School Board | Mt Eden Normal Primary School

Meet The Board

Elected every three years, the School Board is a governance body that comprises of parent/community board members together with the Principal and one Staff Representative.

The Board is entrusted to work on behalf of the children who attend the school. Its role emphasises strategic leadership rather than administrative detail and ensures that the school complies with legal and policy requirements. The primary focus of the School Board, Principal and staff is to ensure the very best educational outcomes for all children attending Mt Eden Normal Primary School.

Board meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of every month at 6pm in the staffroom.

The meetings are open to the public and our parent community are welcome to attend.

For the latest Board Newsletters, please visit our news page. Board Policies can be viewed here. Board Minutes can be viewed here.

virginia brown, presiding member

I have two young children at MENPS, in Years 0 and 2. My background is in print media, editorial and marketing and communications, however, I am now a full-time parent. I volunteer for a reading support programme at a South Auckland college and feel privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to MENPS as a member of the Board of Trustees.

As a relatively new MENPS parent, I have valued the school’s community feel and new connections with other families. The MENPS spirit is evident throughout its grounds and is rooted in the attributes of the Touchstones.

I wish our children to be confident in themselves, socially conscious and, of course, form a love of learning as they grow into young adults. These formative years are a crucial period in our children's development, and the primary school environment is integral in fostering these life skills, social interactions and learning dispositions.

MENPS’ clear strategic vision and strong values are the foundation of this important work and I am committed to supporting our teachers and leaders in bringing these to life.

Fleur de Vries-Oskamp, board member

I am a parent representative serving on the Board since August 2022 and I have a son at MENPS in year 4 and a daughter in year 3.

I have a passion for arts, craft and baking but am a chemical engineer by education and have worked in the manufacturing industry for the last 18 years. In 2021 I made a decision to rebalance my life and I moved from a demanding senior leadership role with large multinational, to running my own consultancy firm. An exciting change that allows me to be more flexible, spend more valuable time with my family and focus more on my strengths and my passion for the development of people and processes in organisations.

This ambition is nicely complemented by being on the school board to support the development of our children. It provides an opportunity to actively govern the strategy and direction of our school and to use all my (industry) experience to support the continuous development of the best school environment for the current and the next generation.

Alan Jackson, Principal & board member

I joined Mt Eden Normal Primary School as an experienced Principal in 2018, having taught in New Zealand and overseas, and worked in educational leadership for a number of years. I began my teaching career in the UK, relocating to New Zealand in 2004.

I am actively involved in the Education sector more widely, including in forums focused on initial teacher education and the NZEI Principal's Council, in addition to a seat on the Executive of the Normal and Model Schools Association and other professional groups.

I have a passion for teaching and learning that inspires and engages young minds, and am committed to ensuring the school's strategic direction helps to achieve this to support every child to achieve success.

My wife also works in Primary Education, and we have 2 boys.

In my role as a board member, I offer strategic education insight and leadership to the Board, in addition to serving as the Board's CEO in relation to all aspects of operational life and management at school.

mike nooney, board member

I have one daughter who is in Year 4 at MENPS and we appreciate how active and inclusive the MENPS community is.

I've held a variety of technology leadership roles in a range of sectors including aviation, healthcare and financial services. I work for a global cloud company and help Kiwi software companies export globally.

In my spare time I enjoy time with my family, kayaking, tech related advisory boards and teaching coding.

I look forward to serving on the MENPS board and to build on the already strong foundation.

ANNETTE QUESADO, board member

I am a parent representative currently serving my second term on the Board and have been Presiding Member since August 2022.

I currently have 3 children at the school (in years 2, 5 and 6). As someone who was relatively new to Mt Eden when my eldest started school, I have been grateful for the sense of community and friendship the school offers.

I'm a lawyer by profession, and currently work in the financial services sector advising on large strategic projects including corporate partnerships, technology, procurement and marketing. I am also heavily involved in governance and corporate board issues.

MENPS is a wonderful school, with inspired teachers and genuinely curious and engaged children. I am proud to be part of a School Board that values collaboration and quality governance. I am committed to building on the school's solid strategic foundations and core values to ensure it continues to offer the best educational outcomes for its students for years to come.

nigel sinclair, deputy

I currently have one daughter in Year 3 at MENPS with another due to start in a few years and have lived in Mt Eden since 2010.

Since becoming a school parent in 2020, I have been consistently impressed with the sense of community encouraged at MENPS. I believe creating and maintaining a healthy curiosity for learning alongside a safe and happy environment for our children is fundamental to the school’s success.

My professional experience has spanned finance, property development, investment and funds management in New Zealand and overseas. I currently work for a large investment and property development business with a particular focus on finance and strategy.

I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to the MENPS community as a Board Member.

xuemei tang, board member

I have three children, two of them are at MENPS.

My family have been part of the MENPS community since 2015 when my eldest child started school. I feel incredibly lucky to be in this inclusive, supportive community and have been volunteering at the school for 7 years.

I’m an urban planner by profession and work in research. I previously worked in journalism and education. I have been co-opted onto the board in 2021 and I’m proud to be working alongside our dedicated board members.

I’m passionate about community development and sustainability. I’m committed to contributing to the school’s core values and ensuring we enhance MENPS’s learning environment for the children and the wider community.

anna thomas, board member

I have one daughter in Year 2 at MENPS, and my younger daughter will be starting Year 0 in 2023.

I am a Chartered Accountant by profession and have worked in public practice firms for 15 years working with many SMEs. I have recently started work as an in-house accountant at a NZ owned babywear producer and retailer.

I believe that the school’s vision of being wide eyed and enthusiastic about learning is something to aspire to, and hope to contribute to this as a board member.

I am looking forward to working with the board to help maintain good governance so that our children can continue to succeed.

SEAN MCKENZIE, STAFF REPRESENTATIVE

I have been selected as the staff representative for the Board in 2023. Currently, I hold the position of Team Leader for Year 2 and also serve as the Lead Robotics and Coding teacher. I bring with me previous experience as the Team Leader for Year 4, which I held for four years.

Originally from Dunedin, I successfully completed a Bachelor of Education Studies and a Postgraduate in Teaching in Education from the University of Otago. Being an educator has been a source of immense satisfaction for me, and over my eight years of teaching, I have continually developed and refined my teaching and learning approach. I strongly believe that MENPS offers an ideal environment for learners to pursue their passions and choose their own learning pathways. In my classroom, I strive to ensure that every student is engaged, excited, self-driven, and challenged, all while making the learning experience enjoyable.

I am thrilled to collaborate with other board members in ensuring that MENPS continues to be a school that fosters high engagement and achievement.