The Senior Leadership Team
Chief Executive
Sherryll Wilson
After more than 25 years, my passion for what we are able to achieve for tamariki and their whānau has never been stronger than it is today. Now with two grandchildren, I have become even more committed to ensure that we, as an organisation, live up to our promise of being the very best that we can be for the tamariki that attend our kindergartens on any given day.
I have been privileged to head Kidsfirst Kindergartens since May 1995 after extensive experience in the education sector.
I am a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, member of the New Zealand Institute of Management as well as representing Kidsfirst Kindergartens on various organisations, working groups and committees both locally and throughout New Zealand.
The early childhood sector is continually changing and providing even more challenges and I am proud to be part of an organisation that shares the same determination that early childhood education is so very important to the future of Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Jenny PitamaManager - Business Development
Jenny Pitama
Kia ora,
ko Jenny Pitama tōku ingoa, no Kaiapoi ahau. I began my career in early childhood education 25 years ago as a parent on the governance committee of our local community-based preschool, driven by a strong desire to see my child and his peers develop a life-long love for learning which would provide a platform for success in later life.
I was a Senior Adviser in the Ministry of Education ECE team for 11 years, predominantly working in and with communities to develop and implement projects to increase participation in ECE across Te Waipounamu. I began my business development role at Kidsfirst in 2014, having established a great respect for the way the Kidsfirst Board and Strategic Leadership Team operates during my time with the Ministry of Education. My role here since 2014 focusses on strategies to ensure that Kindergarten thrives and grows in our regions, and succeeds as a not-for-profit provider in a commercial market.
That drive for achieving educational success for all children which began 25 years ago has not changed, and knowing that the contribution we make as a senior leadership team at Kidsfirst can make huge difference in the lives of tamariki and whānau is what I love about Kidsfirst.
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Karyn WilletsManager - Human Resources
Karyn Willets
I completed my Master of Science (Hons) majoring in Personnel and Organizational Psychology in 1991 and have since supplemented that qualification with a Diploma in Public Sector Accounting and a Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety.
My working career over the past 25 years has always been in the people field and within the service sector working with large and complex organisations such as NZ Police, CDHB and a private international engineering organisation before coming to Kidsfirst nearly 10 years ago.
My role is busy and varied but allows me to interact with staff and statistics on a daily basis – two of my favourite things! That along with knowing that this organisation is a not-for-profit, with strong community values makes this the perfect role.
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Professional Leaders
Our Education Team is made up of a group of highly-experienced Professional Leaders, whose role is to work collaboratively to inspire and enable our teachers to provide excellence in teaching and learning – every day, in every kindergarten.
In specialist roles, Hannah Jay, Learning Support Leader, works in collaboration with the Professional Leaders and Pouhere Ako in supporting and guiding kaiako in response to challenging behaviours and tamariki with additional learning needs in all Kindergartens and with all tamariki.
Our Pouhere Ako, delivers support throughout the Association around Te Ao Māori, Te Reo Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, building bicultural practice with a particular emphasis on Whānaungatanga.
Catherine Gerslov-Wright
Jeanne Williams
Keryn Barlow
Mark White
Sue Szentivanyi
Lyndell Turner
Hannah Jay
