We have a close, personal relationship with each of our trainers, who are all Microsoft 365 experts in their own right, having worked extensively with its apps for many years - delivering training courses, workshops and consulting engagements to customers around the world.
We feel that it is important that all of the trainers and instructors can take their real-world experiences into the classroom, in order to ensure that they are well equipped to respond to any queries which may be put their way, as well as give accurate and relevant guidance in the most appropriate methods to leverage the technology which SharePoint and the wider Microsoft 365 suite.
Russ Norton
Managing Director, 3grow
MCT, MCAS, MCP
Russ has been delivering IT training and consultancy since 2003, however his (on-off) love affair with SharePoint blossomed in 2007 when he began specialising in this area.
As each new app was introduced into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, they quickly became part of Russ's repertoire, helping organisations in Australia, the wider Asia Pacific region and beyond to make the most of the tools they have at their disposal.
Russ has delivered countless training courses and workshops, incorporating SharePoint, Copilot, Power Apps and Power Automate into real-world solutions, empowering customers to realise the true benefits of the Microsoft 365 suite.
Over the last 20 years, Russ has regularly presented at a host of Microsoft 365 conferences and user groups.
Colin Gardner
Instructor
BSc (Management Information Systems)
MSc (Design of Information Systems)
Colin has been working with MS Office and SharePoint Technologies for many years and in a wide variety of roles including Project Manager, Solution Architect, Developer, Trainer and Business Analyst. Colin was a British Army officer for nearly 20 years and left the military to join NATO’s research and development labs in The Hague where he worked as a Principal Scientist for 7 years.
In 2010 Colin and his family migrated from Europe to Adelaide where he took an appointment with OBS as a Principal Consultant. In 2012 he founded his own company, Kaboodle Software, which provides consultancy for businesses local to Adelaide and SharePoint solutions for companies all over the world. Colin was a co-founder of the Adelaide M365 User Group and is a regular speaker at SharePoint and M365 events.
Mia Tait
Instructor
Mia is a virtual work consultant and trainer, who has assisted numerous small, medium and large (multinational) businesses improve their transition into a successful modern workplace, from implementation through to training.
These projects have been delivered across a range of industries, including local and federal government departments, telecommunications, financial services, and law, to name a few.
The vast majority of Mia’s projects are focused around the Microsoft 365 suite, and she therefore lives and breathes these technologies on a daily basis.
Steve Smith
Instructor
MVP, MCTS, MCITP
Steve is well travelled, spending most of last 20 years travelling in the US and South Asia for the companies he owned and worked with including achieving his first qualification with Microsoft technologies on NT 4 and IIS 3 in New Delhi India in 1998 whilst based there for 3 years.
Although tinkering with computers since early teenage years Steve has specialized with Microsoft's systems since 1996 and been involved in many Microsoft Beta programs including Windows 2000, Exchange 2000 and SharePoint. Having founded Combined Knowledge, Steve ran a variety of SharePoint courses in the UK, Europe and Asia Pacific, also helping many organisations with their SharePoint Implementations, including the US Air Force, The Ministry of Defence and several blue chip companies. Steve is a co-organiser of the UK SharePoint User Group and co-author of the SharePoint 2007 Administrators Companion from MS Press.
Patrick Harkins
Instructor
MCTS, MCITP
Patrick was the first person in New Zealand to be qualified as a trainer/mentor by Microsoft New Zealand to deliver IT Professional SharePoint 2010 Ignite training. He has over 20 years' experience within the IT industry, and has presented at Code Camps, SharePoint Saturday and the NZ SharePoint Conference.
Patrick works in both the local government and private sector organisations and in his previous role was seconded to Microsoft to work alongside the only Microsoft Certified Master for SharePoint in New Zealand.
Patrick brings expertise, honesty and a communication style that is direct and clear into his training delivery. Patrick has skill and experience across many different areas, and this depth of knowledge gives him a well-rounded approach to teaching as well as a great all-round trusted advisor, not just a technical specialist.
Gary Yeoman
Instructor
MCSD, MCSD.NET, MCSE, MCDBA, MCTS, MCT
Gary provides consultancy, custom solutions, training and mentoring on a range of products including SharePoint, BizTalk, SQL Server, Web and .NET development. He has delivered the full range of SharePoint courses for 3grow, Combined Knowledge and Mindsharp since 2005. Gary has also spoken about SharePoint at a number of User Groups, and has contributed courseware modules for both Microsoft and Combined Knowledge. Gary strikes a balance between consultancy and training and has been instrumental in implementing custom solutions using various technologies such as SharePoint, .NET, javascript and Umbraco.
Custom solutions include:
Intranet branding and customisation
Document management and policies,
Records management including custom email routing and auditor control
Business Data Management and Reporting using custom workflows and PowerPivot reporting
Highly customised Search with custom refinements and links opening individual document pages
Gary has developed solutions for organisations such as Accenture, EasyJet, Cambridgeshire County Council and Capita including several charities
Mark Orange
Instructor
MVP
Mark was a one of three early MVPs in New Zealand, awarded for sharing his expertise within the global SharePoint community and for his active leadership within the New Zealand SharePoint user community.
He was one of the founders of the New Zealand and Australian SharePoint conferences and regularly presents at industry events such as TechED, User Groups, and Information Management Conferences.
Mark manages his time between training and consultancy focusing on information architecture strategy and design, user interface and adoption of SharePoint. His real-world consultancy enables him to see the ‘big picture’ in content management environments that provides real world context to his training.