About us

We make identity work.

Activate helps organisations automate the operational work of identity and access.

From onboarding to access changes, we replace manual admin with simple, reliable automation so that the right people have the right access, at the right time.

Activate began in Auckland, New Zealand in 2006.

We started by helping large organisations connect HR, IT and security systems, so identity changes could happen faster and more consistently without requiring tickets and manual effort. The platform’s effectiveness led to deployments across many of New Zealand’s finance, retail, telecommunications and manufacturing businesses. Activate has also worked with multiple New Zealand public sector organisations for many years and is an approved supplier on the New Zealand Government Marketplace.

In 2024, Activate joined Software Combined in Australia.

This gave us the backing to grow across Australasia, while staying focused on what matters: practical automation, fast time to value and real operational impact. We build technology that quietly saves organisations thousands of hours and millions of dollars each year. Learn about Software Combined here.

Meet the team

Robbie Burke, CTO

As CTO at Activate, Robbie spends his time at the intersection of engineering, product strategy and emerging technology.

His focus isn't simply on using AI to make today's software development faster. It's on understanding what software looks like when AI becomes a fundamental part of how systems are designed, built, governed and operated.

Read the CTO’s Guides series by Robbie Burke

Watch Robbie in our Navigating AI in Identity webinar

Ashley Thomas, CEO

Ashley has grown alongside Activate for over 18 years. He has a deep understanding of the IAM and identity automation space, and a strong conviction that automation and frictionless self-service are the smartest ways to free up human capital and drive business efficiency

Keep up with with Ashley on LinkedIn

Roy Robinson, Lead Enterprise Automation Architect

Roy leads the Customer Success team at Activate, and is one of the country’s leading authorities on enterprise automation, having designed and delivered IAM, integration and automation solutions for enterprise and government customers for over 20 years.

He is now spearheading Activate’s AI agent identity management policies and strategy, embracing AI while maintaining control and protecting our customer’s businesses.

Read about Roy’s experience speaking at the 2026 CIO Summit

Watch Roy in our Navigating AI in Identity webinar