Eight Development Team

Batni designs and builds robust, intuitive Android experiences at Eight Development for modern security and IoT products, with a strong focus on well-architected applications, secure platforms, and AOSP customisation.

With over 15 years of experience across defence, medical device, and smart home sectors, he has led development teams, architected scalable Java/Kotlin and AWS-based solutions, and delivered applications used by more than one million users globally.

An early adopter of AI, Batni enjoys applying emerging technologies to enhance product capability and user experience. Outside of work, he is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys badminton, triathlons, and SCUBA diving.

Dan is a Senior Software Engineer at Eight Development with over 14 years of experience in software development. He specialises in Java-based backend frameworks and modern frontend technologies, including React and jQuery.

Before joining Eight, Dan worked at IBM China from 2012 to 2018, focusing on enterprise web applications. Since relocating to New Zealand in 2018, he considers his time at Eight the most rewarding chapter of his career to date.

Edmond leads AI development and automation at Eight Development, integrating advanced generative modelling techniques to create smarter, more intuitive products. With a background in computer systems engineering, he brings strong academic and technical depth to the team.

He is currently pursuing a PhD focused on training machine learning models for human action recognition. Outside of work, Edmond continues to explore AI through experimentation and model development.

Eugene is a Software Team Lead at Eight Development, having joined the team in May 2024. He leads his team while also contributing hands-on to software development, bringing broad experience across technologies including databases, networking, filesystems, micro-services, and both startup and enterprise environments.

Outside of work, Eugene is a competitive swimmer and long-time president of the Roskill Masters Swimming Club. He enjoys the sea, good wine, and spending time with his two grandchildren.

Harry is the Product Manager for Hardware at Eight Development, responsible for ensuring the products we build align closely with customer needs and expectations. With a background in Mechatronics, Harry brings a broad and varied experience spanning agriculture, aviation, and computer vision, consistently bridging the gap between technology and people.

Outside of work, when he’s not knee-deep in spreadsheets, emails, and Teams calls, Harry enjoys spending time with his family, digging holes and building dams on the beach.

Jason Mackie is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Eight Development and has been active in the electronic security industry since 1992. He began his career by founding an electronic security integration company at the age of twenty, later selling the business to a national integrator before moving to Auckland to establish an import wholesaling company. That company was partially acquired by Detection Systems in 1999 and subsequently acquired outright by Bosch in 2001.

Over the following decade, Jason managed the Bosch Security business in New Zealand and served as a Director of Bosch New Zealand. In 2010, Jason led a management buyout of Bosch Security in New Zealand, rebranding the business as Connect Security Products Ltd (CSP). He successfully sold CSP to one of Australasia’s largest IT distributors in 2023.

In 2013, Jason co-founded Eight Development to focus on expanding opportunities in software, hardware, and user interface development.

Jessica is the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Eight Development, supporting the business across brand, website, and marketing initiatives. She works closely with engineering, product, and leadership teams to translate technical concepts into clear, engaging communication across digital and customer-facing channels.

With a strong interest in technology and how it connects people, Jess brings a practical, detail-oriented approach to building consistent brand and marketing experiences.

Outside of work, she runs her own lashes and nails business, combining creativity, precision, and a strong customer focus.

Liam Mackie is the Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of Eight Development. Beginning his career in 2009, Liam worked within the technical support team at Xtra, New Zealand’s largest internet service provider, before transitioning into a technical sales role supporting Vodafone customers. He was later headhunted by DPS, New Zealand’s leading online payment solutions provider, where he further developed his expertise at the intersection of technology and customer solutions.

As Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Eight Development, Liam leads product strategy and development across hardware, software, and user interface solutions. He is formally trained and highly proficient in AutoCAD, SolidWorks, user interface design, and CAM software, bringing a strong technical foundation to the company’s product innovation.

Mark is a Software Engineer at Eight Development, specialising in Android App and Android OS development. He has contributed to many Eight Development projects and brings experience from working across multiple industries. Mark joined Eight in June 2018 and has focused on improving applications and systems to better meet customer needs.

He takes pride in supporting well-known companies such as BOSCH. Outside of work, Mark enjoys swimming.

As a QA Engineer at Eight Development, Mike focuses on ensuring high product quality through thorough testing, clear documentation, and close collaboration with developers and product teams.

With experience across multiple organisations, Mike brings broad exposure to different processes and product challenges. Outside of work, he enjoys learning new tools and technologies, particularly exploring AI and unwinds by listening to music, watching movies, and discovering great food to cook.

Natasha is a Product Owner (Software) at Eight Development, overseeing the delivery of both hardware and software projects. With over 30 years of experience in New Zealand’s IT industry, spanning corporates, retailers, and technology startups, she specialises in delivery management, agile practices, and cross-functional collaboration.

Natasha is passionate about building high-performing teams, maintaining transparency with clients, and delivering quality outcomes through a strong “one team” approach. Outside of work, she enjoys showing and racing whippets, gardening, and kayaking in local and overseas waters.

Nicky Williams is the Operations and Product Delivery Manager for Eight.  Nicky has a background in both Professional Services and Product Development.  She previously worked with agile teams in software start-ups before making the move into the fintech space for a US Fortune 500 company. Nicky spends her weekends working on her small lifestyle block north of Auckland or at one of the local beaches.

Pavel is a Technical Lead at Eight Development, specialising in solution design, software architecture, development, and mentoring. With over 25 years of experience in software development, he focuses on designing high-quality, efficient solutions, with a strong emphasis on architecture and Android development.

Pavel has a deep understanding of the full software development lifecycle and a passion for adopting new technologies to build robust, innovative applications. Outside of work, he is a proud father of twin girls and enjoys cooking, playing board games, and spending time with his family.

Renan is a QA Engineer – Tooling Specialist at Eight Development, having joined the team in July 2022. He focuses on hardware and software testing, system validation, and the development of custom tooling solutions. With a background in electronics engineering, Renan brings five years of experience from Turkish Aerospace, where he worked as a Design Engineer on UAV projects.

Renan has a strong passion for electronics and microcontrollers, and outside of work enjoys playing indie and rogue-like games. He’s also a devoted Houston Rockets supporter and a big fan of Alperen Şengün.

Sandra is the Office Manager at Eight Development, overseeing accounts and payroll, reporting, stock management, and New Zealand logistics. She plays a key role in keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly and supports both the Board and senior leadership team with clear, accurate information.

Outside of work, Sandra lives on a lifestyle block and enjoys spending time outdoors. You’ll often find her at the gym, bike riding, hiking new trails, or tending to the garden - anything that keeps her active and enjoying the fresh air.

Will is a QA Engineer at Eight Development, specialising in ensuring the quality and reliability of our products. He joined Eight in November 2017 as a junior QA and is now one of the longest-serving members of the team, having seen the company evolve into what it is today. Proud to have played a key role in that journey, Will brings consistency and deep product knowledge to his work.

Outside of work, he stays active with Muay Thai, trains to run 5km under 18 minutes, and spends time with his Doberman (and his friend), who usually decide the day’s plans.

Frank brings over four decades of experience in the security industry, beginning his career in 1980. Throughout his career, he has held senior executive roles including CFO and VP of Sales & Marketing, and has also worked extensively as a consultant supporting organisations with sales strategy, market growth, and customer engagement.

As part of Eight Development’s US team, Frank applies his deep industry knowledge and relationship-driven approach to support partners and strengthen long-term customer relationships. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, playing golf, and spending time with his family.

Hisham is part of Eight Development’s US Sales Team, specialising in Fire & Life Safety, and brings over 35 years of executive leadership experience in the industry. He has supported organisations through growth, market change, and technological innovation, leading business development initiatives across domestic and international markets.

Throughout his career, Hisham has built long-term strategic partnerships and helped shape product strategies that advance safety standards.

Marty is a nationally recognised expert in the fire and life safety industry with over 40 years of experience. He has held senior roles at ADT Commercial, Red Hawk Fire & Security, and served as Co-Founder and CEO of Alarm Tech Solutions. He later founded ADT’s National Fire & Life Safety Team, leading major nationwide initiatives.

Now President & CEO of ATS Advisors and a board member for BluePoint Alert Solutions, Marty supports manufacturers, integrators, and end users across the US. His deep industry knowledge helps guide Eight Development’s expansion into the fire and life safety market.

With a career spanning nearly four decades, Scott brings deep industry experience across installation, national distribution, and global manufacturing. His background led him to form Professional Sales Representatives and later KOABD, organisations focused on elevating market presence and building strategic customer relationships. Scott has spent years travelling globally and collaborating with leading brands, and today plays a key role in supporting Eight Development’s growth in the US market.

Outside of work, Scott enjoys time with family and friends, especially his two sons and values being part of strong, supportive teams both personally and professionally.

With a career spanning several decades, Steve brings deep hands-on experience across installation, distribution, and sales within the security industry. He began his career installing residential alarm systems in the mid-1970s and later moved into distribution and field sales, including a role with Detection Systems, where he built long-standing industry relationships. Steve’s background gives him a strong understanding of both technical and commercial perspectives, supporting Eight Development through trusted industry insight and connections.

Outside of work, he enjoys life in Palm Springs with his wife Alexandra and their pug, Emmy.