2025 Board Elections
We are delighted to have 11 outstanding candidates for this election.
Please take the time to have a look at the candidates’ statements and decide which five people you think would best represent you on our school board.
Thank you to the candidates for standing for this election.
Key Dates
13 August (Wednesday) - Voting papers issued (email or post)
10 September (Wednesday) - Election day (electronic voting) - polls close at 4pm
15 September (Monday) - Accept postal votes
16 September (Tuesday) - Votes counted
17 September (Wednesday) - Board takes office
Amanda Leith
Kia ora, my name is Amanda Leith and I have two daughters, one who graduated from Te Kura last year and the other, who is currently in Year 6. We made the 'big' decision to move them to the school when it opened and haven't looked back. I would therefore like to assist the school in continuing to develop as an exceptional place for learning, particularly as the school grows with our community.
I am a self-employed urban planner and I am therefore well versed in drafting, communicating and applying legislation, policies and guidelines in order to achieve quality outcomes for the community and environment. This experience will assist in being an effective and collaborative member of the board of trustees.
Schools are the heart of a community and are so important for shaping children's sense of self and well-being. Effective governance of the school through the Board of Trustees is key to assisting the Principal and teachers to excel in their work and create and environment where children can grow and learn. I would love the opportunity to provide this support to the school to continue to thrive.
Ania Lang
I have a daughter who has just started at the school and a second who will start in a couple of years. I’m very proud of the wonderful asset that the school is for our community and would love to be able to support it as a rep on the board.
Anita Johnson
As one of the original families of Te Kura Wakatipu o Kawarau, I’ve had the privilege of watching the school grow from just 90 children into the vibrant, safe, and welcoming environment it is today. It fills me with immense pride and inspiration to reflect on our journey—from the empty paddock we first stood on to the incredible place where I now confidently leave my children each day, knowing they are supported and nurtured as whole individuals.
Over time, my involvement with the school has deepened, and so has my commitment to its continued growth and development. I am genuinely passionate about supporting not just the school itself, but every child who walks through its gates each morning. I believe I can be a strong and authentic voice for the families in our community.
With over 15 years of experience working with children, I bring empathy and insight to the everyday challenges faced by students, parents, and teachers. My background in teaching within the performing arts sector also provides me with a unique and creative perspective. Having children in both the junior and senior parts of the school gives me valuable insight into the strengths and areas for improvement that many families experience. I truly believe that by asking the right questions and listening carefully, we can keep moving forward in a positive direction. Every child deserves the opportunity to reach academic excellence—guided by their individual talents and abilities. By working together as a community, we can help make that achievement possible.
My involvement in community initiatives, including the school’s Friends of the School group, has shown me the power of speaking up, asking questions and taking action. With the right support, the right tools, and a shared sense of purpose, I believe we can continue building a school we are all proud of—one that leads the way in our region.
My forward-thinking and proactive approach in all areas of my life gives me confidence that I can make a meaningful difference in our school.
Arne Burgess
Tēnā tātou,
He mihi tuatahi ki te mana whenua o tēnei rohe, Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha (Acknowledgements to Iwi)
He mihi tuarua, kā hāpori me kā whānau me kā kāimahi o tātou kura (Acknowledgements to our community, families and staff)
Ko Arne Burgess tōku ikoa. He uri ahau nō Kāti Whātua Ōrākei me Kā Puhi.
I’m a proud father of two—Alice, who is in Year 4, and Ari, who is 11 months old—and husband to Bex. Since the kura opened, I’ve been amazed at how the staff, board, and leadership have responded to the rapid growth. In my professional role, I see clear indicators that this growth will not only continue but accelerate over the next 5 to 10 years. The addition of 12 new learning spaces is exciting, but I believe they may be filled as quickly as they’re built. I want to support the board and leadership team in preparing for this inevitable expansion.
The southern corridor connecting Queenstown to Kingston is known to iwi as Te Tapuae o Uenuku—the Footprints of the Rainbow God. On misty days in Hanleys or Jacks Point, you can feel the presence of those who walked here generations ago. My motivation for joining the board is to help ensure that as our kura grows and welcomes new whānau, we maintain our deep connection to place and purpose. I want us to remember why we chose to live here—beneath this majestic mountain and beside this incredible lake and remember that this is only our place for now, it inevitably belongs to those that will come after us.
Please consider voting for me to represent not only those of us that are here today but those that are yet to come.
Kā Mihi
Arne Burgess
Brendon Mills
My name is Brendon and I’m nominating myself forward as a school Board member. With a civil engineering background and nearly nine years of living in Queenstown, I am deeply committed to the growth and development of our community and its educational institutions.
My family and I have been an integral part of the school community. My wife, Alex, who was the founding Chair of the Friends of the School, has been heavily involved in various school fundraising activities for the last four years. We are proud parents of an 8-year-old boy, who started his educational journey in the year the school opened, and a 6-year-old girl, both of whom are currently enrolled in the school.
Professionally, I serve as the Regional Manager of Beca in Queenstown. I’m also currently the Design Manager and member of the Alliance Management Team on the Kā Huanui a Tāhuna Alliance. These roles have equipped me with valuable skills in design, construction, and navigating the challenges associated with growth and development in Queenstown. My claim to fame within the school community is organising the construction of the school's jungle gym, back when the school had just opened.
Erin Victoria Jackson
Kia ora koutou,
As an experienced director, community advocate and māmā of two (Ted & Flossy), I bring more than a decade of governance, fundraising and strategic leadership experience to the table. I would be proud to represent our whānau community as a parent representative on the school board.
I’ve held governance roles across education, the arts, rangatahi development, philanthropy and social change, with a strong focus on equity, inclusion and community impact. I currently serve as a Trustee of both Te Atamira, a multidisciplinary arts and cultural space here in Tāhuna Queenstown, and the University of Canterbury Foundation, which supports educational excellence through philanthropic partnerships. My previous roles include Deputy Chair of the Arts Centre of Christchurch, where I helped oversee a $290 million restoration programme, and Chair of the Student Volunteer Army, one of Aotearoa’s most recognised youth initiatives.
Fundraising and resource development are core strengths I would bring. Through my mahi leading Narrative Campaigns and Project Gender, I’ve delivered impactful regional and national campaigns that uplift communities and secure funding for initiatives that matter. I’m skilled at building relationships across sectors; including government, iwi, philanthropy and community, and I know how to align vision with action.
I understand governance deeply, especially in fast-moving or high-pressure environments. From post-earthquake Ōtautahi to the response following the tragic events of March 15, I’ve worked with organisations to navigate challenges with compassion and clarity. I understand the difference between governance and management and value the importance of collective responsibility in decision-making.
More importantly, I’m deeply committed to our kura (school) and local community. My husband and I moved here seven years ago to establish and grow Golden Homes Southern Lakes, and we are proud to call this place home.
Strong schools build strong communities. I am excited by the opportunities that our tamariki (children) have to learn, grow and thrive at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau and it would be an honour to contribute my experience, energy and aroha to our board.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.
Hannah Clowes
My name is Hannah Clowes and I would like to express my interest in serving on the Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau School Board.
I am a parent of two school foundation students, who are currently in Years 6 and 8, and have a third child starting in Year 1 in 2026. I have demonstrated my commitment to the success of the school through fundraising, various parent help roles, and three years as a netball coach. I would now like to formally commit to contributing my time, experience, and perspective to ensure the continued success and growth of our school.
My professional background is as a Town Planner, working in various government roles, as well as for the private sector. I am also a member of the newly formed Remarkables Trails Trust - set up to establish a network of high amenity trails within the Southern Corridor, including the QEII Remarkables Station.
I am highly experienced in collaborating with diverse groups, and am accustomed to listening to differing opinions and ideas, and working effectively to achieve successful outcomes. I also have a high level of experience working within a legislative environment - of key significance for a school board, noting the requirements of the Education and Training Act 2020, as well as the National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) set by the Government.
I am also proficient in setting, and delivering, strategic direction. I therefore look forward to working through the opportunities and challenges facing our school community during a time of significant population growth.
I am motivated to support the continued development of our school curriculum, as well as advocating for student safety, responsible budgeting, and the recruitment (and retention) of quality teaching staff. Importantly, I am committed to considerate and thoughtful engagement, and working hard to support a positive and successful learning environment for all students.
Thank you for your consideration.
Jane Pridham
My name is Jane. I have a strong connection to our school community with one child in the junior school and another who will start school in 2026.
Our family have lived in Queenstown for numerous years and have loved watching the community grow and evolve.
I have a background in human resources and employment relations across public sector and private sector. I am currently working as an employment advisor within the education sector. This experience gives me valuable skills to be involved in meaningful discussions around the Board table, contribute to the school strategic vision and provide the necessary support for our students, staff and school.
Our school is where education and community come together and I am passionate about working towards a shared vision for our school and look forward to making a positive impact alongside the Board.
Jonathan North
Kia ora koutou,
I’m putting myself forward for the board because I believe every child deserves a school where they feel safe, supported and excited to learn. My three kids, Abigail (year 5), Olivia (year 3) and Joshua (year 1), all attend the school so I understand how important it is for families to feel connected and supported.
I’ve worked in human resources, leadership, policy and governance for over 15 years and through that I’ve learned how to collaborate, make clear decisions and solve complex problems. I’d like to bring that experience to the board to help support our students, staff and families.
If elected, I will listen to our community, back our school leaders and stay focused on what really matters: creating a positive, inclusive environment where every child can thrive.
Ngā mihi,
Jonathan North
Scott Koopman
Hi everyone. I am a parent of twins in currently in Year 5 at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau.
Originally from Christchurch, I received my education in NZ, the USA and France. I am a trained architect and former partner at Warren and Mahoney in Christchurch and Auckland. My residential, commercial interior and civic projects have been published and recognised with national NZIA awards, and include the refurbishment of the Beehive. I was also involved with the NZ Department of Education and different focus groups in developing new school typologies for implementation throughout New Zealand, primarily the restructuring of future school campuses into junior, middle and senior/tertiary campuses.
In 2002 I relocated to Sydney, where I continued work on a variety of both small and large-scale commercial and public projects, where I met my now husband and we started our family.
Post COVID, we decided to relocate back to Aotearoa New Zealand so our children could experience the wonderful lifestyle so many of us take for granted, and our children started attending Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau in 2022.
I maintain great interest in politics at both local and national level, and with the many changes currently being proposed for our school and the education sector at large, I wish to be much more hands-on in how this impacts all of our children.
Given the recent announcement of our school’s expansion, I believe my background in architecture could be helpful during the upcoming construction period.
Should you choose to elect me, I look forward to the opportunity to serve our school community during the next three years with openness, frankness and transparency.
Nga mihi.
Siying Xie
Kia ora, my name is Siying Xie, and I’m a proud parent of a new entrant at the school. With our daughter just starting her journey here, I’m keen to be actively involved in helping our school thrive. And I am a chartered accountant with a strong background in financial management and strategic planning.
I believe in building a strong, supportive community where every child can feel safe, confident, and inspired to learn. As a parent, I bring a fresh perspective and a genuine commitment to supporting the school’s vision and values.
If elected, I’ll work to strengthen the connection between whānau and school, and help ensure all voices are heard in shaping the future of our tamariki. I’d be honoured to serve and support our school community.