He haerenga roa tēnei, kaua he kōkiri

This is a marathon, not a sprint

EPIT is for people and organisations interested in transformative educational outcomes that contribute to a more socially just world.

We are both a physical space and a digitally connected community where collaborations are formed, and non-traditional partnerships developed to address educational inequities.

EPIT supports a diverse range of perspectives and approaches. It brings people together from a range of backgrounds to share ideas, resources and expertise in order to address some of education’s greatest challenges.

Our Values

Our Partners

Our Board

Lorraine Mentz

Board Co-Chair

Lorraine is the Chief Executive of the Hugh Green Foundation. She is an experienced network leader who has built a strong reputation with public, private and Not for Profit organisations in New Zealand and abroad for effectively delivering large-scale projects from concept to actualisation.

Dr Hana O'Regan, ONZM

Board Co-Chair

Hana is the Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive Officer) at Tātai Aho Rau CORE Education. She has worked in the areas of language revitalisation, identity and cultural development, te reo Māori and education for over 25 years. Hana’s passion for education and community, history and equity has resulted in a career committed to working with organisations, businesses and individuals to support and enhance positive outcomes for learners and whānau.

Liz Gibbs

Trustee

Liz is the Chief Impact Officer at Selwyn Foundation. She is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the philanthropy and non-profit industry. Liz is highly skilled in leadership, global and local NGOs, Corporate Social Responsibility and partnerships, and Philanthropy. She is a strong business development professional with tuition from Harvard Business School.

Rob McIntosh

Trustee

For over 25 years, Rob has been involved in organisational and thought leadership in the education sector. A former Deputy Chief Executive in the Ministry of Education, Rob has been an independent adviser since 2012, undertaking strategy and policy projects for a range of New Zealand education organisations, and also internationally, including supporting Pacific education system development and as a member of the Global Education Leadership Partnership. Rob is currently an Adjunct Research Fellow in the Faculty of Education, Victoria University of Wellington.

Luella Linaker

Trustee

Luella is Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Awa and Fiji Indian. Born and raised in Manurewa by a solo dad, her upbringing in South Auckland fundamentally shaped the contours of her life. A career in the public sector was carved from a deep-seated drive to serve her community and change the system from within. Luella is relationships driven, a strategic thinker and clear communicator who looks beyond issues and uses design to enable people to create their own solutions to challenges or pathways to aspirations. Luella is currently CEO of the Pride Project Aotearoa.

Debbie Burrows

Trustee

Debbie has more than 10 years governance experience and is currently the Deputy Chair of Maungakiekie Tamaki Local Board and an Auckland District Licensing Committee Chair. She is a business leader with over 20 years’ experience in senior management in a wide range of sectors, most recently as CEO of a kaupapa Māori not-for-profit organisation delivering education outcomes. Debbie is a vocal advocate for equity and inclusion and is passionate about a future Aotearoa where everyone has the resources and opportunities to be the best that they can be.

Our Team

Dr Tim Gander

Executive Director

Tim was the Postgraduate Director at AcademyEX (formerly The Mind Lab). He is an experienced educator who has been collaborating with teachers on practice-based research in Aotearoa for over ten years. He is an advocate of equitable and thoughtful technology integration in education. Tim is the founder of the peer-reviewed academic journal 'He Rourou', which shares practitioner-based knowledge and research. He also hosts the 'Impact Series' podcast on innovation and change. No stranger to learning, Tim has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Exeter, a Master of Education from Massey University, and a PhD from the University of Southern Queensland.

Dr Louise Taylor

Evaluation Advisor

Louise is a social researcher specialising in participatory action research and creative methodologies. She has a PhD in teacher professional learning / development facilitation. Louise also has experience in the tertiary education sector working with teachers and educational leaders to support and grow innovation and equity in their settings.

Nischal Chakravarthy

Community and Engagement Manager

Nish oversees the EPIT partner community, responsible for the co-working space and online community development, as well as EPIT events. He is a strong advocate for community voice and an experienced practitioner in the area of systems change and innovation.

Ineke van der Merwe

Office Administrator

Ineke supports the core team, oversees the day-to-day operations of the shared co-working space and manages our events. She has extensive experience in customer service, sales and event management.

Dr Lynette Reid

Researcher

Lynette has over 20 years’ experience in the education and careers field. A published author, Lynette’s work focuses on career pathways and development as a transdisciplinary field, which has the potential to understand relationships, identity, thoughts, and actions, to inform and illuminate the shifts and moves we make across our life.