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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 around 70 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.
Pariya Behnami
My journey into governance at Kidsfirst started after having had my sons attend Sunbeam kindergarten. After seeing them excel, I was motivated to join the board in 2021 to contribute towards the ongoing success of the Association.
My professional career has largely been as a Speech Language Therapist, but more recently I was the Operations Manager at TalkLink Trust, so I'm delighted to be able to bring my leadership and charitable experience to the Board. My former role straddled both the health and education sectors, which helps my understanding of the challenges our tamariki and whānau face in accessing and participating in high quality and affordable early childhood services.
My current job is as a Programme Manager for Whaikaha where I continue to enjoy being able to effect change for the betterment of disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori. In addition, I bring to this role experience across customer service roles, experience running my own business and undergraduate study in psychology, as well as lived experience as a migrant to NZ, all of which contribute to my rounded perspective.
In 2023, I took on the role of Kidsfirst Board Chair and have enjoyed working alongside my Board colleagues, Kidsfirst's Chief Executive and Senior Managers to support the Association to continue to provide high quality and affordable early childhood services, and to ensure that each and every tamaiti in our service can thrive. I am particularly passionate about ensuring we are genuine and effective Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners.
Arron Perriam
Ko Arron Perriam tōku ingoa
I feel privileged to be included as a member of the Kidsfirst Board, serving such an established organisation nurturing the next generation. Of Rongowhakaata whakapapa, we take an innovative and creative approach to our mahi and service, with people at the centre.
I have CEO experience in child residential and whānau care, and in philanthropy with Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ. My governance mahi currently extends to independent trustee roles with The Salvation Army NZ, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, with Philanthropy NZ, and Mentoring Foundation NZ. Specific areas of governance interest include strategy, people culture, audit, risk, compliance and investments.
I am excited to bring my experience and ongoing learning to the Kidsfirst Board and wider organisation, to serve the next generations of tamariki, community, and their whānau.
Viv Ruth
Ko Viv Ruth tōku ingoa.
I began my career in education as a kindergarten teacher and have held many roles in the education sector working in special education, tertiary teacher training, and professional development. Following the Christchurch earthquakes, 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.
Over the past decade I have worked with the Disability sector through the Ministry of Health and since the establishment of the new Ministry in July 2022, as part of Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People.
I am extremely privileged to be part of the Kidsfirst Board, providing governance to such a quality focused organisation.
Graeme Norman
Ko Graeme Norman tōku ingoa
I have been in education for 22 years, and I am currently the principal of Te Kōmanawa Rowley School. My connections with kindergarten run deep – three of my children and two of my grandchildren attended kindergarten.
Having been on boards in education settings for the last 15 years, I am an experienced governor. Being a qualified accountant, I also have a good working understanding of financial matters.
Quality, play-based education delivered by trained, fully qualified teachers that meet the needs of individual tamariki, whānau, and communities, accessibility for all, and strong collaborations and connections lay the platform for a strong future for Kidsfirst.
These are also important aspects of kindergarten that ensure that future generations of children have access to high-quality early childhood education that prepares them for success in school and beyond.
Quality ECE plays an important role in shaping the lives of tamariki and families, and I am proud to be part of Kidsfirst’s future as its proud legacy continues.
Dr Tui Simmers
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Tararua te maunga
Ko Otaki te awa
Ko Raukawa te marae
Ko Ngāti Raukawa te iwi
Ko Ngāti Huia te hapu
Ko Tui Summers tāku ingoa
I am passionate and dedicated to early childhood education and I have had a range of roles in the sector including as a Kaiako, Lecturer, Policy Advisor, Academic Leader and Director of Academic Programmes.
Kidsfirst Kindergartens has such a rich history of providing quality ECE for tamariki, whānau and mokopuna. As a board member I am committed to serving the Kidsfirst community and contributing to the strong legacy the Association has.
Joeclyn Wright
Ko Jocelyn Wright tōku ingoa.
Joining the Kidsfirst Kindergarten Board is like completing a circle in my career. I have returned to my Kindergarten roots before retiring completely! I am an ex- Kindergarten kid, I trained as a kindergarten teacher, my tamariki attended their local kindergarten and I chaired the local kindergarten parent committee.
My professional involvement in early childhood education spans 5 decades during which I have been driven by my passion for early childhood education and my commitment to advocating for moko and whānau in Aotearoa. I taught in kindergartens around Christchurch for 20 years while also holding part-time roles lecturing at the College of Education. I then moved into the field of MOE funded ECE professional development contracts as a professional development facilitator and team leader at Education Plus, the University of Canterbury, and Core Education for the next 20+ years. I spent 18-months in Chennai, India as the preschool Director responsible for establishing a new ‘international’ early childhood centre. More recently I was privileged to be the Preschool director of a culturally and linguistically diverse community-based preschool in Christchurch and a part-time secondary teacher at the adjoining College.
Through my mahi in education leadership roles I bring a broad range of ECE knowledge and experience to my role on the Kidsfirst Kindergarten Governance Board. I have networked widely and value the benefits of working collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds, including community groups, regional and national Government advisory groups and panels, school Governance Boards, teaching teams, whānau groups, Education and Health agencies, and ECE management teams.
In this kaitiaki role, I look forward to supporting the vision and values of Kidsfirst Kindergartens, to help build on the highly regarded reputation and community heart of kindergarten kaiako in their mahi with tamariki and whānau.
Louise McConnel
Ko Louise McConnel tōku ingoa.
Kindergarten is such a rich and diverse early learning environment, and this is something I have experienced first-hand as a past ‘kindy kid’, a current Kidsfirst Linwood parent, and in my role as a psychologist.
Through my work with special education, health and community organisations, I see the importance that kindergarten plays in providing affordable, accessible quality ECE.
In a sector increasingly focused on the dollar, Kidsfirst offers important child-centred spaces that are free of commercial imperatives. As a result, the organisation provides a notably more supportive environment that attracts and retains passionate, professional staff motivated to do the right thing for the tamariki, whānau and communities they serve.
I’m excited to be a part of Kidsfirst’s proud legacy, and am honoured to have the opportunity to contribute to its future.
