Our Associates

Brenda was Principal of a decile two full Catholic Primary School. During that time she implemented major changes in curriculum design and development, strategic planning, school review, professional learning and development, performance management and appraisal systems. She successfully led her school through two outstanding ERO reviews, both with 4-5 year return times. An unrelenting focus on promoting student progress and achievement was a feature of the school.

Brenda has hosted visiting Australian Principals for the Centre for Educational Leadership, with a focus on 'Gaining and sustaining literacy improvements in a multi-cultural school'. She has lectured 3rd year B. Ed teacher trainees on the challenges and rewards of teaching and has had mediation and mentoring experience.

Her involvement in education spans thirty years and included teaching leadership studies and presenting at conferences for the NZ Playcentre Federation. Brenda was Head of a Year 7 and 8 Department and Director of School Organization in a decile 9 Secondary College.

Brenda is an experienced Principal who brings a deep insight into high quality professional leadership, informed by sound research. She is able to assist primary schools in the following ways:

Chris Faisandier is Ahead Associates' Australian-based associate. He was appointed principal at Kincoppal-Rose Bay in Sydney (www.krb.nsw.edu.au) in 1991, serving for 14 years, and prior to this was principal of Sacred Heart College in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

As principal of Kincoppal-Rose Bay Chris led a major change initiative in terms of school growth, academic achievement, the provision of a wider curriculum and a major building programme.

As well as an interest in globalisation and its particular impact on young people and education, Chris was involved in the promotion and marketing of schools internationally for over fifteen years. In 2005 he initiated major research into the attitudes of students and families to boarding in Australian boarding schools. Recent assignments have included the establishment of the Australian International School in Saigon (www.aisvietnam.com) and preliminary planning for the establishment of a similar school in southern India and further Schools throughout Vietnam. He was the foundation Director of the Japanese financed Global Career Academy in Sydney (www.gca.com) and has consulted to the UK-based company Cognita. For three years he was Director of Business Development in Education for Musica Viva (www.musicaviva.org.au).

From 2014 to 2016 he facilitated a comprehensive project of strategic and facilities master planning for Bethlehem University in Palestine and following that undertook a two year project for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish a STEM school in Virginia, DC catering for 1200 students from the Muslim community there (www.kaa-herndon.com).

He is currently Director of Education Planning for the Al Wedyan new city project, Riyadh, on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia.

Clients have included: AIS Ltd., Hong Kong; The Victorian Department of Education & Training; Global Career Academy (Aus/Japan); Musica Viva Australia; Bethlehem University Palestine; The Velammal Group of Schools & Universities, India; Cognita Coy Ltd., UK; Risallah College, Sydney and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Chris received the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2016 Honour List for services to education.

Morag's experience of school leadership and governance in the Auckland region has been substantial and successful. She was a member of the leadership team of Rutherford College in West Auckland, before joining Howick College as Second Principal for nine years. In 2005 she was appointed Principal of Green Bay High School, implementing a period of significant school transformation and successfully growing the confidence of the community in its local secondary school.

Morag's leadership extended to Lead Principal of the local Kāhui Ako, working extensively with local primary and intermediate principals in the Green Bay-Titirangi area. Her belief in the importance and value of collaborative leadership practice was reinforced by this experience. She has presented her learnings in this area in a number of forums. In addition, she has been responsible for overseeing the provision of alternative education for identified high school students in West Auckland, a complex and demanding area for all school leaders.

Alongside this Morag has been actively involved in a wide range of other related roles -- Chair of Sports Waitakere, College Sport Board Member, the Auckland Secondary Principals' Association Executive and the Achieving @ Waitakere Trust. She has worked in a leadership capacity on a number of strategic review projects within a variety of organisations linked to education.

She is keen to use her expertise alongside, and in support of, current educational leaders and their boards. Sound research and evidence based practice are central to her approach, while always prioritizing the importance of building professional relationships based on trust. She is able to provide assistance in relation to:

Eileen Henderson is a secondary school science teacher who has taught in a wide variety of schools from large state schools (Linwood High School) to small private schools (Cottesmore College), in diverse locations throughout New Zealand (Rangitikei College, Paraparaumu College, Marlborough Girls' College). She changed careers after completing a further degree in psychology and economics.

In 1989 Eileen joined an Australasian consulting company, Bicam Consulting, to extend its training area. In 1994 she set up her own consulting practice, specialising in the area of human resources and organisation development. She has consulted to a wide range of organisations, including schools. Assignments have included the assessment and development of principals, including developing a competency framework and 360-degree feedback survey tool; being keynote speaker at a 2003 deputy principals' conference on developing careers in the 21st century, and facilitating planning sessions and change management workshops in the education sector.

Eileen's work has involved her in very diverse areas, including psychological assessment of short-list candidates to aid selection and career development; the selection and development of teams; leadership coaching and competency development; change management; stress management and coping strategies; the development and delivery of tailored training programmes; organisational culture profiling, and survey design and analysis.

A few years ago Eileen completed an MSc in Industrial and Organisational Psychology. Her thesis was based on research into organisational culture using quantitative measurement techniques (Structural Equation Modelling), and an investigation of the impact of cultural dimensions on organisational commitment and job satisfaction.

Carol has had wide and substantial leadership experience in a variety of educational settings. Prior to her appointment as Principal of St Dominic's College in Henderson Carol was the Deputy Principal responsible for pastoral care, timetable, and staff welfare at McAuley High School in Otahuhu for eight years.

At St Dominic's College she built a high-achieving, successful school, through implementing structural change within the senior leadership team, developing responsibilities and a collaborative leadership model throughout the college. This included working with teaching staff and Faculty Leaders to review curriculum areas and implement developments that led to substantially improved academic results that in turn resulted in substantial roll growth.

During her time as Principal at St Dominic's College Carol also served as Chairperson of the Auckland Catholic Secondary Principals Association for six years. She was also a member of the National Catholic Secondary Principals' Executive Committee and Chairperson of the Waitakere Principals Association. During this time, she was responsible for working with her colleagues to advance education in Auckland through professional leadership, support and advocacy.

Another role Carol undertook was as a mentor for first time Principals and as a Principal appraiser.

Following on from principalship, Carol was appointed Deputy CEO of the NZ Catholic Education Office and the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools. This role involved working with schools and with their Proprietors, on national issues, national policies and acting in a liaison role between many different educational agencies.

She joined the Education Review Office as an Evaluation Partner in 2020 and was responsible for developing evaluation partnerships with principals and schools in Auckland and in Northland.

Carol brings to her role with Ahead Associates:

• Her successful experience as an Evaluation Partner with ERO working with principals to develop an evaluation focus based on the new ERO model of school evaluation.
• Her extensive involvement with boards of trustees since 1987, in senior management roles, as a principal and Evaluation partner at ERO
• Her current, first-hand knowledge of the principal appraisal process.

Carol's main areas of interest and expertise include -- promoting inclusivity, developing leadership capability, improving student achievement, mentoring principals and deputy principals. She is able to work in an advisory capacity with senior leadership and Boards in:

Jane has recently completed sixteen years as a principal in two Auckland Catholic Primary schools. Her leadership style and commitment to building a positive school culture, evidence-based decision making, continuous improvement and a clear focus on ākonga learning and achievement resulted in successful tenures in these kura.

Jane's extensive experience in education also includes three years as Co-Lead Principal of the Auckland Central Catholic Kāhui Ako, comprising four secondary schools and eleven primary schools in central Auckland. She also served as President of the Auckland Catholic Primary Principals' Association for two years. She believes strongly that collaboration and shared practice within the education system increases the effectiveness of both leaders and teachers and encourages school development.

Three years working in schooling improvement with the Ministry of Education as a Literacy Development Officer, and two years' employment as a Numeracy Facilitator have given Jane extensive knowledge and understanding of curriculum development and strategic planning for change. An MEd (Honours) thesis focused on the use of student achievement data to inform decision-making at all levels of school operation further developed her expertise in leading sustainable change in schools.

Jane is able to support schools in the following ways: