Kidsfirst is fortunate to have a Board of Directors made up of talented people from the educational sector, business world and community.
Seconded members make up any expertise gaps that we may have. Kidsfirst is a not-for-profit organisation, but we understand the value of the commercial perspective, especially since we operate in an extremely competitive marketplace.
The Kidsfirst Board can be best described as being the legal governing body for the Canterbury Westland Kindergarten Association (Inc), and it operates in a similar manner to a Board of Trustees in the primary and secondary education sector.
A Kidsfirst board member is a trustee representing the interests of tamariki, parents and guardians of the Association. The board and its members are entrusted by the community with the overall responsibility for the 68 kindergartens which come under the umbrella of the organisation. The term of office for a board member is a two year period with a maximum of three terms. Nominations are requested for vacant positions each year prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and are voted for by our members through postal ballot. Successful candidates are announced at the AGM.
Viv Ruth
Kia ora,
ko Viv Ruth tōku ingoa, and I am currently the Chair of the Kidsfirst Kindergartens Board. I began my career in education as a kindergarten teacher and have held many roles across the education sector working in special education tertiary and research positions. I spent five years lecturing at the Christchurch College of Education in the ECE Teacher Training programme and then moved to the Ministry of Education in Wellington, overseeing the national professional development programmes for Early Childhood.
In 2011 I took on the role of South Island Early Childhood Education Manager at the Ministry of Education in Christchurch, leading a team who were responsible for regulatory compliance, and for the delivery of the government’s ECE participation initiatives. In the past few of years I have managed South Island disability contracts for the Ministry of Health.
I am extremely privileged to be part of the Kidsfirst Board, providing governance to such a quality, focused organisation during very challenging and exciting times.
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Phillip Roth
Ko Puketeraki tōku maunga
Ko Rakahuri tōku awa
Nō Ōtautahi ahau
Ko Phillip Roth tōku ingoa
Although I was born in Sydney, my whānau and I are proud to call Ōtautahi home. My expertise is in business development for both commercial and Not-for-Profit enterprises and I am passionate about quality governance, growth planning & advisory boards.
I am active and enjoy working with a number of Māori businesses across Te Waipounamu- working in association with Te Puni Kōkiri.
Specialist Areas
- Business Development for Commerical & Not-for-profit
- Governance Training & Development
- Strategy Development & Growth Planning
- Advisory Boards
- Māori Business
- Foresty
- Fishing
- Food Retail
- Manufacturing and Engineering
- Transport & Logistics
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Luke van den Broek
My name is Luke van den Broek and I am a current member of the Kidsfirst Kindergartens Board. I work as a Registered Valuer where I enjoy a balance of office and field work. I am currently the President and Board Chairman of the Property Institute of New Zealand. In 2017 I was named the Property Institute of New Zealand Young Professional of the year. I hold a Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) from Massey University. I am also working towards a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Canterbury.
My vision for the future of Kidsfirst is for it to continue to be an excellent, community focussed provider of education to our young people. To achieve this the Board will need to continue evolving, planning and strategising, to realise Kidsfirst’s vision of amazing learning. The vision must be underpinned by having children at the heart of all decisions we make as an organisation.
I would like to protect the legacy of our iconic kindergarten brand, by ensuring that Kidsfirst Kindergartens are accessible, whilst providing equitable learning opportunities and quality education for all children. I would like to protect the sense of community engagement and the support networks kindergartens create. It is ours to protect and nurture, now and into the future.
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Chelsea Houghton
I have been a parent at King St Kindergarten since 2014, with five children going through the kindy, which family members also have attended for past generations. My family has a strong history with Kidsfirst, with myself, siblings, children, nieces, and nephews attending various kindergartens.
I work in communications and am also a writer and editor, holding a Bachelor of Arts (University of Canterbury) in Media and Communications, and a Master of Creative Writing (Massey University). I teach at the Christchurch School for Young Writers and have worked in strategic communications part-time while raising children.
I love the balance of kindergarten for children - being play based but with routines that prepare them for school well. The qualified teachers and homely environment make it a great setting for early childhood education. Kindergarten is also a great site for community, differentiated from other commercial preschools through these factors.
My vision is for Kidsfirst to build a strong, competitive brand in the early childhood sector, leading best practice across our region and Aotearoa, New Zealand. I see it as The Board's job to offer strong, creative, and strategic supports to the many dedicated staff who work in our centres.
I see our early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki, as a world-leading curriculum, which places tamariki, their identity and their hauora at the centre of all we do.
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Nikki Parsons
I have had extensive experience in teacher education, governance and leadership, having held leadership roles in several early childhood organisations including the Barnardos, Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa and the Ministry of Education. I am currently employed as General Manager Workforce & Business Management for Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand {ECNZ). I attended my local kindergarten as a child. I still have vivid and fond memories of this and was fortunate enough to complete a practicum placement there as a student, and in fact I started my teaching career working as a reliever in Kidsfirst Kindergartens.
My vision is that Kidsfirst Kindergartens is accessible to all, sustainable and continues to offer high quality early childhood education for many generations to come.
I will support the Kidsfirst Board to:
• Champion excellence - be the leading provider of fresh thinking, innovation and quality practice in early learning
• Continue to strengthen relationships with parents, whānau and the local community
• Strengthen bicultural practices and acknowledge culture, language and identity for other diverse groups
• Continue to build strong partnerships with government and key stakeholders - become a strong unified voice in the sector
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Ashleigh Schuyl
I have a passion for child development and an experienced background in the Education sector. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Human Services and Education and Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Primary).
During my time teaching I've carried out various roles including Special Education Needs Co-ordinator. This has reinforced for me how important it is to value diversity and equal opportunities for all tamariki in Education.
In recent years I have become a shareholder of a successful consultancy firm and have had two children. In 2018 our family joined the Kidsfirst community and I saw an opportunity to become involved in the organisation. Knowing tamariki are paramount in all decision-making, knowing Kidsfirst staff are fully qualified, and knowing individual interests are well supported encouraged me to join the board. I want to see the rich history of Kidsfirst flourish in the 21stCentury and for families to see it as their number one choice, and for our passionate, innovative staff to access professional development will provide tamariki with the highest quality education.
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