About ARQ
The story of ARQ Innovation
ARQ Innovation is a New Zealand-based workforce capability transformation company helping organisations develop, measure and scale workforce capability through learning engineering, AI, experiential learning and capability intelligence.
We work with organisations facing complex capability challenges — where traditional training, generic platforms and completion-based reporting are no longer enough.
Our expertise spans the full capability development lifecycle: from capability strategy, skills frameworks and learning ecosystem design, through to bespoke experiential learning, ARQ Waypoint deployment and evidence-based readiness analytics.
We collaborate with a trusted network of specialists across learning, design, technology, data and immersive media to bring the right capability to every project.
At ARQ Innovation, we don’t just create learning experiences. We engineer capability solutions.
Co-Founders
Nirupam (Nero) Sarkar
Co-Founder
Learning Transformation, Architecture and Immersive Technologies
Nero is a learning and capability leader with over 15 years of experience across enterprise learning, aviation operations, safety training, digital learning, creative technologies and Agile leadership.
He specialises in designing learning architectures and capability systems that address complex organisational challenges using modern learning technologies, data-led workflows and innovation practices.
At Air New Zealand, Nero led the learning function during the airline’s COVID rebuild phase, supporting evolving operational, safety and compliance demands. He helped onboard a new learning technology ecosystem, optimise instructional design workflows, pilot innovation initiatives across AI and XR, and transition the learning function toward Agile ways of working.
He also introduced and scaled VR as a learning modality for operational training, supporting safety-critical capability development while maintaining alignment with regulatory requirements.
At ARQ Innovation, Nero focuses on capability transformation, learning engineering, AI-enabled learning systems and the strategic development of ARQ Waypoint as a workforce capability platform.
Outside of work, Nero enjoys exploring emerging technology, writing, music and spending time with his family.
Simon Carter
Co-Founder
Experience Design & Product Innovation Lead
Simon is a seasoned leader in digital learning design, creative technology and product innovation, with a BA (Hons) in Film and Interactive Media from the University for the Creative Arts in Surrey, UK.
His expertise spans digital learning, content production, experience design, product thinking and creative direction. Across his career, Simon has worked in and led learning teams across technology, aviation, banking and global digital learning agencies, including Xero, Air New Zealand, Bank of New Zealand and Education Perfect.
As Creative Director for an award-winning global learning design agency, Simon led multidisciplinary teams of learning designers, visual designers, developers and storytellers to create high-impact digital learning experiences for clients around the world.
At ARQ Innovation, Simon leads the creative and experience design direction behind immersive learning, scenario-based practice, complex branching narratives and human-centred digital experiences.
His work sits at the intersection of storytelling, technology and capability development — helping organisations create learning experiences that are not only engaging, but meaningful, measurable and connected to real-world performance.
