The Professional Advisory Group was established in September 2018 to work alongside the now-disestablished Ministerial Advisory Group to provide advice to the Minister of Education and the Ministry of Education on the NCEA Review.
The Professional Advisory Group comprises current and former principals with technical expertise and deep knowledge of the sector.
Patrick Gale (Chair)
Patrick Gale has been Principal of Rangitoto College since 2017. Prior to this role he was Principal of Kaipara College. Patrick trained as a teacher and began his teaching career in the United Kingdom before being awarded a scholarship to undertake a year-long education exchange to New Zealand, swapping roles with the now Principal of Rosmini College in Auckland. Following this exchange Patrick was later offered a position at Rosmini College and relocated to New Zealand, eventually becoming Associate Headmaster. Patrick has previously served on the Expert Advisory Group for the Education Review Office and is an active member of the North Harbour Principals and Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand (SPANZ). Patrick holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership which he completed in 2016.
Louise Ānaru-Tangira
Louise Ānaru-Tangira MNZM was appointed to the Professional Advisory Group in 2018. Louise, of Ngā Puhi and Te Rarawa descent, is Principal of Kaitāia College as well as the Vice-President of the Secondary Principals’ Association of NZ (SPANZ). She was formerly Principal at Flaxmere College - Te Kareti o Paharakeke and Lead Principal of her local Community of Learning - Te Waka o Māramatanga Kāhui Ako. Under her leadership, Flaxmere College saw significant increases in NCEA Level 2 and 3 attainment between 2014 and 2016 and in 2018 won the Supreme Award at the Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards. Louise has since served as a judge for these awards. She was actively involved in the National Aspiring Principals Programme and First-Time Principals Programme and is currently a Beginning Principal Mentor. Louise sits on the Expert Panel for the Teaching Council Campaign ‘Unteach Racism’ as well as several other Expert Advisory Groups. Louise was awarded the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award in 2013 and the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Education in 2021.
Vaughan Couillault
Vaughan Couillault is Principal of Papatoetoe High School, a position he has held since early 2016. Vaughan currently serves as President of the Secondary Principals' Association of New Zealand (SPANZ), which he is representing in the Professional Advisory Group. Vaughan has held the position of Treasurer for the Counties Manukau Secondary Principals’ Association since 2016, after serving 2 years as Chair. Prior to his current role, Vaughan has held roles as a teacher (Commerce), a Dean, a Head of Department (Commerce), a Deputy Principal, and an Associate Principal in a range of schools in Auckland. Vaughan has also been involved in external marking panels, held materials development contracts for NCEA implementation, written external exams and resources for the NZ Commerce and Economics Teachers Association (NZCETA), and authored study guides. Vaughan holds a Postgraduate Diploma in School Management and a Master's degree in Education Leadership.
Sarah Davis
Sarah Davis has been Principal of Rotorua Girls’ High School, a state all-girls’ school in the Bay of Plenty, since 2019. Prior to this she was Principal of Timaru Girls’ High School in South Canterbury from 2011-2019. She has had experience in senior leadership in two other state girls’ schools since 2000. Before this, Sarah taught in large co-educational schools, all-boys’ schools, and in the independent school system. Sarah has a teaching background in Geography, History, and Social Studies. She sits on the Bay of Plenty Principals Management Group.
Campbell Dewes
Campbell Dewes is a foundation parent, kaiako, and now Tumuaki of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa mai Tawhiti, having worked there since 2002. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa mai Tawhiti has NCEA Level 2 and 3 attainment rates which significantly exceed the average for decile 1 and Gisborne schools. Campbell is of Ngāti Porou and Te Arawa descent. Campbell is the representative on the Professional Advisory Group for Te Rūnanga Nui. He has been a principal since 2006 and is a strong advocate for Kura Kaupapa Māori Te Aho Matua. Campbell previously served in the NCEA Professional Advisory Group from 2018-2024.
David Ferguson
David Ferguson has been Headmaster of Westlake Boys High School since 2010. David is an active member of a number of organisations including being Chairperson of the International Boys’ Schools Coalition Board, Deputy Chair of College Sport Auckland and former Head of The Association of Boys’ Schools of New Zealand. He is also Chairperson of the Teachers’ Institute Board. The Teachers’ Institute is a trust made up of Auckland schools offering a school-based training pathway for new teachers. David returns to the Professional Advisory Group after being a member from 2018-2021.
Scott Haines
Scott Haines is Principal of Burnside High School and has held the position since 2023. He has previously been Principal of Waimea College and Motueka High School. In 2006 Scott was a recipient of the NEiTA Foundation National Excellence in Teaching Award. Scott has been elected to the Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand (SPANZ) Executive from 2015, and the Vice-President since 2019. He has also been National President of the SPANZ Union since 2019. From 2014-2015 Scott was selected as an Expert Panel Member for the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence awards. Scott previously served as a member of the Ministerial Cross Sector Forum on Raising Student Achievement, was involved with various NZQA panels for previous reviews of NCEA, and was part of a Business Studies Unit Standards writing group.
Steven Hargreaves
Steven Hargreaves has been a member of the Professional Advisory Group since 2021. Steven is Principal of Macleans College, a high-decile Auckland school, and has held this position since 2018. Prior to this role, he served as Principal of Wesley College from 2015-2017. Macleans College is known for offering Cambridge International Examinations as well as NCEA and caters to a large international student market. Since 2020, Year 11 students at Macleans College have studied a school-designed curriculum and been assessed by school-based exams. Steven served as President of the Auckland Secondary School Principals' Association (ASSPA) from 2020-2022 and is currently Chairperson of ASB Polyfest. He also serves as a Board Member for both Schools International Education Business Association (SIEBA) and the Association of Cambridge Schools New Zealand.
Alistair Luke
Alistair Luke is Principal of Whangamata Area School, a position he has held since the beginning of 2017. Under his leadership, Whangamata Area School has enjoyed a significant role growth of over 40 per cent as well as consistently improved NCEA results, culminating in University Entrance pass rates for 2023 being over 30 per cent above the national average. He was previously a member of the Regional Change Team managing the process of communicating changes to NCEA to various stakeholders in the Waikato region. Alistair is Chairperson of the Central North Island Secondary Principals’ Association (CNISPA) and has sat on several appointment committees, including for Regional Director of Education (Waikato), and assisting several local schools with Principal appointments.
Steve McCracken
Steve McCracken, of Ngai Te Rangi descent, is Principal of Whangaparāoa College, a position he has held since 2021. As a member of the Professional Advisory Group, Steve is representing The Secondary Principals’ Council of New Zealand (NZSPC) and The New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA). Steve trained as a physical education teacher at the University of Waikato, holds a postgraduate diploma in educational leadership and management, and is nearing completion of his Masters in Secondary School Leadership. He spent 12 years teaching at Westlake Boys High School before becoming Principal at Kaipara College in 2017 and then Whangaparāoa College. Under his leadership, Whangaparāoa college has seen significant improvements in student achievement and well-being, driven by his commitment to integrating technology in the classroom and his dedication to the school's strategic goals.
Samantha Mortimer
Samantha Mortimer has been Principal at Greymouth High School since 2021. Before this role, Samantha served as Deputy Principal, as well as a number of other roles, at Te Aroha College for 13 years. She obtained her BA from Radford University in Virginia, USA, and completed her Masters degree and teaching qualification at Exeter University, United Kingdom. With experience of the education sector and teaching in multiple countries, Samantha began her teaching career in Manchester, United Kingdom before returning to New Zealand and joining Te Aroha College. She completed her Masters of Educational Leadership at the University of Waikato. Samantha currently represents Nelson, Marlborough, and West Coast on the Secondary Principals' Council. Previously, Samantha was part of the Ministry of Education's Te Rito working party and the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) ICT advisory committee.
Roger Moses
Roger Moses CNZM is an Education Consultant and previously served as Headmaster of Wellington College from 1995-2018. During his time as headmaster, he was a member of the Greater Wellington Secondary Schools Principals' Association, an executive of SPANZ and, for nine years, chairperson of the Association of Boys' Schools of New Zealand. In 2001, Roger was awarded a Woolf Fisher Scholarship which enabled him to travel and research schools in the United States and England. In 2009, he was awarded an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) and in 2020 awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to education. In 2015, he was chosen as Wellingtonian of the Year (in education). Roger previously served in the NCEA Professional Advisory Group from 2018-2024, holding the position of Chairperson from 2018-2021.
Sophie Tukukino
Sophie Tukukino is of Ngāti Tamaterā, Rongomaiwahine, and Ngāti Kahungunu descent. Sophie is a member of the Professional Advisory Group representing Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa (NKAI), where she holds the position of Pou Whanake | Technical Director. Sophie was formerly Tumuaki of Te Kura Māori o Porirua since its establishment in 2001 up to 2021. She has mentored new and aspiring tumuaki and has designed and implemented successful bilingual and immersion programmes in wānanga, kura ā iwi, and general stream schools. Sophie is an active member of NKAI and has served on a number of boards and committees, including Te Akatea (New Zealand Māori Principals' Association), the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI Te Riu Roa), and Ngā Manu Kōrero regional and national committees.
Andrew Turner
Andrew Turner is Principal of Tauranga Boys’ College, a position he has held since 2022. Prior to this role, Andrew was Principal of Gisborne Boys’ High School and Lead Principal for Turanganui a Kiwa Kahui Ako (Gisborne). Andrew has experience in teaching English, Drama, and Music as well as holding a number of other school leadership roles all across New Zealand from Dunedin to Tauranga. He also became Secretary of the Association of Boys’ Schools (ABSNZ) in 2024. In 2010 Andrew was a nominee for New Zealander of the Year and recipient of the Local Hero Award.
The Professional Advisory Group was established in September 2018 to work alongside the now-disestablished Ministerial Advisory Group to provide advice to the Minister of Education and the Ministry of Education on the NCEA Review.
The Professional Advisory Group comprises current and former principals with technical expertise and deep knowledge of the sector.
Patrick Gale (Chair)
Patrick Gale has been Principal of Rangitoto College since 2017. Prior to this role he was Principal of Kaipara College. Patrick trained as a teacher and began his teaching career in the United Kingdom before being awarded a scholarship to undertake a year-long education exchange to New Zealand, swapping roles with the now Principal of Rosmini College in Auckland. Following this exchange Patrick was later offered a position at Rosmini College and relocated to New Zealand, eventually becoming Associate Headmaster. Patrick has previously served on the Expert Advisory Group for the Education Review Office and is an active member of the North Harbour Principals and Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand (SPANZ). Patrick holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership which he completed in 2016.
Louise Ānaru-Tangira
Louise Ānaru-Tangira MNZM was appointed to the Professional Advisory Group in 2018. Louise, of Ngā Puhi and Te Rarawa descent, is Principal of Kaitāia College as well as the Vice-President of the Secondary Principals’ Association of NZ (SPANZ). She was formerly Principal at Flaxmere College - Te Kareti o Paharakeke and Lead Principal of her local Community of Learning - Te Waka o Māramatanga Kāhui Ako. Under her leadership, Flaxmere College saw significant increases in NCEA Level 2 and 3 attainment between 2014 and 2016 and in 2018 won the Supreme Award at the Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards. Louise has since served as a judge for these awards. She was actively involved in the National Aspiring Principals Programme and First-Time Principals Programme and is currently a Beginning Principal Mentor. Louise sits on the Expert Panel for the Teaching Council Campaign ‘Unteach Racism’ as well as several other Expert Advisory Groups. Louise was awarded the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award in 2013 and the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Education in 2021.
Vaughan Couillault
Vaughan Couillault is Principal of Papatoetoe High School, a position he has held since early 2016. Vaughan currently serves as President of the Secondary Principals' Association of New Zealand (SPANZ), which he is representing in the Professional Advisory Group. Vaughan has held the position of Treasurer for the Counties Manukau Secondary Principals’ Association since 2016, after serving 2 years as Chair. Prior to his current role, Vaughan has held roles as a teacher (Commerce), a Dean, a Head of Department (Commerce), a Deputy Principal, and an Associate Principal in a range of schools in Auckland. Vaughan has also been involved in external marking panels, held materials development contracts for NCEA implementation, written external exams and resources for the NZ Commerce and Economics Teachers Association (NZCETA), and authored study guides. Vaughan holds a Postgraduate Diploma in School Management and a Master's degree in Education Leadership.
Sarah Davis
Sarah Davis has been Principal of Rotorua Girls’ High School, a state all-girls’ school in the Bay of Plenty, since 2019. Prior to this she was Principal of Timaru Girls’ High School in South Canterbury from 2011-2019. She has had experience in senior leadership in two other state girls’ schools since 2000. Before this, Sarah taught in large co-educational schools, all-boys’ schools, and in the independent school system. Sarah has a teaching background in Geography, History, and Social Studies. She sits on the Bay of Plenty Principals Management Group.
Campbell Dewes
Campbell Dewes is a foundation parent, kaiako, and now Tumuaki of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa mai Tawhiti, having worked there since 2002. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa mai Tawhiti has NCEA Level 2 and 3 attainment rates which significantly exceed the average for decile 1 and Gisborne schools. Campbell is of Ngāti Porou and Te Arawa descent. Campbell is the representative on the Professional Advisory Group for Te Rūnanga Nui. He has been a principal since 2006 and is a strong advocate for Kura Kaupapa Māori Te Aho Matua. Campbell previously served in the NCEA Professional Advisory Group from 2018-2024.
David Ferguson
David Ferguson has been Headmaster of Westlake Boys High School since 2010. David is an active member of a number of organisations including being Chairperson of the International Boys’ Schools Coalition Board, Deputy Chair of College Sport Auckland and former Head of The Association of Boys’ Schools of New Zealand. He is also Chairperson of the Teachers’ Institute Board. The Teachers’ Institute is a trust made up of Auckland schools offering a school-based training pathway for new teachers. David returns to the Professional Advisory Group after being a member from 2018-2021.
Scott Haines
Scott Haines is Principal of Burnside High School and has held the position since 2023. He has previously been Principal of Waimea College and Motueka High School. In 2006 Scott was a recipient of the NEiTA Foundation National Excellence in Teaching Award. Scott has been elected to the Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand (SPANZ) Executive from 2015, and the Vice-President since 2019. He has also been National President of the SPANZ Union since 2019. From 2014-2015 Scott was selected as an Expert Panel Member for the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence awards. Scott previously served as a member of the Ministerial Cross Sector Forum on Raising Student Achievement, was involved with various NZQA panels for previous reviews of NCEA, and was part of a Business Studies Unit Standards writing group.
Steven Hargreaves
Steven Hargreaves has been a member of the Professional Advisory Group since 2021. Steven is Principal of Macleans College, a high-decile Auckland school, and has held this position since 2018. Prior to this role, he served as Principal of Wesley College from 2015-2017. Macleans College is known for offering Cambridge International Examinations as well as NCEA and caters to a large international student market. Since 2020, Year 11 students at Macleans College have studied a school-designed curriculum and been assessed by school-based exams. Steven served as President of the Auckland Secondary School Principals' Association (ASSPA) from 2020-2022 and is currently Chairperson of ASB Polyfest. He also serves as a Board Member for both Schools International Education Business Association (SIEBA) and the Association of Cambridge Schools New Zealand.
Alistair Luke
Alistair Luke is Principal of Whangamata Area School, a position he has held since the beginning of 2017. Under his leadership, Whangamata Area School has enjoyed a significant role growth of over 40 per cent as well as consistently improved NCEA results, culminating in University Entrance pass rates for 2023 being over 30 per cent above the national average. He was previously a member of the Regional Change Team managing the process of communicating changes to NCEA to various stakeholders in the Waikato region. Alistair is Chairperson of the Central North Island Secondary Principals’ Association (CNISPA) and has sat on several appointment committees, including for Regional Director of Education (Waikato), and assisting several local schools with Principal appointments.
Steve McCracken
Steve McCracken, of Ngai Te Rangi descent, is Principal of Whangaparāoa College, a position he has held since 2021. As a member of the Professional Advisory Group, Steve is representing The Secondary Principals’ Council of New Zealand (NZSPC) and The New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA). Steve trained as a physical education teacher at the University of Waikato, holds a postgraduate diploma in educational leadership and management, and is nearing completion of his Masters in Secondary School Leadership. He spent 12 years teaching at Westlake Boys High School before becoming Principal at Kaipara College in 2017 and then Whangaparāoa College. Under his leadership, Whangaparāoa college has seen significant improvements in student achievement and well-being, driven by his commitment to integrating technology in the classroom and his dedication to the school's strategic goals.
Samantha Mortimer
Samantha Mortimer has been Principal at Greymouth High School since 2021. Before this role, Samantha served as Deputy Principal, as well as a number of other roles, at Te Aroha College for 13 years. She obtained her BA from Radford University in Virginia, USA, and completed her Masters degree and teaching qualification at Exeter University, United Kingdom. With experience of the education sector and teaching in multiple countries, Samantha began her teaching career in Manchester, United Kingdom before returning to New Zealand and joining Te Aroha College. She completed her Masters of Educational Leadership at the University of Waikato. Samantha currently represents Nelson, Marlborough, and West Coast on the Secondary Principals' Council. Previously, Samantha was part of the Ministry of Education's Te Rito working party and the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) ICT advisory committee.
Roger Moses
Roger Moses CNZM is an Education Consultant and previously served as Headmaster of Wellington College from 1995-2018. During his time as headmaster, he was a member of the Greater Wellington Secondary Schools Principals' Association, an executive of SPANZ and, for nine years, chairperson of the Association of Boys' Schools of New Zealand. In 2001, Roger was awarded a Woolf Fisher Scholarship which enabled him to travel and research schools in the United States and England. In 2009, he was awarded an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) and in 2020 awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to education. In 2015, he was chosen as Wellingtonian of the Year (in education). Roger previously served in the NCEA Professional Advisory Group from 2018-2024, holding the position of Chairperson from 2018-2021.
Sophie Tukukino
Sophie Tukukino is of Ngāti Tamaterā, Rongomaiwahine, and Ngāti Kahungunu descent. Sophie is a member of the Professional Advisory Group representing Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa (NKAI), where she holds the position of Pou Whanake | Technical Director. Sophie was formerly Tumuaki of Te Kura Māori o Porirua since its establishment in 2001 up to 2021. She has mentored new and aspiring tumuaki and has designed and implemented successful bilingual and immersion programmes in wānanga, kura ā iwi, and general stream schools. Sophie is an active member of NKAI and has served on a number of boards and committees, including Te Akatea (New Zealand Māori Principals' Association), the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI Te Riu Roa), and Ngā Manu Kōrero regional and national committees.
Andrew Turner
Andrew Turner is Principal of Tauranga Boys’ College, a position he has held since 2022. Prior to this role, Andrew was Principal of Gisborne Boys’ High School and Lead Principal for Turanganui a Kiwa Kahui Ako (Gisborne). Andrew has experience in teaching English, Drama, and Music as well as holding a number of other school leadership roles all across New Zealand from Dunedin to Tauranga. He also became Secretary of the Association of Boys’ Schools (ABSNZ) in 2024. In 2010 Andrew was a nominee for New Zealander of the Year and recipient of the Local Hero Award.