In schools, where challenging interactions occur on a daily basis and emotions run high, a thoughtless remark, trip or slip can quickly lead to legal issues. In this rigorous programme, arm yourself with a range of practical strategies across AI, employee mental health, and youth justice. Receive a comprehensive guide to visa classes and the impact on enrolment and funding and workshop the mechanics of a competent and comprehensive workplace investigations and take yourself from ‘Oh No!’ to ‘Let’s go’.

Presenters

Tim Sterne, Investigator, Trainer and Consultant, Basalt Solutions Ltd
Tim is the Founding Director of Basalt Solutions, an investigation consultancy company based in Christchurch. Tim spent almost 12 years in the New Zealand Police where he was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant. Prior to policing he enjoyed a career as a school teacher. He has investigated every type of serious crime as well as misconduct and corruption across the public and private sectors. He now helps education providers investigate misconduct allegations in a way that minimises risk and maximises reputation. He specialises in investigative interviewing, risk management and leadership. Basalt Solutions provides workshops, consultancy services, and independent investigations across New Zealand and Australia.


Ashley-Jayne Lodge, Partner, Anderson Lloyd
Ashley-Jayne (AJ) advises clients in all aspects of employment law working with them to provide practical, pragmatic solutions to often complex employment issues. She has represented both employers and employees in the education sector, including from early childhood, primary, and secondary schools. AJ is also an experienced investigator, having conducted workplace investigations, reviews, and other independent investigations in both the public and private sector. AJ is a certified Association of Workplace Investigators member and Certificate Holder (AWI-CH) and conducts independent investigations for both employers and other organisations, including schools and tertiary institutions.


Emily Flaszynski, Principal, Mortlock McCormack Law
Emily leads the Relationship Property and Family Law team at MML in Christchurch where she specialises in separation, the division of relationship property, childcare, protection, and any other issues that affect families including contentious trust and estate disputes. Together with practicing at MML, Emily is also an Associate with Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand and a Member of the Canterbury Earthquake Insurance Tribunal where she presides over residential insurance claim disputes arising out of the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence. With a background in dispute resolution and problem solving, and drawing on her expertise as a trained mediator, Emily assists parents to engage constructively with each other to find realistic pragmatic, sensible and beneficial outcomes for their children and themselves. Where agreement cannot be reached, or if urgent intervention is required, she represents her clients in Court. Having 3 teenagers herself and being involved with schools as a Board of Trustees member for many years, Emily understands the complications that can arise when schools are pulled into family disputes. Emily draws on this experience when assisting parents through the process following separation.


Julie Calder, Principal, Selwyn House School
Julie Calder is an experienced teacher, leader and principal with over 25 years of experience across state and independent school settings. After 25 years of teaching at Cashmere Primary School, she was appointed the Head of the Junior School at St Margarent’s College in 2015. In 2022, she was appointed Principal of Selwyn House School, an independent girls’ school that covers pre-school to year 8. Julie is passionate about ensuring learning is built around making positive, healthy connections, which are focused on collaboration in a safe and empathetic environment. Julie is committed to continuous professional development and lifelong learning. She has a Bachelor of Education and has furthered her development as an educational career professional with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with First Class Honours. Her continual desire to learn is evident in her personal mantra, “seek to understand.”


Grant Fletcher, Barrister
Grant Fletcher is a senior and respected member of the Christchurch Bar. His offices are at Plymouth Chambers, one of Christchurch most respected and prestigious legal offices. Grant has over twenty years legal experience. Grant teaches litigation at the New Zealand Law Society Litigation skills course, and graduate lawyers at the College of Law. He is a member of the Criminal Bar Association and the New Zealand Bar Association. Grant is an experienced Youth Advocate and represents some of New Zealands most vulnerable young people.


Ethan Huda, Barrister and Criminal Defence Lawyer
The focus of Ethan Huda’s practice is criminal trials and appeals. Ethan acts for people who are about to be or have been charged with violent, sexual and drug offences. He also act for those who have been convicted and want to appeal against conviction and sentence. He has successfully acted for clients in criminal cases in every court in the country: District Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.


Jen Bensley, Partner, Saunders & Co
Jen, the Immigration Partner at Saunders & Co, brings over 14 years of extensive experience in immigration law from both the public and private sectors. Together with her team, she offers a comprehensive range of immigration services and guidance across all visa categories. Jen is often called upon to handle complex cases that have previously faced challenges, such as Tribunal appeals, deportation cases, and Ministerial requests. Given the wide influence of immigration law in various legal areas, Jen also frequently serves as an expert witness in family, employment, and criminal cases.


Anne Wilson, Partner, Anthony Harper
Anne Wilson is the Partner leading Anthony Harper's Employment law team across both its Christchurch and Auckland offices. She has extensive experience practising in employment law, gained primarily at a top tier law firm, but also as in-house counsel for Vodafone, and the Employers and Manufacturers Association before joining Anthony Harper as a Partner in 2021. This gives Anne a unique perspective in meeting the needs of clients. Her work includes advising employers on all aspects of the employment relationship and her solutions to people problems consider the multi-dimensional aspects of the employment relationship. Clients describe her working style as responsive and pragmatic.


Ben Hood, Senior Solicitor, Harmans Lawyers
Ben joined Harmans in January 2022, after graduating from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Laws in 2018 and gaining valuable experience at another law practice in Christchurch. He was appointed a Senior Lawyer in November 2022. Ben is a member of our esteemed litigation and dispute resolution team. He is a skilled lawyer in litigation and dispute resolution, traffic offences, insurance and employment law, and has appeared in the District Court, High Court and Canterbury Earthquake Insurance Tribunal. Ben has a special interest in technology and is committed to assisting the firm in the research and implementation of innovative solutions. He enjoys working on complex disputes involving new and novel technology such as cryptocurrency, AI and smart-contracts.


Andrew Shaw, Managing Partner, Lane Neave
Andrew is the Managing Partner of Lane Neave and he heads the Employment Law Team. He has 28 years experience and is recognised as one of New Zealand’s top employment, ACC and health & safety law practitioners. Andrew is currently on the New Zealand Law Society ACC Committee, having previously been on the New Zealand Law Society Employment Law Committee (for six years), where he assists in providing guidance on proposed legislation. Andrew is a preferred legal practitioner for the New Zealand Law Society to refer vulnerable claimants for specialist and complex legal advice in his specialist areas. He is also a mentor for other law practitioners. Andrew is an experienced litigator and he has appeared in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court and ordinary Courts, including the Court of Appeal and advising on a Supreme Court appeal. Andrew also regularly participates in private and MBIE mediations. Andrew has a strong interest in public policy, as this relates to his specialist areas, and as such he is contacted by the media to make comment on current issues of importance. He is also involved in assisting a number of charities, include the Stroke Foundation and MS & Parkinson Society. The Employment Law Team has been a past multiple winner at the New Zealand Law Awards and it is currently on the Government Legal Panel, and provides advice to a number of State and Local Government entities around New Zealand.


Shane Buckner, Principal, Rangiora Borough School
Shane Buckner is an experienced Principal with a demonstrated history of working in education leadership. With over 35 years as a teacher, leader, and Principal, he is passionate about sharing his knowledge and skills in the education sector. Shane is the current Principal of Rangiora Borough School in North Canterbury. Immediate Past President of Canterbury Primary Principals’ Association, he has been actively involved in the regional leadership as an executive member for 12 years, with business partnership liaison and membership hauora as key portfolio areas undertaken. Shane has presented internationally on the Deprivitisation of Teaching Practice to inform andragogical learning and development. This aligns with his advocacy of collaboration in the teaching space. Elected in 2020 as an Executive member for the New Zealand Principals’ Federation, his portfolio areas include advocating for inclusion, diversity and learning support, and more recently supporting with the development of new curriculum initiatives to the principal sector as part of the Curriculum Pou