Our board
Tracey Bridges | Chair
Tracey is a professional director and social entrepreneur with a background in strategy, leadership and behaviour change.
She is a co-founder and director of The Good Registry, a social enterprise that directs consumer spending on gifts towards good causes, and a co-founder and former owner of trans-Tasman communications consultancy business SenateSHJ. Her governance portfolio includes serving as Chair of the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency, and as a member of the boards of Whānau Āwhina Plunket, WELLfed Charitable Trust, the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust, and the Digital Media Trust. She is a volunteer adult literacy tutor, and a member of the Inclusive Aotearoa Collective.
Lyn Provost | Board member
Lyn Provost was Controller and Auditor-General from October 2009 until 2017. From 2001 to 2009 she was the first female and civilian Deputy Commissioner of New Zealand Police. Lyn recently completed a six year term on the International Auditing and Assurance Board. In 2016 she received the Global category award in the nationwide Women of Influence awards. In 2017, as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours List, Lyn was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the State.
Daniel Wilson | Board Member
Daniel Wilson started his career in Auckland as a music teacher. After positions at several schools in Auckland and London, Daniel was appointed to the Leadership team at Manurewa High School in 2007, firstly as Deputy, then Associate Principal.
In 2015, Daniel moved to Nelson to take up the position of Principal at Nayland College. Daniel has extensive knowledge of International education from a secondary perspective, with Nayland College hosting approximately 80 international students from around the globe in 2020. Daniel also has a very good understanding of a range of markets and marketing approaches, having overseen a 40% increase in International numbers since joining Nayland College.
As well as leading Nayland College, Daniel is also the Lead Principal and Governance Chairperson for the Top of the South Trades Academy. He has also acted as a Regional Engagement Lead for the recent National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) review. Over the years Daniel has, and continues to work with various national and regional advisory groups. In his spare time Daniel is an accomplished brass musician, playing trombone in a variety of musical groups around Nelson and serving as President of Nelson City Brass.
Ziena Jalil | Board Member
Formerly an international student, Ziena is an award-winning business and public sector leader, focused on deepening New Zealand’s engagement with the Asia Pacific, and improving outcomes for those with diverse cultures, abilities and experiences. She is Chief of Staff at Te Pūkenga, and a board member for Education New Zealand, Toka Tū Ake Earthquake Commission, Asia New Zealand Foundation and DNA.
Recognised by Campaign Asia Pacific as part of its 2020 Women to Watch, a group of 40 outstanding women in the Asia Pacific, Ziena is a sought after MC and facilitator, and a keynote speaker on leadership, Asia business, international education, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
A former New Zealand Trade Commissioner to Singapore, Ziena has received several international awards for her work promoting New Zealand trade and education in Asia, where she was based in various roles for 10 years.
A member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, Global Women and Asia 21, she holds a Master of Arts (First Class Hons) in International Relations and Politics, a Bachelor of Communication Studies, and Diploma of International Trade.
Dr Therese Arseneau | Board Member
Dr Therese Arseneau has wide ranging governance experience including as Chair of the Board of ChristchurchNZ, Ara Institute of Canterbury, Regenerate Christchurch and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra; and as a Director of J Ballantyne Company Ltd, The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Ltd, Enterprise North Canterbury and the Social Sciences Research Council of Canada.
Therese has over 30 years’ experience in the tertiary education sector, including as a university lecturer in Canada and New Zealand. A specialist in elections and New Zealand politics, she is currently an Adjunct Senior Fellow in Political Science at the University of Canterbury and in 2011 she received a UC Teaching Award for excellence in teaching. Therese holds a DPhil and MPhil from the University of Oxford, which she attended as an international student and Commonwealth Scholar.
Tony Gray | Board Member
Tony Gray has had a career in education spanning over 37 years across New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Tony is a former Chief Executive of NMIT and Ara Institute of Technology.
He is currently the Chief Executive of Nelson Tasman Hospice Trust. His governence portfolio includes Chair of the Tertiary Accord of New Zealand, where he worked towards establishing a shared online learning platform across member institutes. In 2023, Tony was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to education.
Dr Linda Sissons | Board Member
Dr Sissons has considerable experience in the tertiary and vocational education sector. Previously she was Chief Executive for the Universal College of Learning (UCOL), Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, Wellington Institute of Technology, Hutt Valley Polytechnic and Primary ITO. She was also a member of the NZIST Establishment Board from 2019 to 2020.
Recently, she completed two terms as Chair of the Board of Governors of Commonwealth of Learning, an intergovernmental agency delivering technology-mediated learning for sustainable development throughout the Commonwealth.
In 2006, Dr Sissons was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to tertiary education.