James founded Forté in 2014, drawing on decades spent working directly with timber – from crafting custom kauri furniture to running the family sawmill. That hands-on experience taught him what timber could do when properly sourced, precisely manufactured, and finished with craft and care.  

Forté grew from a simple principle: to create refined timber surfaces that balance beauty and enduring quality without compromise. Today, James leads the business with the same focus on quality and performance that defined his early work, ensuring every product meets standards he'd specify for his own home. 

Outside of work, he's usually found in the garden, working on a DIY project, or spending time with his beloved grandchildren. 

Gaius joined the family business in 2012 and now leads Forté’s Sales team, working closely with architects, builders, and homeowners to help bring their projects to life. Passionate about making it easier for people to create beautiful, low-maintenance spaces, he combines deep product knowledge with a practical, solutions-focused approach.

Alongside the team, Gaius is involved in product selection and development, drawing on his extensive understanding of timber flooring to balance design appeal with long-term performance.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his wife and two kids, staying active in the gym, mentoring, and sharing ideas with other business leaders.

Felix has grown through almost every part of Forté – from the warehouse floor to customer care, showroom sales, trade, and commercial specification. This hands-on experience has given him a deep understanding of the customer journey and what it takes to deliver exceptional results at every stage. 

In his current role, Felix leads Forté’s Specification Team and works closely with developers, architects and designers on major projects across New Zealand. He’s passionate about building strong relationships, sharing knowledge, and supporting the team to continually raise the bar. 

Outside of work, Felix enjoys being outdoors and keeping active – whether that’s fishing, surfing, running, hiking, golf, or lifting weights. He’s also a keen cook and an avid sports follower. 

Katrina has over a decade of experience in high-end specification. She spent eight years at Atelier specialising in luxury furnishings before joining Forté, where she supports architects and designers in bringing their visions to life with the right technical solutions and carefully selected products.

Raised in Latvia and a graduate of Sydney Design School, Katrina has a deep appreciation for natural materials and refined detail. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active and exploring nature with her two children.

Jamie holds 18 years of experience in sales and account management. Drawing on his extensive background, he manages commercial trade accounts ranging from installers to large-scale construction companies and developers, while leading Forté’s team of trade account managers.

Outside of work, Jamie enjoys gardening, staying active, and raising his son, who he considers his greatest achievement.

Johnny joined Forté  with over 10 years of hands-on experience in both commercial and residential building projects. He works closely with a diverse range of trade customers – from installers to design & build crews and builders – providing tailored support, expert product advice and technical guidance. 

Outside of work, Johnny is a father of three teenagers, a keen DIYer, and enjoys home improvement projects and building things from scratch. He’s also an avid NBA fan and loves watching basketball games. 

The first point of contact at our Auckland Experience Centre, Courtney helps clients bring their design visions to life through personalised consultations and expert product advice. She focuses on building strong relationships and ensuring every project is as seamless as it is inspiring.

Courtney came to Forté having previously worked as a shop manager and colour specialist in the paint industry, giving her extensive knowledge of coatings and colour technologies. Courtney also holds a Diploma in Interior Design from the Interior Design Institute.

Outside the showroom, she loves staying active at the gym, trying out new restaurants, and spending time with friends.

Having grown up surrounded by the Forté brand and instilled with a love of timber, Gideon now works as a Specification Consultant across the North Island – helping architects and interior designers bring their projects to life. He enjoys being involved from the early design stages, seeing ideas evolve into completed spaces, and showcasing the beauty and functionality of timber throughout. 

Outside of work, Gideon can often be found perfecting his golf swing, watching rugby or the NRL, or spending time with friends – ideally somewhere sunny, with a cold drink in hand. 

With a hands-on background in timber and product making, Martin brings practical insight to his role as Trade Account Manager – working closely with builders and installers to help them navigate product selections, timelines, and on-site challenges. Martin also leads the Forté On Site mobile showroom, taking the range directly to site so clients can experience products in person. Known for his approachable style, he’s focused on building strong relationships and making every project run smoothly. 

When he's not on the road, Martin enjoys low-and-slow barbecuing, running, rugby, and time with family and friends. 

With over 10 years’ experience in marketing across the architecture and construction industries, Daniel brings a deep understanding of how to connect design-led brands with their audiences. His background spans project management, workplace strategy and brand development – giving him a well-rounded perspective on both creative storytelling and business strategy. 

As Forté’s Marketing Manager, Daniel oversees the company’s marketing and brand direction, ensuring every touchpoint reflects our values of craftsmanship, quality and enduring design. 

Beyond work, Daniel enjoys photography and has a keen interest in architecture and design. He also values time spent with his family. 

Bernie has over 14 years’ experience in Marketing and Communications, with extensive expertise across content, campaigns, product and digital marketing. Her background spans the tertiary education, horticulture and building industries, bringing a well-rounded perspective to her work.

During her time at Forté, Bernie has progressed from content management to a broad executional role across product, campaigns, partnerships, advertising and marketing projects.

Away from work, she’s passionate about art and enjoys painting portraits and landscapes. Family time is a big focus, with her husband and two energetic boys keeping her happily on her toes. She also enjoys socialising with friends, joining in on her kids’ activities, and keeping busy with home renovation projects.

Katie's role sees her responsible for creating all written content and helping develop and implement content strategy to ensure the Forté brand is consistent across all touchpoints. She brings extensive experience in marketing, advertising and media, offering an editorial perspective to brand storytelling and marketing initiatives. 

When she’s not working, Katie’s usually cooking something new, discovering local art, or chasing waves and trails around the country. She’s happiest outdoors or at home with her young daughter – her favourite adventure companion. 

Mollidy joined Forté with a diverse background in design, client management and project coordination. In her role as Brand Coordinator she helps lead and coordinate brand projects, from new sample experiences and photography/videography shoots to events and brand collateral, as well as taking the lead on a variety of other projects as needed.

Outside of work, Mollidy enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking and trail running, staying active at the gym, catching up with friends over meals and drinks, reading, and travelling both locally and abroad.

As Marketing and Events Coordinator, Camilla supports the team across events, communications and merchandising. She enjoys the creative, hands-on side of her role – from styling displays to helping bring projects and experiences to life.

Outside of work, Camilla is drawn to all things creative, including photography, fashion, and interiors. She also enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends, especially her nieces and nephews.

Ryan's role sees him leading a diverse team across Warehouse, Order Management, Purchasing, Aftercare, Woodworking and Samples. With a background in RV manufacturing, he brings deep expertise in lean practices, continuous improvement, and the delivery of premium products. Ryan works closely with his teams to refine operations and ensure Forté consistently provides exceptional quality and a seamless customer experience.

Outside of work, Ryan is a dedicated family man and proud father of two. He enjoys getting involved in his children’s interests and spending his spare time on home renovation and landscaping projects.

A qualified CPA and Chartered Accountant, Edmund holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Adelaide and an MBA from the University of Strathclyde. His career spans financial management roles across medium and large organisations, multiple industries, and several countries – experience that brings valuable depth and perspective to Forté’s finance function. 

As Financial Controller, Edmund enjoys working with both numbers and people. He’s driven by the challenge of ensuring the finance team plays an active role in supporting and enabling Forté to achieve its vision of becoming the most desired brand in Australasian architecture and design. 

Outside of work, Edmund enjoys jogging, travelling, and spending quality time with his family.

Brad's role at Forté sees him working closely with trades and installers to ensure projects run smoothly and clients are supported every step of the way. He brings experience managing projects from design through to completion, including his previous work with Lightweight Cladding systems.

Outside of work, Brad enjoys spending time with his family, taking long walks with their dog, and mastering the art of “low and slow” on the charcoal BBQ.

As Lead Showroom Consultant, Danielle serves as the nationwide Team Lead for the showroom team and the Regional Team Lead for Christchurch. She oversees a national team of three consultants, including two regionally, and guides homeowners and local designers through every step of their flooring journey, from concept to completion, ensuring a consistent, high-quality experience across all New Zealand locations.

Danielle brings her role over 12 years of experience in the home interiors industry, with a specific focus on flooring over the past four years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Postgraduate Diploma in Art History, and a qualification in Floor Planning and Design, reflecting her lifelong passion for creativity and interiors.

Outside of work, Danielle enjoys reading thrillers, playing board games, embroidering, and is working towards holding another art exhibition. She also loves spending time outdoors with her four-year-old German Shepherd.

In her role as Trade Account Manager, Alice offers a unique blend of customer experience and design expertise. With a background in tourism and hospitality and formal studies in design, she helps clients find products that make their spaces both personal and inspiring.

A mother of two and an adventure enthusiast, Alice has travelled extensively, cultivating a deep appreciation for culture, creativity and connection. She approaches both work and life with curiosity, positivity and a sense of adventure.

Originally from Riga, Latvia, Diana built her early career working across project management and business operations before following her passion for interiors. That journey eventually led her to Otago, where she now leads our Queenstown showroom and supports clients throughout the Lower South Island.

In her role, Diane works with homeowners, builders, architects, and developers to help specify the right products and guide projects from concept to completion. Known for her attention to detail and warm, client-focused approach, she loves helping people bring their dream spaces to life.

In her downtime, Diane enjoys early-morning gym sessions, gardening, cooking, travelling, and her newest passion – motorbiking.

With over 20 years’ experience in customer service leadership, Stacey brings deep knowledge and a people-first approach to her role at Forté. As Customer Care Manager, she leads the team that ensures every customer’s experience – from order to delivery – runs smoothly and with care. 

Known for her focus on coordination and efficiency, Stacey works closely with clients, installers and the wider Forté team to keep projects on track and standards high. 

Outside of work, she loves spending time outdoors, hiking, and exploring art through exhibitions and gallery visits. 

With over a decade of experience in administration, Caitlin plays a key role in supporting Forté’s Sales Team and ensuring a seamless experience for our customers. She thrives on helping things run smoothly behind the scenes – keeping projects on track and clients well looked after. 

Outside of work, Caitlin’s happiest spending time with her partner, kids and wider family. She loves to travel and is a big sports fan – both on and off the field. 

With over eight years of flooring industry experience, Janine brings extensive knowledge and a customer-focused approach to her role at Forté.  

Janine’s primary focus is Aftercare – ensuring our clients have the information and support they need to maintain their timber products for years to come. She’s also involved in technical and sales support, helping deliver a smooth and positive experience from selection through to long-term care. 

Outside of work, Janine enjoys spending time at the beach, gardening, and relaxing with a good book. 

Working within our Customer Care team, Natalia’s role combines project management with logistics to ensure clients receive their products in full, to the right place, at the right time. She also oversees the returns side of the business, working closely with her team to keep everything running smoothly. 

With 10 years of experience in customer service, Natalia has developed a deep ability to connect with people from all walks of life – a skill that continues to shape her professional journey. She holds a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Digital Media. 

Outside of work, Natalia’s life is kept full with faith, family sport, music, art and fitness. 

With over a decade in retail sales and experience as a regional manager in the safety equipment industry, Emma brings strong customer service and organisational skills to the Forté team. She supports the sales representatives with pre-sales tasks including quoting, samples, stock checks, and plan measurements, ensuring clients receive accurate and timely information. 

Known for her friendly and proactive approach, Emma helps create a seamless experience for both trade partners and direct customers. 

Outside of the office, Emma enjoys netball – both playing and coaching – as well as running, hiking and travelling. 

Amber plays a dual role at Forté, combining technical precision with problem-solving flair. On the estimations side, she provides detailed take-off measures and professional quotes to support the sales team. She also manages our internal systems – keeping both software and hardware running smoothly for the wider team. 

Her ability to balance accuracy with efficiency makes her an essential link between people and process. 

Outside of work, Amber enjoys online gaming with friends.