Tēnā koutou katoa. As a former Kindergarten student (Kauri Park and Marlborough), I’m excited to offer my skills to the board of Ngā Tamariki Puāwai o Tāmaki / Auckland Kindergarten Association. I have two daughters, the eldest whom thrived at Beach Haven Kindergarten and is now at intermediate; while my youngest daughter, who is blind, has recently started Kindy with the help of a support person. I have 17 years of experience in governance, including 14 years on the Kaipātiki Local Board (six years as chairperson), overseeing community facilities, large budgets and an extensive work programme. I have also served on the Board of Trustees for Beach Haven Primary School and as chairperson of the Bayview Community Centre. I strongly believe in the importance of play. Through the Kaipātiki Local Board, I’ve helped to ensure that public playgrounds are modernised with a wide range of play types, inclusive play and nature play. I’ve also ensured the delivery of shade sails over many playgrounds to protect tamariki from the sun and ensure that the equipment doesn’t get hot. I am also a skilled technical writer with an eye for detail, and in my spare time enjoy geocaching in our Auckland parks. I’m passionate about the community, the environment and education, and look forward to contributing to the future of Kindergarten and our tamariki.

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.

Simeon Wright is the Chair of the Board of the Auckland Kindergarten Association, bringing extensive financial leadership and governance experience to one of New Zealand’s largest providers of early childhood education. Simeon is an accomplished senior finance executive with a strong track record in strategic planning, performance improvement, and organisational growth. His career has been centred on delivering sustainable financial outcomes while supporting long-term capability and service excellence. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer of the Association, where he played a key role in strengthening financial stewardship and supporting the delivery of high-quality early childhood education services across Auckland. In addition to his executive leadership experience, Simeon brings a governance-focused perspective to his role as Chair. He is committed to ensuring strong oversight, sound financial management, and strategic clarity, enabling the Association to continue supporting tamariki, whānau, and communities through accessible and high-quality kindergarten services. Simeon is passionate about the role early childhood education plays in shaping lifelong outcomes. As Chair, he works closely with the Board and leadership team to guide the Association’s strategic direction, ensuring it remains well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of Auckland families and communities.

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.

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.

Sarah joined AKA in 2025 and is a highly experienced senior People and Capability and People Leader with extensive experience in multiple sectors. Prior to joining AKA Sarah was the People and Culture Director for Corys Electrical, she has previously worked as General Manager People Operations for Sky City Entertainment for over 3 years, as General Manager HR in the fast-moving quick service restaurant industry for Burger King, which had over 80 restaurants across the country, and 2500 employees for nine years as well as significant experience within logistics including in the rail industry both in New Zealand and in the UK. As a genuine business partner, Sarah’s key strengths include implementing transformational People and Culture strategies within large organisations to help teams thrive. With great leadership experience within large complex environments Sarah enjoys focusing on the most important aspect of any organisation which is the People.

While originally from the UK, Sarah has lived in Auckland for over 20 years with her family, has a rescue dog called Dora and loves travel, musicals and watching football!