time for him and wife Sue to help out with grandchildren, keep up with friends, a busy social life and various projects (not to mention all the extra things he gets roped in to work for - thanks BK!). So much for 'semi-retirement' ...

Anne Capon, Director, Operations (Auckland); RN; BA
Joined August 2002
Anne is a ChCh hospital trained nurse (back in the old, old days) with a BA from Canterbury University (literature) and has a broad working background in various sectors (primarily in health and property). Her responsibilities are HR, marketing, foreign exchange and credit control (.....and looking after the animal menagerie; yet another passionate animal lover in our team).

Born in Fiji to Kiwi parents, Anne grew up mostly in the South Island (a Mainlander at heart.... hankering after the quiet and beautiful south...except in the winter!). Crickey - in our whole team, just 2 of us were born in NZ (which is about par for the course we reckon). A sporty sort in her younger days (netball, volleyball, sky diving), all the dog walking is more than enough these days! Loves design, gardens (nowadays mostly looking at them, that is....) and reading (such a luxury).

Peter Docherty, Support Engineering Manager (Christchurch)
Joined August 2001
Inherited from Scotland (but a true Kiwi and ardent Crusaders and All Blacks supporter); possessed the very good taste to marry a Kiwi.

Peter has an impressive 28 year background as a design engineer in Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning. Our immense luck that he joined this team in 2001. Peter is meticulous, which is why he is the support engineering manager! In addition to his support engineering role Peter manages our quotation system and the incredible array of information required for our database – no small feat, let us assure you!

A bookworm with a very dry sense of humour (watch out for that), Peter was once a keen golfer (still gets out there when he can, good on him!) and he still is a lover of good company and fine wine.

Marian Evans, Admin & Accounts Manager (Auckland)
Joined June 2008
Born in the Cape in South Africa, Marian also lived in Johannesburg, George (a town half way between Cape Town & Port Elizabeth) and then again in Cape Town (moving back in 1990 with her three teenaged children). In November 2007 with her younger daughter, son-in-law, baby granddaughter (and the 2 family dogs, of course!), Marian moved to NZ. Prompted to move by the high crime rate and dangerous climate, all sought the relative peace here in NZ. Marian's son, elder daughter and 2 of her 3 grandchildren remain in South Africa.

Marian has worked many years in various areas of accounting and is a real stickler for getting things right - with never a piece of paper out of place on her desk! Every time Brian thinks of a new report to ask if Marian can create, the surprise is how fast she can produce it!

Having settled into her home unit in the Eastern Bays and being a seasoned home renovator and gardener, Marian is never short of work - be it painting, laying block paths or sewing curtains (and little dog Chelsea helps too, of course....). Prompted by her son, a professional wild life specialist and avid bird watcher (a great animal lover, like his mother) Marian fits in a little bird watching too (and a lot of bird feeding, it turns out!). Being an active and devoted grandmother keeps life even busier. Also a keen reader and jigsaw junkie (Marian's only vice, we think...).

Lance Hazlewood; Sales Engineer; Specialist, Analytical (Auckland); B.Tech (Hons)
Joined March 2011
Having achieved a degree in Food Technology in the early 1980's followed by many years working in the Scientific Instrument Field Lance brings a strong scientific and technical background to his role with us. A very tall - very low key - very organized and likeable chap (with a delightful sense of humour) he's a welcome addition to our team.

Married with 2 daughters he adores (easy to tell!) Lance's main interest otherwise these days is golf (even though an occasional only, luxury activity). As for his passion for basketball, he says he's too old for that now (we know how he feels ...).

Dayele Hobson, Specialist Sales Engineer (Christchurch); NZCE (Electrical Engineering)
Joined April 1990
Our congratulations and thanks to Dayele on reaching his 20th Anniversary with Streat Control in 2010; what a great milestone.
Beginning his career as an Electrician, Dayele moved into instrumentation in 1969, completed an NZCE (electronics) in 1970, and has been in the industry ever since. Having joined Streat Control in 1990, Dayele is the longest serving member of the company and a terrifically dedicated member of the team. He is extremely conversant with our extensive product range and is Product Specialist for Krohne’s vast family of flow and level measurement.

Dayele’s working knowledge of industrial process control and instrumentation equipment is very impressive – matched by his commitment to customer service. Dayele works throughout the South Island and also specializes with some key pulp and paper clients in the North Island.

Keen on sailing and camping and a very dedicated family man (another fab grandad), Dayele is very committed to Christian values and work.

Vijay Ravikumar, Internal Sales & Support (Auckland); Dip.Electrical Engineering
Joined May 2008
Vijay has a diploma in Electrical Engineering from Manukau Institute of Technology and has a passion for ... chemistry!
Being just 'a youngster' (i.e. to most of us) Vijay likes all the usual young things: travelling, making new friends (best described as a social bunny) and listening to heavy metal music (we're not so sure about the 'music' part of that...). He's a self-confessed fun loving lad, blessed with a cheeky and wicked sense of humour. Definitely a lad who could get into a lot of trouble ... but who's friendly, cheerful nature always seems to keep him out of it! Most frequent expression: "you won't believe what happened.....".

Vijay was born and grew up in India, lived in the USA for 3 years and moved to NZ in January 2006. True to his origins, he's a cricket fanatic (what's rugby?). There's only one Master/Role Model as far as Vijay is concerned: Sachin Tendulkar ("please make sure you mention Sachin somewhere!"). Sachin Tendulkar!
By the way, if you happen to see a number plate which reads 'cricket is a religion' ...

Melisa Roselina; Coordinator/Trainee (Auckland); BE (Electrical & Electronic)
Joined 5th January 2011
Having straight out of Westlake Girls High enrolled for a Bachelor of Engineering at the Auckland University of Technology (completed in 2010), Melisa is one very focussed and disciplined girl. With various part time and holiday jobs in customer service, retail and technical roles, Melisa has an impressive 'all rounder' background for a young woman and we're already seeing she tackles tasks with thought, care and competence.

Melisa is the key person handling order entry & expedition and stock. Having a young engineer in this role is new territory for us ... and very much a training role for this bright and enthusiastic young woman who we have little doubt will create much dust along the way ... watch this space

Melisa was born in Bandung (Kota Kembang, 'City of Flowers'), a town with lots of factory outlets (where Melisa says her brother likes to shop!). She grew up though in Jakarta and moved to NZ in 2002. Aside from engineering (of course!) Melisa's main interests are family and friends.

Alex Tang, Sales Engineer (Auckland); B.Eng (Control)
Joined April 2007
Alex is a very easygoing, bright and cheerful personality (and no longer our only 'youngster', thankfully!). Having visited NZ twice before moving here in April 2007, Alex settled easily into a NZ lifestyle and in no time at all was like an 'old' part of the team.

Alex grew up in KL in Malaysia. He studied in Singapore and England, completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons, with Upper 2nd Class in Control & Computer Engineering) at Westminster University. Alex has 15 years experience in instrumentation in a range of industries, specializing in water and wastewater.

Married with 3 daughters, Alex is a very 'outnumbered', busy family man - though with 7 siblings himself, this may seem quiet! In his 'free' time, Alex enjoys music and travel - and just being a dad and family man.

Ying Zhang, Internal Sales & Support (Christchurch); BE (Computer Science & Technology); BET (Electronic & Electrical)
Joined April 2009
Study has always been a major part of Ying's life, both in China & NZ. Ying has 3 degrees: in computers, electronics and electrical engineering. Everything to do with computers is interesting as far as Ying is concerned! We were surprised to find Ying plays guitar and bass (we have yet to hear this). Unlike Vijay though, Ying doesn't like heavy metal (phew!).

As well as the ongoing learning demanded in the huge field of industrial instrumentation and mastering the Support Engineering Role, Ying continues to work hard on improving her English Language skills - and welcomes positive input and assistance! Key to all this learning is to keep asking questions and to NOT say 'yes', until she understands (prompting Peter to say she likes to argue!). Can handle a very good banter, which is just as well in the ChCh office.....

Born in the south of China, Ying is an only child. Ying lived her first 23 yrs with her parents in JiangMen, a medium size, busy and noisy city (with very hot summers and warm winters) in GuangDong province. Definitely worlds apart from New Zealand and Christchurch especially. Ying travelled home to see her father at Christmastime the last two years and is now very much looking forward to his first visit to NZ, at the end of this year.

Keen on sports (from the side line), Ying is thoughtful, helpful, kind, cheerful and lovely to be around.