Presenters

Tim Sterne, Founding Director, Basalt Solutions
Tim Sterne is the Founding Director of Basalt Solutions, a consultancy serving education and nonprofit organisations across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific. Formerly a Detective Sergeant with New Zealand Police, Tim brings a wealth of experience leading sensitive and complex investigations. He also brings lived experience in education, having worked as a teacher. He remains closely connected to the sector through his wife, a teacher and co-owner of Basalt Solutions. Since founding Basalt Solutions in 2024, Tim has worked primarily in the school sector. He has worked alongside state, state-integrated, and independent schools across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, helping leaders respond to concerns and complaints. His services span independent investigations, reviews, training, and advisory, with a growing focus on upstream solutions such as speak-up mechanisms and no-blame organisational reviews. His services include unique professional learning that equips pastoral leaders to conduct high-quality investigations into student conduct. Tim's work is grounded in the conviction that how organisations respond to complaints shapes the reputation they hold within their community.

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.

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