ECC Conference 2025

Programme

View our exciting line up of keynote speakers, interactive workshops, a panel and exciting activities around Rotorua. Click through the sessions in the agenda below for more information. Please note that our programme has been confirmed but is subject to change.

Download PDF Download PDF (full session information)

Our Keynote Speakers

Miraka Davies

Part rockstar, part wordsmith, 100% badass, Miraka teaches others how to break all the rules and give themselves the permission to live their wildest dreams.

Kevin Biggar

Kevin provides managers and teams with the attitudes and techniques to help them take on their own tough challenges, cope with change, stay motivated and deal with setbacks.

Derek Wenmoth

Derek is regarded as one of NZ’s foremost Future Focused thinkers in education. He works extensively with educators across all sectors to prepare students for the future.

Mita Bedi

Mita is a Customer Experience Specialist, thought leader, CEO, and Co-Founder of Resonate CX. Mita leads transformational programs that increase revenue and competitive advantage.

Ana Ivanovic-Tongue

Ana is passionate about helping people with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in a world of constant motion. She supports businesses and government to remain relevant with skills, knowledge and confidence in a world driven by AI-transformation.

Hon David Seymour

Hon David Seymour is Leader of the ACT Party and the Minister of Regulation and the Associate Minister of Health (Pharmac), Finance, and Education (Partnership Schools)

Workshop Programme

Bridgit Williams
"Inspiring Excellence: How to Lead Learning in ECE Teams"

Bridgit has been a professional learning facilitator and mentor since 2008, previously with EC Professional Support at the University of Auckland. She led the team of facilitators there from 2012 until the team was disestablished in early 2015. Bridgit has supported a diverse range of centres and organisations to improve and enhance teacher capability with a view to improving learning outcomes for children. She has a particular passion for supporting teams through meaningful internal evaluation to improve practice. Bridgit also appraises fully certificated teachers and centre managers. She is a skilled facilitator and a qualified, fully certificated early childhood teacher with a diverse range of experience in the early childhood sector. She has taught in private and community based centres, and has been an early intervention teacher and hospital play specialist. She believes effective leadership and ongoing professional learning are key to improving quality in early childhood education.

Chelsea Bracefield
"Professional Learning Resources"

Chelsea is the Academic People and Partnerships Manager at New Zealand Tertiary College connecting the academic team with the sector to strengthen whanaungatanga. Before working in tertiary education, Chelsea worked as a Kaiako in ECE and has recently completed her Master of Education, focusing on provisionally certificated kaiako understanding of the learning outcomes of Te Whāriki.

ERO: Lisa Oldridge & Sandra Collins
"Quality Improvement Framework"

This workshop will be presented by the Education Review Office, exclusively for the ECC Conference 2025. Your faciliators are Lisa Oldridge, Director Early Childhood Education and Sandra Collins, Methodology Lead.

Grant Rix
"Nurturing Wellbeing: Mindfulness for Early Childhood Educators"

Grant Rix is the author of Pause Breathe Smile, Aotearoa’s original, homegrown mindfulness in schools programme, now implemented in over 500 schools nationwide. With two decades of experience in developing evidence-based mindfulness programmes, he has trained educators, counsellors, and psychologists in mindfulness practices. Grant has contributed to published research on mindfulness and education, highlighting its positive impact on wellbeing and learning. A regular presenter at conferences and in the media, he is passionate about empowering educators with practical, research-backed mindfulness strategies that support both their own wellbeing and the tamariki in their care

Grace Adeyinka-Fayomi
"Navigating Staff Illness or Injury Within the Workplaces"

Grace is a specialist employment lawyer. Grace has a strong passion for helping clients navigate their way through complex legal issues in an efficient manner. Grace is interested in the practical employment issues that arise daily. Grace was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2021. In that same year she graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degree. Grace joined the Firm in October 2022 having practiced in a litigation Firm.

Jo Bagley
"Developing a Positive Culture Within your Centre"

Jo is a dedicated professional with a strong background in early childhood education. Holding ECE qualifications and full registration, Jo brings a wealth of expertise to our team. With experience ranging from centre ownership to lecturing, Jo specialises in mentoring, PGC support and curriculum and operational guidance.

Jodine McIntyre
"Connecting, sharing, and growing: Social media strategies for early childhood centres"

Jodine McIntyre is a social media trainer, dedicated to helping business owners confidently navigate the ever-changing digital landscape. With over 15 years of experience in social media marketing, she has trained thousands of business owners, empowering them with practical strategies to grow their online presence. As the founder of Social Smarty, Jodine provides personalised coaching, workshops, and digital resources designed for busy entrepreneurs. Passionate about making social media simple and effective, she specialises in cutting through the noise to deliver actionable, no-fluff advice. Her approach is clear, practical, and always focused on results.

Julie Houghton-Katipa
"Embracing Neurodiversity: Unlocking Strengths and Supporting Success in Early Childhood"

Julie is a Lecturer and researcher at Massey University’s Institute of Education with a background in Early Childhood Education, leadership and Learning Support. She previously held a national specialist lead role at the Ministry of Education in Early Childhood Learning Support and has led project initiatives such as He Māpuna te Tamaiti. Julie coordinates the early intervention endorsement and teaches into the Masters Professional Inquiry paper in the Specialist Teaching Post-Graduate Programme. Her research centres on children’s social-emotional learning, bicultural practice, and inclusive, high-quality early childhood education.

Laurayne Tafa
"Ahi Ihi Wehi Wana: The fire, the force, the feeling, the thrill of working together!"

A highly skilled and engaging professional with extensive experience in instructional and transformational leadership, teaching, learning and curriculum, culture creation, advisory and evaluation. Drawing on evidence-based research, Laurayne applies a deep inquiry discourse in her sessions, resulting in self-awareness, knowledge-building, practice analysis and constructive challenge. Laurayne has this way of delivering affirming, inspiring, informative and bold messages in a generous manner that reminds you of your agency, capability and motivates you to lift your gaze and game to educational excellence and equity.

Melody Stuckey
"Bringing Your PGC to Life: The Power of Relational Leadership"

Melody Stuckey is an Education Consultant for InterLEAD with extensive leadership experience across diverse educational contexts. She is dedicated to supporting leaders and teachers in navigating challenges while ensuring that children remain at the heart of all decision-making. Melody’s strong relational approach fosters trust and respect, creating the conditions for educators to grow and thrive.

Ministry of Education: Kelly Grootjans & Rebecca Cook
"Preparing for an MoE Funding Audit"

This workshop will be presented by the Ministry of Education, exclusively for the ECC Conference 2025. Your facilitators are Kelly Grootjans, Audit and Assurance Lead and Rebecca Cook, Audit and Assurance Lead.

Jo Bagley
"Developing a Positive Culture Within your Centre"

30 + years in the ECE Sector has seen many challenges for Paula Hawkings to over come. With a down to earth and practical approach to providing solutions Paula is happy to share her ece successes with you. Through a variety of roles in ECE which includes Facilitator, Centre Manager roles, Operations Manager, General Manger to business owner Paula has worked with well over 300 centres to provide a wide range of support. Success looks different for each person as an individual – what does success look like for you and how can you achieve this in a sector full of obstacles for yourself and your team?

Preety Sehgal
"Unlock the Magic of Dramatic Play!"

With over 20 years of experience in early childhood education (ECE), Preety has held diverse roles including Centre owner, Centre Manager, Operations Manager, Education Review Officer, and ECE Consultant in Auckland. Her extensive background also includes working with the Ministry of Education as a SELO provider. Preety is a divergent thinker who inspires and energizes teams and leaders through professional learning, development programs. She is passionate about helping owners and managers streamline their systems and procedures and making complex documentation simple, effective and outcome focused.

Scott Balloch
"Navigating Staff Illness or Injury Within the Workplace "

Scott is a specialist employment lawyer. Scott advises on all aspects of employment law, including disciplinary and performance management, raising and responding to personal grievances, restructures and redundancies, and drafting employment agreements. Scott prides himself on his personable nature and his practical solutions that minimise cost and stress for his clients. Scott was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 2020 after studying a BCom/LLB at Victoria University of Wellington and is a proud St Patrick’s College (Silverstream) old boy.

Sue Kurtovich
"The Secrets of Successful Centres"

Sue Kurtovich is a specialist in early childhood centre management and administration. Sue was a centre owner/operator for 15 years and the former President and then CEO of the Early Childhood Council from 1996 – 2008. Sue has an in-depth understanding of the sector and the challenges centres face. For over three decades she has helped centre owners, managers and boards with practical, real-world advice that has made a genuine difference in the way they run their centres. Sue has been invited to forums around the world to share her knowledge and experience.