Cullen Browne
Christchurch
Summary
Professional Driver and Guide with an enthusiastic passion for leading and engaging others in the outdoors. Experienced working in challenging and changeable environments with different nationalities and cultures. Motivated and excited to continue growing and learning and enable others to do the same.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Hiking/Driving Guide
Active Adventures
10.2024 - 05.2025
- Leading one-two week small group trips (max 14pax) on engaging outdoors experience driven tours around the South Island.
- Safely driving guests whilst managing work time requirements and utilising fatigue management strategies.
- Managing groups in different outdoor settings across a variety of activities including front and backcountry day walks, back country overnight walks and mountain biking.
- Efficiently managing people, ensuring they are well briefed, aware of risks and properly equipped.
- Encouraging and enabling tourists to engage with New Zealand/Aotearoa, its flora and fauna, and its culture and heritage.
Senior Guide
Cable Bay Adventure Park
02 2023 - 05 2024
- Leading group tours of up to 20 or more people on Cable Bay Adventure Park's 'Sky Wire' and Quad Bike tours of up to 7 riders per guide.
- Driving and guiding the Park's mountain bike shuttle customers. up to 6 people in the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and and up to 20 people in a large off-road capable bus and trailer.
- Trained junior guides on company policies, safety procedures, and best practices for leading engaging tours.
- Leading a variety of experiences across park operations ensuring a consistent high quality service.
- Responding to medical emergencies within the Park and escalating to higher care as required.
- Inspecting Park Equipment and vehicles to ensure safe business practices and customer safety.
Photographer
Self Employed
01 2019 - 07 2022
- 3 years experience in action sports and adventure photography during 2019, 2021, and 2022.
- During this time I worked for numerous clients across New Zealand and Western Europe producing imagery for marketing, press, social media and product releases.
- Photographing things I enjoy, travelling for work and doing what I loved as a profession posed interesting, and often difficult challenges that forced me to reconsider how I approached my work life and improved my ability to do what I love as my occupation.
Customer Sales Representative
Avis Budget Group
01.2018 - 05.2019
- Working for Avis Budget Group was my first foray into the 'real world' and it was here I learnt many lessons. Namely understanding customer needs, working efficiently and learning how to work through conflict, being able to find acceptable outcomes for both parties.
Professional Cyclist
Devinci Transport-Lacombe
07.2016 - 10.2017
- Two seasons raced professionally in North America. This was my first step into the real world and a period of deep self reflection and development.
Education
Class 2 Full License
Waka Kotahi/NZTA
10-2024
Passenger (P) Endorsement
Waka Kotahi/NZTA
02.2023
Class 4 Learner Licence (Full License By April)
Waka Kotahi/NZTA
02-2024
PHEC (Pre Hospital Emergency Care) Qualification
Peak Safety
07.2023
Food Safety
New Zealand School of Food & Wine
05.2024
Avalanche Skills Course (Level 1)
Mountain Safety Council
08-2023
Skills
- Experienced Bus Driver on varied terrain and road surface
- Skilled reversing and maneuvering in small areas including with trailer
- Comfortable managing driver work time requirements and fatigue
- Able to effectively manage people and maintain a time schedule
- Active listener with strong communication skills
- Confident leading and actively engaging in a team
- Able to maintain positive outlook in challenging circumstances
- Motivated by positive customer outcomes
Hobbies
Most of my spare time is invested in exploring and engaging in the outdoors. During shorter breaks I enjoy trail running, climbing, and mountain biking. Longer breaks are usually invested in multi day tramping and occasionally mountaineering trips. Whilst stationary or moving slowly my interests lie in photography and New Zealand's intricate plant and bird life.
Timeline
Hiking/Driving Guide
Active Adventures
10.2024 - 05.2025
Customer Sales Representative
Avis Budget Group
01.2018 - 05.2019
Professional Cyclist
Devinci Transport-Lacombe
07.2016 - 10.2017
Senior Guide
Cable Bay Adventure Park
02 2023 - 05 2024
Photographer
Self Employed
01 2019 - 07 2022
Class 2 Full License
Waka Kotahi/NZTA
Passenger (P) Endorsement
Waka Kotahi/NZTA
Class 4 Learner Licence (Full License By April)
Waka Kotahi/NZTA
PHEC (Pre Hospital Emergency Care) Qualification
Peak Safety
Food Safety
New Zealand School of Food & Wine
Avalanche Skills Course (Level 1)
Mountain Safety Council
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