We’re a team with big ideas and a passion for doing things well.
Next Level Leader exists for one reason: contact centre leaders deserve more than survival mode.
It’s led by The Insight and Strategy Group, founded by Elias Kanaris — a purpose-led CEO and coach with deep experience transforming mission-driven, membership-based organisations across New Zealand, Australia, and 15 international markets.
Elias currently serves as CEO of Contact Centre Network New Zealand (CCNNZ), helping uplift governance, strengthen sustainability, and grow a values-driven professional community for the sector.
Next Level Leader brings together community, growth, and accountability — so leaders can think clearly, lead confidently, and build teams that thrive.
MEET THE TEAM!
Meet the Founder: Elias Kanaris
Elias Kanaris is a proactive, resilient, values-led leader with a track record of transformation across multi-stakeholder organisations and international networks.
As CEO of CCNNZ, he has helped shift the organisation from an informal industry club into a structured, values-driven professional body and strengthened its sustainability through improved governance and operational discipline.
Through The Insight and Strategy Group, Elias designs and delivers governance, strategy, leadership training, and mentoring across diverse sectors — bringing practical, grounded tools that translate to the realities leaders face every day.
Our People
Elias Kanaris
ELIAS KANARIS is an author, professional keynote speaker, executive coach, leadership trainer, and entrepreneur. He has been a regular keynote presenter and he has frequently spoken to audiences in the I.T., telecommunications, insurance, financial services, real estate, and education sectors across thirteen countries on four continents.
Elias has been a senior consultant in the I.T. and Telecommunications sector. He was part of a team responsible for his company's top twenty-four clients, which billed $450 million per annum. Elias is also a founding partner of Maxwell Leadership® – the largest and fastest-growing leadership training organisation in the world – where he is a certified Coach, Trainer and Speaker in the Maxwell Methodology®.
Elias served as the President of the Global Speakers Federation (2018-2019), a US$4 Billion industry that represents Professional Speakers globally. He is a Fractional CEO and has worked with organisations to introduce stronger governance and transition them from loss-making to profitable entities.
Lynn Rolston
LYNN ROLSTON is a business coach, leadership trainer and DISC behavioural analyst for professional and personal growth. She was a Branch Development Manager for Thermomix NZ where she developed and delivered training across New Zealand for all the consultants and Team Leaders. She specialises in leadership and communication development and partners with the Maxwell Leadership® Certified Team which is the fastest growing leadership organisation in the world.
Lynn’s passion is communication and showing others how to build teams with high impact and productivity. She teaches how to identify individual and team strengths, solidify leadership, identify opportunities for growth and create strategies that allow people to bring their best work forward.
Lynn will unlock your team’s leadership potential, improve team building dynamics and empower next level leaders through cultivating strong leadership skills, strong team cultures and increased team cohesiveness.
Andy Rolston
ANDY ROLSTON is an entrepreneur, executive coach and leadership trainer and is certified as a Maxwell Leadership® Coach, Trainer, and Speaker using the Maxwell Methodology®. For the last 20 years Andy has owned various businesses and recently sold a successful carpet cleaning company after almost tripling the turnover in 5 years.
Andy has coached rugby at a senior level for several years and had the privilege of coaching internationally both in Canada and England.
Today Andy combines that passion for sport and leadership development. He helps leaders understand their individual strengths and how to unify everyone on the team. Every team starts as individuals but only the best teams become one. Andy applies leadership philosophies and his own coaching experiences to transform relationships and help individuals recognise their impact on each other and their team's success.