Our organisation’s values
What we do
Evidence creation
Dissemination
Capacity building
Meet the team
Dr Nina Hood
FounderNina is a trained secondary school teacher, having taught at Epsom Girls Grammar and Mt Roskill Grammar in Auckland. Nina undertook an MSc (with distinction) in learning and technology, and a DPhil in Education at the University of Oxford. Since returning to New Zealand in mid 2015 Nina has been employed as a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education at the University of Auckland where she specialises in new technologies in education. She is passionate about the hub's mission to encourage research-based teaching, and is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of The Education Hub.
Dr Sarah Mayo
Education ManagerSarah oversees the creation of research reviews and online courses for The Education Hub. This involves working with researchers from New Zealand and around the world to collate research reviews, and also engaging with teachers in ECE centres and schools around the country to develop case studies of research use in practice. Sarah has a PhD in English from the University of Canterbury. Her doctorate explored how Shakespeare on film could support the teaching of his plays in secondary schools in ways that are responsive to the curriculum and also bring theoretical and socio-cultural perspectives to the study of Shakespeare. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Glen Eden Primary School.
Dr Vicki Hargraves
Early Childhood Education ExpertVicki is our resident early childhood education (ECE) experts, a role which sees her facilitating our ECE webinar series, developing many of our online courses, and writing a number of our research reviews. Vicki is a teacher, mother, writer, and researcher living in Tasmania, Australia. Her PhD used philosophy to explore creative approaches to understanding early childhood education. She is inspired by the wealth of educational research that is available and is passionate about making this available and useful for teachers.
Amanda Howley-Rouse
Office ManagerAmanda supports the day-to-day running of The Education Hub. After working in executive office management and team leadership roles within the finance sector for 15 years, she switched to the not-for-profit sector and hasn’t looked back. Amanda is an experienced officer manager and is passionate about contributing to her community. She enjoys volunteering as a Girl Guide Leader, Health & Safety Officer at St Ignatius Parish and various committees, programmes and initiatives at her children’s school.
Madeleine Matanawa
Learning DesignerMadeleine works as a Learning Designer at The Education Hub. She has a real interest in how people learn and in how online platforms can be used to best effect. This was formed over many years teaching adult learners, predominantly tertiary students, improving their English language. Before that she studied English literature and creative writing in the UK; reading books and occasionally writing them remain her favourite activities.
TRUSTEES
Maury Leyland
ChairMaury has a long held passion for working with organisations that can bring change that benefits New Zealand. She is co-founder of Leaft Foods, an innovative ingredient company that produces high-quality plant-based protein products. Maury has previously been a director of Genesis Energy, Spark New Zealand and Transpower New Zealand and was on the Lincoln University Transformation Board. Maury was a senior executive at Fonterra from 2005, most recently stepping down as managing director people, culture and strategy in 2016.
Professor Graeme Aitken
Graeme has a long history in education, firstly as a geography teacher and then in Secondary Teacher Education, as the Director of The University of Auckland Principals Centre, and most recently as the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland. Graeme co-developed the Teaching as Inquiry model that underpins the pedagogical approach of the New Zealand Curriculum and is the co-author of the Best Evidence Synthesis for Social Sciences.
Andrew Grant
Andrew is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company where he leads their Global Public Sector Practice and is a member of McKinsey’s Global Board. Andrew is committed to education and has been involved in a number of education initiatives both through his work at McKinsey and also in New Zealand, including the establishment of both the Springboard Trust and the Onehunga Business School.
Andrew Poole
Education and conservation are two areas where Andrew sees the opportunity for a step change to enhance New Zealand’s success. Andrew is the Chief Executive of law firm MinterEllisonRuddWatts. Andrew also is the Executive Chair of the Rotoroa Island Trust and sits on NEXT Foundation’s Education Waka Kaihautu.