PPTA Education Conference 2021

Keynote Speakers

Tim Bell

Tim Bell is a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at the University of Canterbury. His "Computer Science Unplugged'' project is being widely used internationally and has been translated into over 25 languages. Tim has received many awards for his work in computing education including the 2018 ACM SIGCSE Outstanding Contribution to Computer Science Education award. Since 2008 he has been actively involved in the design and deployment of the approach to the teaching of digital technologies in New Zealand schools. He also plays instruments that have black and white keys.

Stephen Dobson

Professor Stephen Dobson (1963) was born in Zambia, grew up in England and moved to Norway in the 1980s. He is currently Dean of the Faculty of Education, Victoria University of Wellington. He is a Guest Professor in Lifelong Learning at Inland Norway University of Applied Science and holds an Adjunct Professorship at the University of South Australia.

Stephen has a PhD in refugee work and a second PhD in assessment. He teaches courses on student assessment to both undergraduates and postgraduates and has held many workshops for in-service teachers.

Stephen has published on student assessment, youth studies, ethnicity, research methods and educational philosophy.

Iona Holsted
Iona Holsted was appointed as Secretary for Education on 5 December 2016. Prior to this, Iona was the Chief Review Officer and Chief Executive of the Education Review Office. She was appointed to this role in July 2014. Between 2007 and 2014 Iona held 4 senior management roles at the Ministry of Social Development, most recently as Deputy Chief Executive, Students, Seniors and Integrity Services. In this role she was responsible for services to seniors (superannuation payments), Studylink, and the integrity of the benefit system. Iona also spent 6 years as a Deputy Commissioner at the State Services Commission. She started her career as a primary school teacher in Auckland, later becoming an advocate and researcher for the Public Service Association, and then as General Manager of a community controlled primary health care organisation.
Iona has completed an executive leadership programme at the INSEAD Business School, and studied strategic leadership at Oxford University. She has been a mentor with the New Zealand Institute of Management since 2007, is a Member of the Executive Leadership Learning Network and has served on Barnardos and YMCA Greater Wellington Boards. Iona has a Higher Diploma of Teaching from Victoria University of Wellington and trained as a teacher at Waikato College of Teacher Education.

Trivina Kang

Dr Trivina Kang is Associate Dean (Professional and Leadership Development) at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University. She oversees NIE’s signature leadership programmes for school leaders and middle leaders as well as NIE’s professional development programmes for Singapore educators. Prior to her current appointment, Trivina led in the area of Teacher Leadership at NIE, overseeing in-service programmes for Singapore Senior and Lead Teachers in the teaching track. A passionate educator, Trivina has received numerous Excellence in Teaching awards for her teaching at graduate, in-service and pre-service levels. She is also actively engaged in research projects. Her current research project focuses on understanding the roles of Vice-Principals in the Singapore educational system and she is exploring how Principals and Vice-Principals can better support each other in school leadership. Trivina serves as Associate Editor for Asia Pacific Journal of Education and actively consults for the Singapore Ministry of Education and other international organisations.

Pasi Sahlberg

Pasi Sahlberg is a Professor of Education Policy and Research Director at the Gonski Institute for Education of the University of New South Wales (UNSW). He has worked as teacher, teacher educator, policy advisor and school improvement activist in Finland and analysed education systems around the world. Currently he leads research on learning through play, growing up digital, and equity in education. His latest book is “Let the Children Play: How more play will save our schools and help children thrive” with William Doyle (2019). He lives with his family in Sydney, Australia.

Rāwiri Toia (Ngāpuhi)

Rāwiri is the contract director of Māori medium schooling projects for Victoria University of Wellington. He has an extensive knowledge of PLD design, implementation, co-ordination, and project management including director and national director roles for professional development and implementation of Te Reo Māori, Hangarau, Mātauranga Taiao and Ngā Toi. Rāwiri is a writer for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and is currently working on the review of paerewa patae for senior secondary as well as the development of learning progressions for Maōri medium schooling.

Helen Varney
Helen Varney is Immediate Past President of The Auckland Primary Principals Association, Principal for 12 years in Auckland Schools and currently seconded as Director of the pilot project "Tautai o le Moana" - Navigators of the Pacific. This pilot has been created in a joint partnership of the New Zealand Pasifika Principals Association, New Zealand Principals Federation and The Ministry of Education to strengthen the capability of leaders to improve outcomes for Pasifika Learners and contribute to linguistic and culturally sustainable practices across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Pacific students across New Zealand navigate their way successfully through culturally diverse practices, complex learning, social and emotional environments set within different world views. As educators we seek to enhance their navigational skills and strengthen learning to grow them as the wayfarers they descend from.

As part of the development of Tautai o le Moana we use resources that support us as leaders and teachers of Pacific learners. Tapasā is an excellent support document that gives us a positive framework from which we as leaders can continue to grow teachers and leaders who grow our Pacific Learners.

As part of the expert teacher panel who worked with Tapasā Helen is keen to share possible ways of making this document live.

Conference Dinner Speaker

Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand
Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand is the First Lady of New Zealand theatre, she’s an actor, director, Te Reo Māori advocate and a union campaigner for actors. Over the last 40 years, the award-winning actress has amassed a list of stage and screen performance credits that would make the Encyclopedia Britannica seem short. She toured New Zealand and abroad with Harry Sinclaire and Don McGlashin in music-theatre group The Front Lawn, starred to international acclaim in melodrama film Desperate Remedies and was a core-cast member in high-rating comedy sketch show Full Frontal. Over the last 20 years, Jennifer has directed film, musical and theatre, as well as working as an intimacy coordinator for screen and stage. Jennifer was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and later was appointed as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for her contributions to theatre, film and television. Despite being non-Māori, Jennifer has dedicated a lot of her time to learning and promoting the importance of Te Reo Māori in New Zealand. This contributed to her being named the 2020 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.
Elegant and down-to-earth, her warmth, self-assurance and wit have carried audiences at the NZ Book Awards (7 times ), The World of Wearable Art Awards, the Whitecliffe Fashion Show (five times ), APO fundraisers and the annual Equity Lifetime Achievement Award. Her fluency in Te Reo Māori brings an added depth to her work.