I have taught in both primary and secondary schools in Auckland for more than 30 years and have held a variety of school management and leadership roles. I recently retired as Principal of Swanson School in Auckland and I am now working in a consultative role, supporting Boards of Trustees, Principals and Leaders of Early Childhood Centres. I have also served on the Complaints Assessment Committee of the Education Council for over six years. I am therefore very experienced at dealing with all manner of complaints and conflict in schools and early childhood centres. Kindergarten is, of course, where children learn through play. Since 2014, I have fielded numerous national and international enquiries about my philosophy of children’s play. As Principal of Swanson School I introduced the concept of Free Play, and, among many other invitations, I was asked to do a TEDx talk at Bond University and speak at an international Early Childhood conference in Australia. I am excited to play a role in the Kindergarten movement for several reasons: Blockhouse Bay Kindergarten was where I began my own life of learning; one of my daughters and my sister both work in early childhood; I have worked closely with early childhood teachers and leaders in my role as a school principal and an investigator; and I have a particular interest in children’s play.

My name is Katherine Souness. I am privileged to have served on the Auckland Kindergarten Association board for the last three years, two of them as Deputy Chairperson. I first came to kindergarten when my older daughter, now ten, started at Roskill South Kindergarten. There I was struck by the deep heartfelt practice of teachers, nestled within the community. I took this learning back to my day job of 20 years, as a new entrant teacher. I couldn’t bear to leave the kindergarten movement after my younger child graduated so I found a way to stay! Together with my teaching experience and parenting kindergarten kids, along with post graduate study about education, I bring to the board a deep working knowledge of the transition between kindergarten and school and of child development. I value community, child centred pedagogy and robust policies and procedures that provide a framework for our teachers to build excellent practice within. I bring organisational skills, an eye for detail, tenacity, strength in researching and collating information, and a commitment to helping our kindergartens go from strength to strength. I am privileged to be able to contribute to the Association’s future direction.

Māori (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu), Hawaiian (Kanaka Māoli), Cook Island Māori, Sāmoan. I am a Professor and Director of Te Ipukarea Research Institute and Te Whare o Rongomaurikura – The Centre for Language Revitalisation in the Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies at the Auckland University of Technology. I have a background in primary and secondary teaching and I have been an educator in tertiary education for over 30 years. As an Indigenous scholar teaching and researching in a university, I use the cultural values and knowledge transmitted to me by my Māori and Pacific elders and mentors as an epistemological framework to inform my writing and teaching within the academy. I have been been involved in Māori language revitalisation interventions for almost 30 years including Te Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori. This work has expanded to the Pacific in working with communities on creating digital resources to increase access to their endangered languages. My research and publications reflect this work with communities. I feel privileged and humbled to have a role on this Board and hope my experience and knowledge will contribute in helping the Auckland Kindergarten Association to achieving its goals and aspirations for a future based on the health and wellbeing of all our children and families within our diverse communities in Auckland.

Kia ora koutou, my name is Ankita Sharma and I’m presently the Centre Manager at KiNZ Myers Park care and early learning centre. I have worked in the ECE sector for the past 8 years as a teacher and immensely value what a difference a quality ECE setting can make in the lives of young children. I’m an advocate for quality education and believe in adapting and enhancing our teaching practice in line with teaching pedagogies. I have a keen interest in the governance of Auckland Kindergarten Association and would like to contribute to the Board with a teaching perspective. As a value-based leader, my strengths lie in respecting and understanding the needs of our kaiako and working with a growth mindset. I have experience in the private ECE sector as well and I understand the needs of the business as well as education and know how to present a balanced view to both parties. I believe my strong likeness for diversity, ability to articulate precisely, a balanced approach to comprehend and communicate the perspectives of the board and the teachers is critical for this role with the association.

My name is Michelle and I have been heavily involved with the AKA since 2019 and have been Chairperson for one of the Northshore Kindergartens for two years which I thoroughly enjoy.  I love working with the teachers and parents to ensure we are providing a positive and safe environment for our tamariki.  This reflects my genuine enthusiasm and love for children, their natural development and learning. I have three children (3, 6 and 8 years of age) which have formed the basis of my passion for early childhood education which I believe is the foundation for our tamariki. I have been impressed by the teachers that educate, nurture and inspire our children throughout the AKA network and wish to continue to promote and encourage early childhood education. Professionally, I am the General Manager of a business and my governance experience includes being part of the executive team on private boards as a director, a chairperson on the board of a not for profit and I am in the process of becoming a member of the Institute of Directors. I have in-depth experience in supporting organisations through strategic direction, transformation, governance, financial performance and more recently public policy. I am happy to ask questions, ensure processes, work well alongside management and ensure many views are represented and considered.  I will support the AKA in every way I can to be the best it can be. On a personal level, I am very driven my values of honesty, integrity and compassion and am a pragmatic and positive person. I love spending time with my whanau and enjoy the outdoors and sport.  I also provide my time to several charity organisations with a focus on fundraising and creative ways to fund and have personally raised over $35,000 for charities to date. I would love to have the opportunity to join the AKA board and see this as my way of offering a meaningful contribution to future generations.

With a solid commitment to the Kindergarten movement, I want to create purposeful relationships and establish strong ties with the community in the mission of service. As a Community Director, I look to develop my leadership skills in support of the Auckland Kindergarten Association. I have a deep passion for learning and attend Auckland University,  majoring in Art History and Māori Studies. I look forward to postgraduate studies in Governance. I am deeply interested in the Māori Arts, the union movement, and local environmental projects.

Dannielle’s advocacy for young people and parents began in her dance teaching experiences in Tāmaki Makaurau while in her undergraduate and post-graduate studies. Her full-time job, Chandler Dance Academy, was established out of a desire to create a dance space that considered, supported and worked for the best of the student and their family.

With two young tamariki and having run Chandler Dance Academy for nine years, Dannielle has attributes, skill sets and experiences to positively contribute to other areas. It was through her positive experience with her local Kindergarten, Dannielle wanted to be more involved with the AKA in support of them and their wider community hence putting her hand up for a Board vacancy. 

Dannielle’s life; personal or professional is all about advocating for children and holding their best interests at heart and she looks forward to positively contributing to Ngā Tamariki Puāwai o Tāmaki.

Pauline Winter (Te Ᾱti Awa-Taranaki/Samoa) has been with the Auckland Kindergarten Association since November 2017. Pauline is guiding the Association through a time of change to strengthen the organisation’s ability to respond to the changing nature of the Tāmaki Makaurau population and the growth of early childhood education opportunities. Supporting Pauline during this time is a new executive leadership team with a strong focus on supporting teachers and staff to continue the legacy of what Aucklanders and New Zealanders have been part of for over 100 years – the Kindergarten experience. Pauline has a business background having run her own consultancy and a small light manufacturing enterprise. She has also held Chief Executive positions in the NGO sector and the Public Service in Wellington. Pauline has held governance roles on several Private/Public boards and also holds community advisory positions. A former Westmere Kindergarten child, she has been a Playcentre mother and worked in the Adult Community Education sector and tertiary education. She also served as a Commissioner on the TEC board. Pauline Winter is a previous Pacific Business Woman of the Year and was awarded a Queen’s Service Order (QSO) in 2008 acknowledging her work to business and Pacific communities.

Melissa (Ngāti Rangiwewehi) is a Chartered Accountant with an Executive MBA and has more than twenty years senior leadership experience. She has spent the past three and a half years in the media industry at TVNZ assisting with the public media merger, and as Director of Finance at Whakaata Māori. Before that, she was Acting CEO and Chief Finance and Operations Manager of the Auckland Observatory Trust.

Casey has worked in the ECE sector for over 20 years in various leadership and general management roles.. She has focussed on team culture, building relationships and whānau engagement to create high quality outcomes for tamariki. She has experienced a variety of ECE models and has worked closely within the areas of ECE compliance and strategy. Casey holds a Dip ECE, Bachelor of Ed (ECE) and PG Dip Business.

Toni Nealie has wide experience in management, strategic communications, issues management, media and education. Toni has worked for two New Zealand Cabinet Ministers as well as private, government and not for profit organisations in Aotearoa, the U.S and U.K. She taught in an American university for 10 years. Her background is as a journalist, writer and editor, and she holds an M.F.A and a Dip. Journalism.

Cecilia is a Human Resources leader with over 15 years’ experience in HR Partnership, Employment Relations, Organisational Change, Industrial Relations and Talent Management. She holds a Master of Commerce specialised in HR Management & Employment Relations. Cecilia spent the last 10 years in Perth, Western Australia before returning to New Zealand in early 2022.

Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop (Samoan, Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui) has more than 25 years' experience in policy, management, research and evaluation. She has held senior posts in the public sector, academia and the not-for-profit sector, most recently as chief executive officer at Vaka Tautua, a national Pacific health, disability and social services provider. Amanda-Lanuola holds a PhD in Community Health.