Join us for a comprehensive professional development day designed for school leaders, trustees and education professionals. Explore effective school governance, employment law updates and the meaningful integration of tikanga Māori into recruitment practices, providing practical tools and real-world strategies to strengthen boards and support equitable decision-making. Gain insights into supporting children and young people navigating anxiety, screen use, and parental separation, while also learning how staff can safeguard student privacy and embed confidentiality into everyday school practice. You will develop legal, governance and wellbeing tools to equip your school leaders with the knowledge and strategies needed to foster safe, inclusive and high-performing learning environments.

Presenters

Shelley Kopu, Barrister, Shelley Kopu Law
Ko Taranaki te maunga, ko Tokomaru te waka, ko Te Atiawa te iwi, ko Puketapu rāua ko Pukerangiora oku hāpu. As a specialist employment lawyer, mediator and investigator, Shelley is experienced in traversing the intricacies of the employment relationship across a broad range of industries including education, health, kaupapa Māori, government, finance, sports and iwi. Shelley’s practice is complimented by her directorships with Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa (Post Settlement Iwi), Papa Rererangi i Puketapu (New Plymouth Airport) and Tui Ora (Health) as well as voluntary positions with Youthline and St Peters College. These unique attributes differentiate Shelley’s approach to the law and she is committed to addressing the challenges that arise in the employment relationship with a Te Ao Māori lens in a manner that honours Tikanga Māori. Shelley understands and recognises the importance of both a commercial and cultural lens when determining the best strategy for her clients and her indigenous and pragmatic approach is well regarded by those who seek out a sensitive and culturally appropriate practitioner.

Peter Kaiser, Principal at Tirimoana School
Mr Kaiser began his teaching career in 1975 training at Auckland Secondary Teachers College and the University of Auckland. He graduated with a BA in History, and post graduate studies in Education, Psychology and Anthropology. He has taught in a number of schools in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, at Secondary, Intermediate and Primary levels. As well, Mr Kaiser taught in Special Education for 5 years and completed a Diploma in Special Education. Mr Kaiser completed his Master of Education in Professional Studies with 1st class Honours at Auckland University. He has been Principal at Tirimoana School for over 25 years. He established and led the Te Atatu Community of Learning with 8 other West Auckland Schools.

Belinda Weber, Chief Advisor Governance, Te Whakaroputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa New Zealand School Boards Association
Belinda Weber is the Chief Advisor, Governance at NZSBA, New Zealand School Boards Association, where she leads national work on strengthening school board effectiveness. With a background in governance development, policy design, and sector leadership, Belinda works to support boards to stay strategic, accountable, and student-focused. She was central in designing NZSBA’s refreshed school governance framework and policy suite, helping boards clarify their roles and lift school performance. Known for her clear, practical approach and sector knowledge, Belinda works alongside boards, principals, and advisors to grow governance capability and drive meaningful change across schools in New Zealand.

David Graham, Principal, Goodwood School
David Graham is an experienced school leader having led three primary schools across the Waikato. He is currently the principal of Goodwood School (a primary school of 400 students) . David has recently studied in the United Kingdom, where he worked with the Anna Freud Centre and the National Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme. His research investigated policy and programmes which support learners who are neurodiverse, their peers and teachers.

Fi McMillan, Special Counsel, Anderson Lloyd
Fi specialises in employment and education law. She is the legal advisor to the NZPF "Principals' Advice and Support Scheme." Prior to becoming a lawyer Fi worked as a primary school teacher in New Zealand and in the UK, and completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Child Advocacy. She has also worked on several Boards. This experience puts her in a strong position to advise on legal issues affecting schools. Fiona is committed to working with her clients to find the best possible outcome, whether that can be achieved by constructive discussions and resolution of issues or through more formal processes.


Allanah Leerdam, Lawyer, Morgan Coakle
Allanah is a lawyer at Morgan Coakle, where she is a member of the litigation team. While she primarily practises in employment law, Allanah also works in the areas of family law and general civil litigation. Before joining Morgan Coakle, Allanah gained valuable experience at the boutique employment, immigration and health and safety law firm Jennifer Mills & Associates. She has also worked as a Prosecutor with the New Zealand Police, where she appeared in court regularly. During her time as a lawyer, Allanah has acted for individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large corporates across a variety of industries, providing expert guidance on a broad range of employment law matters. Allanah is particularly passionate about advocacy and dispute resolution, and she is dedicated to offering practical, cost-effective advice and solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of each client.

Michelle Melville-Smith, Psychologist/Clinic Coordinator/ Deputy Head of Training NZ, Triple P New Zealand
Michelle is a registered psychologist and a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society, an accredited Triple P practitioner and Triple P trainer (International Trainer of the Year, 2007). Michelle currently works for Triple P NZ delivering both clinical work and training practitioners in New Zealand and Internationally. Michelle is highly skilled in consulting on child behavioural, social and emotional issues and working effectively with parents on strategies to cope with these issues. She has worked with whanau referred from Oranga Tamariki, the Family court and Intensive wrap around service in MOE. Michelle has had over 18 year’s experience in working with separated parents via the family court and privately to assist them to develop communication tools with each other and help them to understand the needs of their children. Other areas Michelle works in are couples counselling and working directly with children providing counselling on issues including anger management, social skills, coping with anxiety, and dealing with divorce and separation.

Rachel O’Brien, Director, O’Brien Legal
Rachel is a senior associate in Russell McVeagh's litigation team who specialises in trade mark, copyright, privacy and data protection matters. With significant experience in intellectual property and privacy law, she provides strategic advice in corporate and commercial matters to ensure clients' rights are protected. With a scientific background, Rachel has experience working for numerous clients in technical sectors, including intellectual property litigation relating to pharmaceutical products, chemical compounds, medical devices, agricultural products and the paper making industry. Rachel draws on her international and local experience to provide pragmatic advice on high-profile cases. Her experience includes advising clients on the application and enforceability of the GDPR for New Zealand businesses and their privacy and data protection obligations in relation to the collection, storage, use and transfer of personal data.

Leo Donnelly ONZM, Barrister, Education Law NZ
Leo Donnelly ONZM is a former Ombudsman of New Zealand and is one of New Zealand’s leading experts in official information and privacy law. As an Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman and a senior investigator at the Office of the Ombudsman, Leo spent 3 decades investigating and reviewing complaints about the administrative actions and procedures of state sector organisations and recommending resolutions to promote fair, just and transparent delivery of services to the public. This involved assessing individual actions and omissions in the context of an organisations systems and culture and statutory responsibilities. Leo brings governance and strategy expertise and wide experience in complaint handling and dispute resolution.