Source: New Zealand Government
Education Minister Hon Erica Stanford has announced the remaining appointments to the new Governing Council of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Patrick Walsh MNZM has been appointed Chair, Andrée Atkinson as Deputy Chair, Kelly Seaburg as a new member.
Kelly Seaburg’s expertise in early childhood education is a valuable addition, and Minister Stanford is also confident that Patrick Walsh’s and Andrée Atkinson’s leadership, financial, and governance experience, will provide clear direction over the next three years.
“Having a strong board is vital for responding to the significant challenges faced by the Teaching Council, especially around its core role of ensuring child safety.
“I am confident the Governing Council now has the collective skills and experience, including knowledge of the sector, to strongly support the enhanced regulatory focus.”
Patrick Walsh was a long-term elected member of the Teaching Council before his appointment by Minister Stanford earlier this month. He is Headmaster at Sacred Heart College in Auckland and has an extensive background in education leadership.
He is Vice President of the Auckland Secondary Schools Principals Association, an Executive Member of the Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand (SPANZ), and an Executive Member of College Sport.
Andrée Atkinson is a qualified accountant with strong financial advisory skills. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a director including chairing risk and audit committees. She currently serves on the Boards of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Te Kura (formerly The Correspondence School).
Kelly Seaburg has over 20 years’ experience in early childhood education and governance. She is Director of New Shoots Children Centres a network of early childhood education centres.
She has also held key advisory roles with the Ministry of Education’s Early Childhood Advisory Group and the Early Childhood Education Funding Review Advisory Group. Kelly’s term will commence on 1 September.
Kelly will join Pat Walsh and Andrée Atkinson, and the other members of the new Council:
Dr Sarah Brown, Principal at Kerikeri Primary School;
Patrick Drumm, Headmaster at Mount Albert Grammar School;
Heath Chittenden, Principal at Ashhurst School;
Dame Susan Hassall, former Headmaster of Hamilton Boys’ High School and Chancellor of the University of Waikato;
Debbie Francis, who has led change programmes across both the public and private sectors; and
Tom Gott, is an associate with MartinJenkins, with expertise in governance, strategy, organisational performance
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/30/final-appointments-to-teaching-council/