Alesha Chaston has been a lecturer at New Zealand Tertiary College since 2018. She has been working in early childhood education for over 15 years in various roles such as teaching, management and administration. Her passion areas are infant and toddler development, professional practice, respectful care, unhurried environments, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tiriti-based practice.

Amy Thynne is a lecturer at New Zealand Tertiary College and has been in the early childhood field for over 25 years with all age groups, in a range of roles and settings including teacher, head teacher, manager, reliever and in the home-based sector. Amy has interests in all areas of ECE and is particularly passionate about the psychology of learning, bicultural education, the curriculum, environments that are inclusive and respectful, and areas of free play and loose parts that are natural and sustainable - just to name a few!

Barbara Scanlan grew up in Austria and has been engaged in early childhood education for the past 22 years in roles ranging from teacher, mentor and centre manager in Austria, Scotland and in New Zealand. Barbara has completed her master’s degree in Deleuzian philosophy, a working theory for pedagogy in early childhood education. Currently Barbara is a lecturer at New Zealand Tertiary College, and spends her free time with her family, friends and exploring the outdoors.

Christine Vincent-Snow lectures in early childhood teaching at New Zealand Tertiary College. She has a strong interest in sustainable practices, kaitiakitanga (guardianship), play, and the influence and effect of nature upon tamariki (children). Christine is currently completing a master’s degree in early childhood and has worked in early childhood education for over 20 years.

Fiona Woodgate has over 17 years’ experience in the early childhood education context having worked in a variety of teaching, mentoring and leadership roles. Fiona has a particular interest in educational leadership and the role of the mentor in driving and supporting change that leads to improved learning outcomes for children.  Fiona has applied her experience of early childhood, mentoring and leadership within her role as Program Leader (Field Practice) for New Zealand Tertiary College.

Joy McLelland has been working in early childhood education for 14 years; four of those years have been at the New Zealand Tertiary College as a lecturer and as Pastoral Support for students. She has recently completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Education and has professional interests in incorporating Tiriti-based practices in early years education along with preparing tamariki to be motivated, lifelong learners. Joy’s role in the Pastoral Support team has grown her interest in supporting teacher wellbeing and professional learning in order for tamariki to have the best possible outcomes.

Keshni Kumar has been a lecturer at New Zealand Tertiary College since 2016. Her research interests are in the field of 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 postgraduate degree in education with a number of years of teaching experience. She is currently completing a master’s degree in education from the University of Auckland.

Maddie Hendrie has been a lecturer at New Zealand Tertiary College since 2019. She has a background in Playcentre, home based care and early childhood centres having been an Assistant Manager, Operational Manager and Head Teacher. Maddie also has considerable experience working with adults, including being an Associate Teacher, leading workshops and mentoring learners for teacher registration. This interest in educational leadership has developed into a passion for Maddie, which she uses to help bring out the best in others and is an area that she would like to research further in the future.

Marjolein Whyte came to New Zealand from the Netherlands 27 years ago as a social worker, working for Barnardos foster care. She retrained as a primary school teacher and early childhood teacher through the University of Auckland. Marjolein has worked in the early childhood sector as a head teacher for over ten years and has been a lecturer with New Zealand Tertiary College for seven years. She has completed postgraduate papers and her master’s thesis with the University of Auckland in the areas of leadership, early development, literacy and research. Her master’s thesis was on parent involvement in assessment for learning in early childhood education.

Phoebe Tong is the Program Leader (Post Graduate) at New Zealand Tertiary College. She has been working in early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand for many years. Phoebe is a doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland and her research focuses on Chinese immigrants’ perspectives of becoming and being a teacher in Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood education. In her master’s thesis, she explores different understandings of childhood by engaging in stories in children’s literature. She is interested in childhood studies, children’s literature, child agency, initial teacher education and multicultural education.

Ra Keelan continues to lecture and assess within early childhood education for New Zealand Tertiary College, and is primarily involved in supporting student teachers in the areas of Te Ao Māori, bicultural and multicultural development, Treaty-based education, research and field practice. His current research interest focuses the incorporating of indigenous knowledge into modern education, and neuroscience relating to infants and toddlers.

Sanitra Deo is a lecturer at New Zealand Tertiary College and, prior to this, worked in the early childhood sector for over a decade. Sanitra holds a post graduate degree in education and is passionate about quality education for infants and toddlers and leadership in ECE.

Sean Dolan is the Academic Dean of New Zealand Tertiary College and the editor of HeKupu. 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, which was also the focus of the thesis for his PhD.

Trish Thomas has a background of teaching in the Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood sector, followed by over 20 years in early childhood teacher education with New Zealand Tertiary College. Trish has a Post Graduate Diploma in Child Advocacy and a Master in Education. Trish’s teaching experience and professional interests include culturally responsive early childhood education, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tiriti-based practice, child and family advocacy, and issues around equity and social justice.

Zahra Herrmann is a lecturer at New Zealand Tertiary College and, prior to this, worked in the early childhood sector as a teacher and manager for over 20 years. Zahra has worked with all early childhood age groups, including infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Zahra is passionate about child development with a focus on the social and emotional development of children. She has a Diploma in Montessori Education, a bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education, and a Master of Education.