Karen O'Leary

Biography:
A natural performer, Karen O’Leary made her acting debut in Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s cult-classic feature What We Do in the Shadows.

Brendon Henderson

Teacher Development Aotearoa

Topic: 
At Teacher Development Aotearoa we understand the importance of making connections with kaiako and subject experts. In our role as the Network Hub for the 36 NEX we coordinate the experts and subject leaders in providing professional support and guidance for their members. In this session Brendon will outline the benefits of being a member of a Network of Expertise (NEX) for Provisionally Certified Teachers.

Biography:
Brendon is the Chief Executive at Teacher Development Aotearoa (TDA) having started in this role in January 2022. He began his teaching career in 1990 and has worked at a number of schools in Wellington. More recently he was principal of Tawa Intermediate School for a period of 8 years.

Janelle Riki-Waaka

Ko te Mauri o te Akomanga / Getting the ‘Culture’ Right in Your Classroom: Tikanga, Kawa, and a Te Tiriti-led Practice

Topic: 
Starting your journey as a kaiako in Aotearoa comes with a profound responsibility—creating a learning environment where all ākonga feel seen, valued, and empowered. But how do you get the ‘culture’ right in your classroom?

This keynote will explore the power of tikanga and kawa in shaping a culturally responsive and mana-enhancing space. We will delve into the importance of uara Māori-led practices that not only enrich teaching but also honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi in meaningful and practical ways.

By weaving together mātauranga Māori, relational teaching, and authentic partnerships with whānau, Mana Whenua and your hapori, you will gain insights into fostering a classroom where equity, belonging, and success thrive. Mauri tū, mauri ora—let’s set the foundations for teaching that uplifts and empowers all tamariki! 

Biography:

InsideOUT Kōaro 

Creating Inclusive Schools For Rainbow Students

Topic:
This workshop will cover the latest NZ research on students of minority sexualities and genders, relevant terminology, how homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and discrimination affect rangatahi and tamariki, the coming out process, pronoun use and the biggest issues facing rainbow students. We will present practical ways your professional practice can become or continue to be an inclusive and safe place for people of all sexual orientations, sexes and genders. We will also share our resources developed for schools to support in your rainbow inclusion journey. 

Monique Lubberink

Creative mindfulness - Learn to make beautiful art, following the 8 steps of the Zentangle 

Topic: 
Discover your creative side, even if you think you don’t have one. You might surprise yourself!  If you can hold a pen, you can do this. Creating Zentangle patterns is super relaxing and a creative form of mindfulness. Increase your awareness and focus, get absorbed and feel more confident while making your own unique and original art. Learn about borders, strings, and shading. Learn your first tangles and discover the world of Crescent Moon, Hollibaugh, Printemps, and Florz. It feels great to have creativity flowing. Anything is possible one stroke at a time. There are no mistakes to make here!

Biography:
Monique moved to NZ from the Netherlands, 11 years ago with her family. She has a background in psychology, working with adults with ADHD and ASD, and has a passion for creative mindfulness, colouring, zentangle®, crochet and running her own Easy Now mindfulness business.

Derek Morris

Biography:

Derek taught English and History at Kuranui College. He was active in the PPTA as a branch chair and regional chair before becoming a Field Officer. Currently, he works in Te Awa Kairangi, Nelson, and the Wairarapa regions. 

Pip Osborne

Navigate Your Subject: Support Networks for Teachers 

Topic: 
Embarking on your teaching journey can be both exciting and challenging. This interactive session aims to introduce PCTs to the wealth of support available through subject associations and Kaiārahi (subject advisors). Learn how these networks can assist you in curriculum planning, resource development, and professional growth. 

This isn't a presentation, it's a kōrero. Come with your questions, worries, or wonderings about your subject area. We'll show you how to tap into networks, PD, resources, and real people who want to help you succeed. 

Objectives:

• To demystify what subject associations and Kaiārahi are-and how they can support you in your first years of teaching.
  
• To connect PCTs with people and organisations that offer subject-specific advice, resources, and mentoring. 
• To share real-world examples of how teachers have been supported in areas like curriculum planning, behaviour management, and assessment. 
• To provide a relaxed space for PCTs to ask questions and feel supported across a range of subject areas.

What to Expect:

• A brief, engaging intro to subject associations and who Kaiārahi are. 
• A panel of Kaiārahi from different subjects sharing quick stories or "how we helped" examples. 
• Interactive Q&A and breakout prompts: "What do you need most right now?" "Where are you stuck?"
• Receive curated materials and contacts to support your ongiong professional development. 

Biography:
Pip Osborne is an accomplished educator with over a decade of experience in secondary education, specialising in Design and Visual Communication. She holds a Bachelor of Design and a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education from Massey University. Currently, she is a lecturer in Senior Secondary Technology at the University of Auckland and is actively involved in the BCATs skills standards development with Waihanga Ara Rau. Previously, Pip was an NCEA Implementation Facilitator for the Ministry of Education, leading Level 1 NCEA implementation as the BOP Regional Lead while supporting Technology kaiako nationwide. She was the Learning Area Leader of Technology at Matamata College, where she led future-focused learning initiatives, professional development, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Beyond education, Pip has a strong entrepreneurial background, having successfully relaunched a restaurant, and served as Managing Director of two early childhood centres, focusing on curriculum development and structured literacy. Earlier, in her career, she worked as a Graphic Designer and a Production Designer at TVNZ, honing her skills in set and event design. 

Cecilia Sanahuja

Feeling the music

Topic: 
In this interactive workshop, we will explore the relationship between music and the brain. Discover how music can affect our brains, for better or for worse, and how we can make it work for us and not against us. We’ll also have a look at how to improve our mental health with music and sounds and experience sounds from a different viewpoint.  Attending this workshop will help kaiako to develop new strategies that can be applied in personal and in classroom settings to support rangatahi in their academic and personal development.
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Biography:
Cecilia is a vocal/life coach and sound healing facilitator, among others. She is an eternal geek that likes reading, learning and experimenting about energy, the brain and how music and sounds can affect us. Through sound meditation and workshops, as well as working 1:1, she helps people become more aware of their thoughts and feelings and find their own voice.

Find Cecilia on her website:
https://www.tuningyourself.com/

Adele Towgood

Biography:

Brooke Trenwith

Lifting the Tide by Catering to the Neurodiverse

Topic: 
With as many as 34% of learners in our classes needing learning support, teachers need to know who to create a “rising tide that lifts all ships” to improve attendance and engagement. This workshop links strengths-based neurodivergent support, trauma-informed and relationship based practice to help our PCTs lift that tide. Participants will come away with practical and effective strategies that they can use immediately to improve attendance and engagement. 

Biography:
An experienced educator, Brooke is passionate about providing teachers with the knowledge and strategies to support neurodiverse learners in their care. Brooke was President of the New Zealand Association for Gifted Children (2016-2020), a NZ representative on the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (2016-2020) and is a MoE Accredited education consultant through her own company, Potential to Performance Ltd. Brooke is a trained a secondary teacher who has also taught from early childhood through to tertiary level and been an assistant director of an English language school in Taiwan. Brooke’s specialisations include inclusive learning (multiple labels), trauma informed education, coaching and leadership support. Brooke was on the Reference Group for the Ministerial Review of Curriculum, Progress and Achievement, the Curriculum Voices Hui for the NZ Curriculum Refresh and has sat on the Ministerial Advisory Group for Gifted Education since 2018. 

Amy-Lee Wells, Tātai Aho Rau - Core Education

Developing a collaborative working relationship with your mentor

Topic: 
It’s no secret that the quality of the mentoring relationship for beginning teachers can make or break your induction to the teaching profession in Aotearoa. All provisionally certificated teachers in Aotearoa should have a quality induction and mentoring programme to be able to apply for full certification.

Biography:
Amy-Lee was a secondary teacher for 16 years before joining Tātai Aho Rau as a professional learning and development facilitator. She was a reliever, classroom teacher, Head of Department, Specialist Classroom Teacher and PCT Coordinator.

PPTA Field Officers

Entitlements and Expectations as a PCT

Field Officers:

Rachel Burnett
Rachel Burnett has been a PPTA Field Officer since 2022 and is based in the Palmerston North office, covering branches in the Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki regions. Before this, Rachel was a secondary English teacher in Northland and then in Porirua, during which time she served as a voluntary regional representative for the PPTA. In her role, Rachel supports branches, regional committees, and individual members to ensure that teachers have access to Collective Agreement entitlements and are represented fairly in their schools. 

Michael Cabral-Tarry

Panel Discussion Title: Weaving together your kete

Chair: Karen O'Leary

Panel Members: 

Louise Ryan

Laurence Earl
Hi, I'm Laurence Earl - Whāre Pastoral Leader, Digital Tech teacher, and full-time chaos coordinator at Te Paepae o Aotea. I joined teaching thinking I'd be changing lives...turns out, most days I'm just trying to find the whiteboard markers and remember where my class is. Still here. Still smiling. Still pretending I know what I'm doing.

Josh Wilson

Kia ora, Ko Josh toku ingoa. I'm a third-year Media Studies and History teacher at Pukekohe High School. I'm interested in helping students think clearly about the past and the media they engage with every day. Outside of school, I'm a keen sailor. It's taught me a lot about staying calm under pressure and working through challenges - skills that have been just as useful in the classroom as on the water.

Nat Jump

Topic:
Our panel members, who have recently graduated from being beginning teachers, will discuss their personal experiences and the challenges they overcame early in their teaching careers. They will provide valuable insights into knowledge they wish they had during this period and offer perspectives on how to establish essential support structures for achieving balance and success in the teaching profession.