About Us
Creating Resilience – Enhancing Response
The Phoenix Academy specialises in flexible, accessible online learning, delivering expert-led micro-learning programmes designed for today’s fast-paced environment. Through the International Public Safety Qualifications Authority we bring globally recognized and accredited training benchmarks to New Zealand. Built on our sister company C4 Group’s reputation for excellence across multiple industries, The Phoenix Academy focuses exclusively on emergency management and public safety training—giving you the freedom to upskill quickly without the requirement to complete lengthy qualification requirements. From crisis response and disaster preparedness to threat assessment and security protocols, we provide professional development courses that allow you to keep ahead of the rest.
Have a specific training need? Talk to us about developing a bespoke solution.
Why We Established Phoenix
With extensive backgrounds in policing, nursing and emergency management, founders Chris Lawton and Kathy Wright discovered a shared passion: teaching as a powerful catalyst for change. This vision led them to establish C4 Group in 2011, and after nearly 15 years as one of New Zealand’s top-performing training providers, they recognized an emerging gap in the market. While traditional qualifications serve an important purpose, busy professionals need accessible, internationally benchmarked training that delivers targeted skills without lengthy timeframes or rigid deadlines.
The Phoenix Academy was born from this insight. Here, learners set their own pace, building expertise through focused micro-learning that respects their time and commitments. New programmes are developed regularly in response to the evolving needs of emergency management, security, healthcare, and first aid professionals—the people on the frontlines of community safety.
Throughout this journey, Chris and Kathy have never lost sight of what matters most: the learners themselves. They both wholeheartedly believe: “It’s a privilege to serve communities by helping people become the best version of themselves.”
Resilience is Our Essence
In today’s unpredictable world, resilience isn’t just valuable—it’s essential. Whether responding to critical incidents, adapting to emerging threats, or supporting communities in crisis, the ability to remain effective under pressure defines excellence in emergency management and public safety.
Resilience is at the heart of everything we do at Phoenix Academy. Our training doesn’t just transfer knowledge; it develops resilient individuals who can think clearly in chaos, act decisively when it matters, and support those who depend on them. We equip learners with practical tools and proven strategies that build confidence, enhance capability, and strengthen their capacity to adapt and thrive—not just in their careers, but in their families and wider communities.
Every course, every module, every learning outcome is designed with one goal: building strong, capable, confident professionals who are ready to face whatever challenges come their way.
Because when you’re prepared, when you’re skilled, when you’re resilient—you don’t just survive the unexpected. You rise to meet it.
Creating Resilience – Enhancing Response
What Guides Us
Behind every training session or online course we deliver is a set of values that drives how we work. These principles shape the way we connect with learners, design our courses, and support organisations across New Zealand.
Our Seven Pillars
Diversity of Strengths
Our leadership team brings together diverse experience from policing, emergency nursing, international operations, business, and education. This rich mix of expertise and perspective strengthens everything we offer—from strategic governance to hands-on course delivery. Different backgrounds, shared commitment, exceptional results.
Tailored Teaching
No two learners or organisations are the same. We take time to understand your unique context, challenges, and goals, then design training that truly fits. Whether you’re a corporate client, community group, or individual professional, we meet you where you are and take you where you need to go.
Care
We care—genuinely and deeply. We walk alongside our learners, support our trainers, and invest in outcomes that extend far beyond the classroom. Many students tell us it’s the first time they’ve felt truly supported in a learning environment. That matters to us, because people learn best when they feel valuedt of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Hand-Picked Trainers
Every trainer we work with is carefully selected to reflect our values and deliver consistently excellent training, no matter where in the country the course runs. We don’t compromise on quality or character. Great people make great learning possible—it’s that simple.
Enthusiastic Engagement
We believe people learn best when they’re engaged, involved, and genuinely enjoying the experience. Our courses are interactive, practical, and grounded in real-world scenarios that bring concepts to life. Fun isn’t just a bonus in our classroom—it’s a core component of effective education.
Industry Leaders
Our team actively shapes the future of emergency management and public safety. We sit on national boards, contribute to sector development, maintain international partnerships, and stay current with local and global best practices. This means our learners always receive training that’s relevant, credible, and future-focused.
Empowering Communities
Resilience doesn’t belong to first responders alone. We work with businesses, frontline workers, community groups, and volunteers—equipping them with practical skills to stay calm, think clearly, and take decisive action during emergencies and critical events. Because safer communities are built one trained individual at a time.
