ANDREW SAUNDERSON
I recently
retired from the Navy in the rank of Captain.
After many years and many ships, the latter half of my career involved
time in Navy’s training organisation and strategic headquarters.
This included
time as Head of Leadership and Recruit training delivering Navy’s core military
and mariner skills training and leadership development to young sailors and
officers. In postings to Wellington I
served in a number of senior roles including Assistant Chief of Navy (Strategy)
and Director Defence Strategy Management.
In making the step
out of uniform last year I am now in a similar strategy role in the public sector.
I am a member
of the Institute of Directors, hold a Certificate in Company Direction and have
a MBA from Auckland University.
I feel I can
make a useful contribution as a member of the Board of Trustees to the
development of Muritai School I have a
storng background in strategy and organisational governance. I am keen to help continue and improve the
strong culture of success, inclusion and citizenship at Muritai that the
previous Board of Trustees has fostered.
I’m Louise Marsden and
live in Point Howard with Greg and our three boys Barney, Jack (year 5), Rory
(year 2), and Flora (the puppy).
We moved to Eastbourne
from the UK nearly 4 years ago, attracted by the lifestyle. We were
immediately warmly welcomed and therefore settled quickly. We have developed a circle of great friends
and neighbours and take part in a mix of community activities including sport,
singing, scouting and the RSA as well as making the most of the beach and bush.
Muritai was a bit of
change for our boys – no uniform, packed lunches, kapa haka, jump-jam every
morning! We soon appreciated the
differences in the NZ education system, particularly the autonomy the teachers
have, and the consideration given to developing rounded children. The qualities of Muritai that I admire are
those I would seek to support through a trustee role: effective
leadership, quality staff, the school at the heart of the community and the
provision of an interesting and varied curriculum.
I am a qualified
accountant, but now work developing and financing infrastructure projects. As part of my role I monitor long-term
project progress, how effectively companies are being managed, H&S
performance, and stakeholder management. I am a Director on two company
Boards. I have also previously been a school
Governor in the UK, something I really enjoyed.
I’m putting myself
forward as I feel I have both professional and personal skills which may be of
benefit to the Board. More importantly I
see this as a practical way to ‘give back’ in some way to the school
community.
I would bring
years of working collaboratively with others at playcentre to grow positive,
creative and kind learning spaces for our tamariki, experience working with the
Education Review Office and an approachable attitude.
Professionally,
my background is in journalism, with a particular interest in social issues. I
currently work part-time as co-editor at Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, the New
Zealand Nurses' Organisation's journal.
MIKI SZIKSZAI
I would like
to contribute to the Board as I believe that society is experiencing rapid
changes. High-quality education and
learning will be the foundations of our children’s ability to be ‘change
fit’. This will allow them to adapt to a
future where everything will be different – jobs, relationships,
technology. Their success will be based
on the hard and soft skills they learn at school and in the wider
community. Muritai needs to build on the
good work of the current Board to continue to be a diverse, sustainable and
community-centred place of learning that can continuously improve and
adapt. The Board will need a wide range
of skills to achieve this goal.
I have some
skills that I can offer as part of the mix from my professional and personal
background. These include governance
skills I have gained by serving as a director on the Board of two companies
(software companies Vend and Spotlight Reporting). I can also offer skills in strategy,
innovation, leadership, planning and financial management that I have learned
in my role as CEO of Snapper and prior roles in the telco industry. I can help with working through the
trade-offs of what we need to do today vs preparing for the future, all with
limited resources.
What I care
most about is developing an environment where our children, staff and
ultimately the wider community can thrive.
I welcome the opportunity to serve on the Board.
NIGEL CASS
My name is
Nigel Cass and I have lived in Eastbourne for the past 13 years with my wife
Camille and my boys Ben and Barney. Muritai School has been an important part
of our lives since 2008 when Ben started in Year 1 and spent eight wonderful
years before graduating from the senior school last year. We continue to be
strongly connected to the school through Barney who is currently in Year 6 and
will stay for his ‘senior’ years across the road.
Camille and I
have been tremendously impressed with Muritai School. It offers unparalleled
opportunities for our kids to become the best that they can be. In addition to
very strong academic performance, we particularly value the opportunities for
developing a range of sporting, cultural and leadership skills - and are
regularly impressed with the extraordinary success achieved by past and present
Muritai students.
The Board and
Management have done a fantastic job creating a positive and supportive
learning environment. With a number of the existing Board Members stepping down
I am keen to offer my skills and experience to build on the strong foundation
they have established.
I currently
work as the Chief Strategy and Operations Officer at NZ Rugby and have
previously worked in leadership roles for the bid and delivery of Rugby World
Cup 2011. In a governance capacity I was Chairman of the NZ Recreation
Association for four years and have also served on a number of boards for many
years representing NZ Rugby. My experience across these significant and
challenging roles has provided me with expertise and experience that I believe
is relevant to the successful governance of Muritai School. Particular strengths
which will contribute towards the Board’s success include; strategy development
and implementation, operational and financial risk identification and
management, contract and policy monitoring and compliance, and an ability to
lead complex projects and programmes to successful outcomes.
Muritai
School is one of Eastbourne’s most significant treasures and I would love to
contribute to its ongoing success and development as a member of the Board of
Trustees.
ANDREW BIRD
Tena koutou katoa,
Ko Andrew Bird toku ingoa
I have been Principal of Muritai for over 14 years having being appointed in May 2001. Family is my first priority and a big part of my life. Jan and I have 3 children – Lucy, Sally and Max who have all been part of Muritai School. Sally was one week old when I started as principal at Muritai so she is a good measuring stick of my time here.
I came back to the education world after enjoying my post high school days as a member of the New Zealand rowing team where I managed to travel widely and have many rich experiences. It was during visiting "nearly every primary school" in Christchurch on my return from the Seoul Olympics in 1988 that I developed a real desire to work with kids and be a primary school teacher and I have never regretted my decision to be part of our children’s future.
Teaching is a fantastic profession. Being principal offers me the chance to realize the potential of the whole school in partnership with the beliefs, values, aspirations and support of the wider school community. I am proud of where Muritai School is in 2015 and proud of the way our people keep the school moving forward by following tradition, embracing innovation and some good old fashioned hard work.
Kia
Ora Koutou!
Ko
Deane McKay toku ingoa. I am in my fifth year as the Year 5&6
Associate Principal at Muritai School. I am a father of four. My children
started at Muritai School in 2012, when we moved to Eastbourne from Upper
Hutt. My two oldest daughters, Ella and Neve, have since moved on to Hutt
Valley High School. I have my son, Luca, and youngest daughter, Emmy,
currently in Year 6 and Year 4. My wife, Janelle, and I both teach at
Muritai School which is a real privilege. We love living in and being a
part of this wonderful community.
I
have many passions. Some of these include my faith, my family, triathlon,
good food and All Blacks rugby. I am very passionate about teaching and
learning. I am motivated by this passion to promote the love of
learning in every possible way.
I
believe teachers are the greatest examples that children will have in their
educational lives and that ‘teamwork’ is an essential ingredient for their
success. Muritai School is a supportive school environment that fosters
respect, creativity and fun. It is a school where long standing
traditions and innovation meets, with amazing outcomes. I am grateful for
the opportunity I have to be a part of this remarkable place and
to learn and grow with the staff and students.
I
look forward to working with the team (Board of Trustees) in the capacity of
staff representative.
Naku te rourou nau te
rourou ka ora ai te iwi
With your basket and my basket the people will live
Nga
mihi nui
