Please click on read more for a full overview of the speakers at the Auckland Education Summit or click here to download a PDF.
Bernadine Vester
Bernadine Vester
As Chief Executive of COMET, Bernardine has developed a model of local government and education collaboration, and an internationally recognised intergenerational family learning model, Manukau's first youth transitions service, led the city’s response to increasing participation in early childhood education.. She is an Eisenhower Fellow and recipient of Victoria University of Wellington’s Holmes Prize in Public Policy for her research on the relationship between local government and education. Bernardine has previously worked as a teacher and Assistant, and was Junior Vice President of PPTA. Her governance experience includes leading the establishment boards of the Mission Heights schools and serving on a number of local community organisations.
Dr John Langley
Dr John Langley is Chief Executive Officer of the Cognition Institute. His previous roles include inaugural Dean of the Faculty of Education at The University of Auckland Director of the Teacher Registration Board (now the New Zealand Teachers Council). A qualified psychologist, former teacher, principal and lecturer in a college of education, John has been a member of the Board of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, the Ministry of Justice’s Independent Advisory Group, as well as the Ministry of Social Development’s Expert Advisory Group on treatment and policy implementation for children and young people with severe anti-social behaviour. He is an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to education.
Len Brown
Auckland Mayor Len Brown has had a long career in local government as a former councillor and mayor of Manukau City. He studied arts and law at Auckland University before joining Auckland law firm Wynyard Wood, where he became a partner. He also co-founded the Howick Free Legal Service and is chairperson of the Counties Manukau Health Council. Len’s vision for Auckland includes a vibrant economy and resilient communities.
Tapu Misa
Tapu is a freelance journalist for the NZ Herald. She has had an extensive career in both mainstream and M?ori and Pacific media. In 2002 she won Pacific Print Journalist of the Year and she has served for a number of years on the Broadcasting Standards Authority
Professor Sir Peter Gluckman
Professor Sir Peter Gluckman is the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor and a former New Zealander of the Year. Until recently, he was Director of the Liggins Institute and of the National Research Centre for Growth and Development. His previous roles include Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland and Assistant Professor at the University of California in San Francisco. A former pediatrician, Sir Peter has spent the greater part of his professional life in research. He is a globally renowned thinker in the field of endocrinology, with a particular focus on fetal and child growth.
Professor Sir Peter Gluckman is the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor and a former New Zealander of the Year. Until recently, he was Director of the Liggins Institute and of the National Research Centre for Growth and Development. His previous roles include Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland and Assistant Professor at the University of California in San Francisco. A former pediatrician, Sir Peter has spent the greater part of his professional life in research. He is a globally renowned thinker in the field of endocrinology, with a particular focus on fetal and child growth.
Angus Fletcher
Angus is Chair of The Fletcher Trust. He has had a long career in business, principally with Fletcher Challenge Limited and a long standing involvement in a wide variety of "not for profit" community based organisations. Many of these community activities are directed to young people and involve education initiatives. Currently his trusteeships include the Fletcher Trust, Life Education Trust, Great Potentials Foundation and For the Sake of our Children Trust. In addition he is on a number of advisory boards and councils including Enterprise New Zealand Trust, Business in the Community, Methodist Employment Generation Fund and the Milestones Project.
Margaret Bendall
Margaret Bendall
Margaret is a Board Member of the Cognition Education Trust. She has a number of leadership roles in the Faculty of Education at the University of Auckland. A former principal of Epsom Girls Grammar School and Board Member of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, Margaret has an ongoing commitment to the development of curriculum and qualification systems that support young people’s success. Margaret was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2005 for her services to education.
Ronji Tanielu
Ronji works for the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit at The Salvation Army. He has a BA Hons and Bachelor of Laws from The University of Auckland. He is also a young entrepreneur, running his own businesses: Catalyst Solutions Ltd/Soul Security Ltd.
Dr Stuart Middleton
Stuart is Director of External Relations at the Manukau Institute of Technology and the new Chair of COMET, having served previous terms as both trustee and Chair. He was a Commonwealth Relations Trust Fellowship to the University of London’s Institute of Education and a Fulbright New Century Scholar. He speaks and writes on educational topics and has won two QANTAS Media Awards. In 2010 he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of merit (ONZM) for his services to education.
Bruce Adin
Bruce Adin is the Regional Manager for the Northern Region of the Ministry of Education and is responsible for overviewing early childhood, primary and secondary school education. Bruce joined the Ministry in 2004 as the Regional Manager having been a School Principal of five different schools since 1976, including 16 years as Principal of Fairburn School in Auckland. He was also National President of NZEI in 2003 and Chair of the Council for the Auckland College of Education from 1999 to 2004. He was President of the Auckland Primary Principals Association in 1998. In 2005 Bruce was awarded a Queen’s Service Order (QSO) for his services to education.
Dr Mark Anderson
Mark is a business and technology thought leader in the IBM New Zealand consulting practice. He has over 28 years consulting experience, the last ten years working primarily with New Zealand Government, Education and Health Sector organisations. Previous experience includes a senior strategic planning role in IBM’s international business, international product management and customer relationship management consulting across a range of business areas and technology enabled business solution areas.
Mark is a business and technology thought leader in the IBM New Zealand consulting practice. He has over 28 years consulting experience, the last ten years working primarily with New Zealand Government, Education and Health Sector organisations. Previous experience includes a senior strategic planning role in IBM’s international business, international product management and customer relationship management consulting across a range of business areas and technology enabled business solution areas.
Maria Paenga (Ngawati)
Maria is Project Lead for MITE (Maori Into Tertiary Education). MITE’s aims are to find and implement innovative solutions for Maori Tertiary students, and affect structural change across Auckland for Maori student gain. She is of Ngati Hine, Ngapuhi and Ngati Porou descent, and is passionate about Maori Health, Education, Sport and Performing Arts. Born and bred in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, she did all of her schooling here, and is now raising her three young children in Kura Kaupapa.
Keith Goodall
Keith is Chair of the Cognition Education Trust. A Chartered Accountant he is a director of Keith Goodall & Associates (KGA Ltd), a specialist accounting practice, and director of substantial companies in the health, education, telecommunications, energy and distribution companies, and was till recently deputy chairman of a top 200 Australian listed company. He has authored and presented continuing education courses for The Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand and also held a government board appointment to a SOE.
Alison Sutton
Alison is the Strategic Analyst at COMET. She prepared Education in the City co-wrote Unlocking Auckland’s Potential: Adult literacy and numeracy skills in the new Auckland. She was also part of the team that developed Te Whanua Ara Mua, COMET’s family learning and literacy programme. Alison has a background in research and evaluation in adult literacy, lifelong learning and social services for the Ministry of Education, the Tertiary Education Commission, and other local and central government agencies. Alison has a Master of Arts (Social Policy).
Nicola Meek
Nicola is the principal consultant for the Cognition Institute. She was previously the Chief Executive of Secondary Futures, Hoenga Auaha Taiohi, New Zealand’s contribution to the OECD’s Schooling for Tomorrow project. She has a background in secondary schooling, adult and community education and national assessment. Nicola’s governance roles include Early Childhood Education, youth health, marae trustee and three terms in local government, including a period as Deputy Mayor.
