Our Team

Ron McQuilter CFE

Director | Certified Fraud Examiner

Certified Fraud Examiner Past Chairman NZIPI JP Insurance Investigator of the Year 2009

Ron is one of New Zealand’s most accomplished private investigators, with almost five decades of professional experience.

A former Glasgow Police Officer, Ron began his New Zealand investigation career in 1983 and built Paragon into the country’s longest-established national investigation and security consultancy. He has led major fraud, corporate, government and insurance investigations in New Zealand and internationally.

Ron served for 17 years as Chairman of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Investigators and is now a Life Member. He has contributed to legislation affecting the profession, assisted the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority as an independent expert and been accepted by the New Zealand Courts as an expert private investigator.

Among his most notable assignments was the successful reinvestigation of the Lee Sheppard cold case while working from a Metropolitan Police station in London. He has also presented to Police, insurance and international law-enforcement audiences and is the author of BUSTED and BUSTED AGAIN.

Ron remains involved in major frauds, complex investigations, senior client relationships and the development of Paragon’s next generation of investigative leaders.

Wayne Kiely CFE

Investigations Manager | Former NZ Police Detective, Dip. Pol.

Certified Fraud Examiner Diploma in Policing Two NZ Police Silver Merit Stars

Wayne is a former New Zealand Police Detective with more than 36 years’ experience across criminal investigation, corporate security, fraud prevention and private investigation.

During his Police career, he investigated serious and high-profile offending and received two New Zealand Police Silver Merit Awards for performance.

Wayne subsequently served as New Zealand Post’s Security Manager, leading a national security team and developing investigation, intelligence, robbery response and fraud prevention systems. He also contributed to the establishment of Kiwibank’s security framework and led international postal security reviews at major airports.

As Paragon’s Investigations Manager, Wayne directs complex corporate, government, insurance and private investigations. His ability to identify connections, test competing explanations and develop effective lines of enquiry makes him particularly valuable on difficult and complex matters.

Thomas James

Director | Licensed Private Investigator and Repossession Agent

Licensed Private Investigator Member RITANZ Member NZCFI Member & Sponsor NZICM

Thomas is a licensed Private Investigator and Repossession Agent with more than 13 years’ experience across investigations, litigation support, process serving, enforcement and commercial debt recovery.

He founded Secure Collections & Investigations in 2013 and subsequently developed SCI Group into New Zealand’s largest privately owned investigation, recovery, litigation support and field services group by employed team size and national staffing capability.

As a Director of Paragon, Thomas is responsible for strategic growth, national resourcing and the continued development of the company’s operational capability. He works closely with Paragon’s senior leadership on significant instructions, client relationships and quality standards.

Through SCI Group, Thomas has strengthened Paragon’s access to an employed national team that includes former Police Detectives and senior officers, Defence Force personnel, qualified legal professionals and experienced field investigators. His focus is on combining Paragon’s longstanding reputation with the staffing, systems and responsiveness required by modern government, corporate and insurance clients.

Daniel Ross

General Manager | Former NZ Police Detective Sergeant, Dip. Pol.

Diploma in Policing Former NZ Police Detective & Sergeant National Organised Crime Group Criminal Investigation Branch

Daniel is a former New Zealand Police Detective and Sergeant with more than 13 years’ experience across the National Organised Crime Group, Criminal Investigation Branch and frontline policing.

His Police career included complex organised crime, financial and criminal investigations, intelligence assessment, investigative interviewing and responsibility for teams operating in demanding and high-risk environments.

As General Manager, Daniel leads Paragon’s national operations, personnel, investigative standards and quality assurance. He works with clients and senior investigators to ensure each assignment is properly scoped, appropriately resourced and managed through to a clear and defensible outcome.

Daniel’s combination of investigative expertise and leadership experience is central to Paragon’s ability to manage sensitive government, corporate, insurance and legal instructions while maintaining consistent national service standards.

Rob Masters

Private Investigator | Former NZ Police Senior Sergeant, Dip. Pol.

Diploma in Policing Former NZ Police Senior Sergeant OIC Wellington Airport Police Police Professional Conduct

Rob is a former New Zealand Police Senior Sergeant with 20 years’ frontline, supervisory and investigative experience across Wellington and Auckland.

His career included frontline leadership, responsibility as Officer in Charge of Wellington Airport Police and service within Police Professional Conduct. These roles required discretion, sound judgement and the ability to manage operational, personnel and reputational risk.

At Paragon, Rob undertakes corporate, insurance and private investigations, interviews and complex field enquiries. His senior policing experience makes him particularly effective on sensitive assignments requiring professional engagement with employees, witnesses, executives and other stakeholders.

Rob brings a calm and authoritative presence to his work, supported by careful evidence assessment and reporting suitable for commercial, legal and disciplinary decision-making.