Russell Bishop is foundation Professor for Máori Education in the School of Education at the University of Waikato. He is also an experienced secondary school teacher.
Prior to his role at the University of Waikato, he was a senior lecturer in Máori Education in the Education Department at the University of Otago and Interim Director for Otago University's Teacher Education programme.
His research experience in the area of collaborative storying as Kaupapa Máori, has given rise to national and international publishing including the books Collaborative Research Stories: Whakawhanaungatanga, Culture Counts: Changing Power Relationships in Classrooms, Pathologising Practices,Culture Speaks and in 2010 Scaling Up Education Reform.
This research has also informed the highly successful professional development programme Te Kotahitanga.
Kara has proven research and analytical skills in a range of settings with experience in both qualitative and quantitative research. She now applies these skills to support large and small organisations, in a range of settings and sectors to design and implement sustainable ‘fit-for-purpose’ self-monitoring and evaluation systems.
Kara’s workshop will explore the key dimensions to be considered when seeking to maximise the effectiveness of evaluative self-assessment as a quality enhancement and development tool across the whole organisation. The workshop will be of equal value to both managers, heads of programmes, and individual practitioners for gaining a better understanding of the potential for self-assessment in supporting their own work, and as an overview of the whole evaluative process.
In their workshop Riki and Josiah will explore approaches to engaging Pasifika youth in the democratic process with a particular focus on the role of decision making in encouraging youth participation.
Claire Douglas is Deputy Secretary, Graduate Achievement, Vocations and Careers at the Ministry of Education.
The Graduate Achievement, Vocations and Careers Group is responsible for tertiary education strategy, policy, sector performance analysis, youth guarantee and vocational pathways, and international education.
Claire has held a number of policy leadership roles in central government on education policy matters including at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Claire has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Victoria University and an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Science.
Anne works as a researcher and evaluator. She has an interest in adult learning and the impact it has on those who participate in programmes. She has conducted a number of research projects with learners in workplace, community and tertiary education settings.
Anne’s workshop explores what happens to learners who participate in ACE funded ESOL programmes. It is based on research conducted with learners and focuses on the economic, social and wellbeing outcomes they have achieved and how this enables them to participate fully in their communities.