Introducing the 2023 New Zealand Presenters

Presenters from all around New Zealand will join the Early Childhood Education Symposium in Nanjing, China and online. We are excited to share the line up of presenters from New Zealand government agencies, Universities, Te Pukenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, tertiary education institutions and Early Childhood Education centres.

Lisa Futschek, Education New Zealand

Lisa joined ENZ in 2013 after an 18-year diplomatic career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade which included five years as the Deputy Head of Mission at the New Zealand Embassy in Berlin, and three years as First Secretary and Consul at the New Zealand Embassy in Santiago.  

As General Manager International, Lisa leads a global team of 30, based across 17 locations around the world, focussed on profiling New Zealand as an education partner and ensuring international education contributes to New Zealand’s international relations goals. 

Lisa has been instrumental in expanding ENZ’s offshore network in Asia and establishing a permanent presence in North America. She brings a strong internationalisation lens to ENZ’s work, emphasizing the critical role of relationships and partnership for mutual benefit.   

A graduate of Otago and Auckland universities, Lisa and her husband Regan are based in Wellington. They have two teenagers, a son studying at Otago University and a daughter in Year 12 at high school. 

Professor Gail Gillon, Director of the Child Wellbeing Research Institute, University of Canterbury

Professor Gillon (Ngāi Tahu iwi) is the Director of the University of Canterbury Child Well-Being Research Institute and is also Co-Director of the Better Start National Science Challenge ($34M) E Tipu E Rea, A 10 year programme of research focused on ensuring all young children have a successful start to life. Prof Gillon’s area of research focuses on understanding the relationship between spoken and written language development and, in particular, the importance of children’s phonological awareness to reading and spelling development.Active research projects include: The effectiveness of phonological awareness interventions in facilitating early literacy success in children who enter school with known challenges for reading and spelling. Engaging parents, family and community in children’s early oral language and literacy development, Facilitating literacy success in children with speech and language impairment; Understanding international speech language therapy practices in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Interdisciplinary practices across health and education to support children’s learning, Teachers’ professional development in children’s oral language and early literacy development, Oral Language Assessment measures (Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts) Phonological Awareness on-line assessments in English, Te Reo Maori and Samoan.

Nery Juarez, Te Pūkenga UCOL

Hola, My name is Nery Juarez, originally from Mexico, living in New Zealand since 2005. I have a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education, a Diploma in Leadership, and a Postgraduate in Tertiary Teaching and Learning. I have 25 years of experience working in a variety of Early Childhood Teaching roles in Mexico, Colombia and in New Zealand. From a teaching relieving position, to ECE Centre Manager; ECE lecturer and currently Coordinator of a home-based programme at Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology UCOL.  I have a passion for ECE teaching and learning. And I believe quality teaching needs to be provided to all our future generations. 

Nery Juarez--内里--华雷斯

Kushla Mckay, Te Pūkenga UCOL

Kushla Mckay--库什拉--麦凯

Ko Tainui te Waka, Ko Waikato teAwa,

Ko Pirongia te Maunga, Ko Ngaati Mahanga te Hapu

Ko Te Papa o Rotu te Marae,

Ko Kushla Mckay ahau,

Tēnā koutou katoa,

My name is Kushla Mckay and I am a Coordinator for the in-work Early Childhood Education programme at Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Technology UCOL.

I hold a Diploma in ECE and a Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership (ECE). I have spent most of my career managing Early Childhood Centres here in New Zealand. Early Childhood Education is a lifelong passion, that I have brought along with me in to the tertiary Education sector.

Dr Sean Dolan, New Zealand Tertiary College

Dr Sean Dolan is the Academic Dean of New Zealand Tertiary College and the editor of the early childhood education journal He Kupu. Sean has been involved in education as a teacher and leader for over two decades. Sean’s professional interests and passions lie in the professional development of student teachers for the early childhood sector and advocating for inclusive practices. Sean has recently published on the topic of adaptive expertise in early childhood teaching and how this can be best fostered and developed for students in initial teacher education. 

Fiona Woodgate, New Zealand Tertiary College

Fiona Woodgate is the Field Practice Program Leader at New Zealand Tertiary College.  Fiona has been a lecturer at New Zealand Tertiary College since 2016, prior to this Fiona spent 11 years working in a variety of teaching and supervisory roles within the early childhood sector.  Informed by an understanding that everyone has a right to participate and have opportunities to access education, along with awareness of the correlation between quality teaching and positive learning outcomes for children has prompted an interest in supporting initial teacher education and leadership within the early childhood sector. 

Phoebe Tong, New Zealand Tertiary College

Phoebe Tong ( 童真) is the program leader of Postgraduate program at New Zealand Tertiary College. Phoebe has worked in early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand as a teacher and lecturer for about 15 years. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland. Phoebe’s doctoral study explores Chinese immigrants’ perspectives of becoming and being a teacher in Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood education. This study will contribute to a deeper understanding of teacher identities, particularly how to support immigrant and ethnic minority teachers as they develop positive self-images as valued members of the teaching profession. Phoebe also works in the editorial group of the journal He Kupu.

Shu-Yen Law, New Zealand Tertiary College

Shu-Yen Law (刘书元) is the program leader of Bachelor of Education at New Zealand Tertiary College and has a decade of experience working with teachers, student teachers, parents, and children aged 0-6 years. She has a Bachelor in Preschool Education and a Master in Education. Her previous works focus on children’s comprehension of visual texts, teaching strategies that foster critical literacy, and refugee family’s sense of belonging. Her professional and research interests include culturally responsive practices, teacher leadership, language and literacy, and brain development. 

Keshni Kumar, New Zealand Tertiary College

Keshni Kumar is a lecturer at New Zealand Tertiary College since 2016. Her research interests are in early childhood curriculum pedagogy, culture, and communities of practice. She intends to build her research capacity and capabilities by undertaking opportunities for research when presented. Keshni has a science background and a master’s degree in education with a number of years of teaching experience.