Maria isn't coaching from a distance. Before co-founding Diamond Property & Wealth, she was a single mum with $85,000 of consumer debt, no savings, and a half-a-million-dollar mortgage — she knows exactly what it feels like to want the lifestyle before you've built the wealth to support it. She turned that around, paid off the debt, and built an investment portfolio on track to let her retire in her early-to-mid fifties — and she's spent every year since helping other working professionals do the same. What sets Maria apart is her ability to take genuinely complex financial systems and turn them into simple, practical knowledge her clients can actually use — and act on. She has a gift for making money management and investing feel less like homework and more like something you're excited to be part of. Sit in a room with Maria and you won't be checking your watch — you'll be taking notes and rethinking what's actually possible for your own money. Maria holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics & International Business) from the University of Auckland, is a licensed financial adviser and financial coach, and is a member of Financial Advice NZ and the Financial Dispute Resolution Service (FSP434706 ). Since 2016, she and co-founder Craig Johnson have worked with households across New Zealand — helping clients turn six-figure incomes into genuine seven-figure net worths.

Leon Da-Silva is a residential property developer and builder with more than 25 years’ experience across the full development cycle in New Zealand. He started on the tools in 1999 as a 17-year-old. By 2003 he was working independently, and in 2006 he founded DaSilva Builders. From 2010 the business expanded into land acquisition and development. In 2024 the company rebranded as DaSilva Residential while retaining the same operation and values. Over that period the team has delivered homes to more than 1,000 Kiwi families. DaSilva specialises in quality, affordable residential product — freestanding homes, duplexes, terrace houses and apartments — with a hands-on approach that runs from land purchase through design, construction and handover. The business operates primarily in the Waikato (including Rototuna, Horotiu and surrounding growth areas) and Auckland, with a track record that includes projects such as Ormiston Central and multiple stages of development in Hamilton’s growth cells. Recent activity underlines the scale of the operation: in 2025 the company delivered 17 projects, built and completed 66 homes, and sold 69. The focus remains practical delivery, fixed-price turnkey product, Healthy Homes compliance, and making the path to ownership as straightforward as possible for first-home buyers, families, downsizers and investors.

With more than 20 years in the property industry, Anél Mostert brings experience from multiple sides of the property journey, as an investor, senior property strategist, business development leader and former operator of a property investment firm. Her career has centred around helping property owners make informed decisions, grow and protect their portfolios, and navigate the realities of property investment with a clear understanding of both opportunity and risk. For the past seven years, Anél has specialised in business development across Hamilton, Waipā and the wider Waikato, working closely with investors, property owners and industry professionals. This has given her a strong understanding of the local rental market, tenant demand, investment performance and the practical considerations that can influence the long-term success of a residential property investment. Today, as Business Development Manager with Ray White Hamilton Property Management, Anél works with investors at every stage of their journey, from those purchasing their first rental property through to experienced owners managing established portfolios. Her approach is practical, solutions-focused and relationship-driven. She believes successful property investment goes beyond simply owning the right property; it requires good advice, strong management, informed decision-making and the right team around you. Anél is passionate about helping investors better understand their properties as investments, identify potential risks and opportunities, and make confident decisions that support their wider financial goals.

Aurelie Le Gall is the GM of Fletcher Living, one of New Zealand’s leading residential construction businesses. With two decades of leadership experience across residential and property, operations and recruitment, Aurelie brings a strategic and people-focused approach to delivering high-quality housing solutions. Her deep understanding of the residential market, combined with a collaborative ethos, ensures Fletcher Living consistently delivers homes that meet the needs of communities and stakeholders alike. She is widely recognised for championing women in the construction industry, and spearheading BUILDhers, New Zealand’s first all-female-led residential build, a groundbreaking initiative designed to challenge industry norms and elevate the visibility of women in construction.

Thom Bentley is Head of Business Development for SuperLife and is responsible for leading the growth and distribution of SuperLife’s investment solutions, with a particular focus on exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Thom is a highly experienced business development and relationship management professional with more than 35 years of experience in the investment management industry, including senior leadership and client-facing roles with global asset managers in London. Throughout his career, Thom has built a strong reputation for developing strategic partnerships, supporting adviser networks, and helping investors access innovative investment opportunities. At SuperLife, Thom works closely with the Investment Team to drive the continued growth of the ETF business, strengthen industry relationships, and deliver investment solutions that meet the evolving needs of financial advisers and their clients.