Our People

I am the Marlborough face of the ‘Top of the South Trades Academy. I have a background as an administrator in the education sector having held various roles in a local secondary school.

It is a pleasure to be involved with the Trades Academy programme, seeing our Marlborough students participating in the classes, where they are actively engaged in their learning, gaining skills and confidence, being creative and taking their first steps into a future career.

I look forward to seeing Trades Academy continue to grow and meet the needs of the students in our region.

I am the behind the scenes member of the TOTSTA team providing administration support. My primary focus is liaising between our schools and tertiary partners, to ensure that our students experience a smooth transition to Trades Academy.

I first got involved in the educational sector 30 years ago when I had opportunities to share the passion of the work I was doing in aquaculture with tertiary students at NMIT. When I left full-time work to raise my family, I took the opportunity to get more involved in the education sector, working for a private training company providing workplace training for aquaculture and seafood employees.  This workplace perspective highlighted for me the important role secondary education has in preparing our young people for employment in primary industries.

I am proud to be part of the Trades Academy team, providing opportunities that are a real benefit to secondary students. As a mum of 3 young adults who show vastly different educational strengths and needs, I have been keenly aware that school systems do not necessarily suit all children equally.  I see Top of the South Trades Academy as an important addition to schools providing a different learning pathway, and a real chance for some students to find their passion & succeed within the school system.

I joined TOTSTA in July 2025, stepping into the managers role to ensure the continued success and smooth operation of the Top of the South Trades Academy. We proudly partner with 17 secondary schools and 4 training providers to deliver a diverse range of vocational programmes for senior secondary students across our region, complementing their in-school learning.

Raised in the Nelson Tasman region and after completing my study I returned home in 2006 to start my career in secondary education. Over the past eight years, I’ve been closely involved with the Trades Academy, championing vocational education and creating meaningful pathways for students.

I am committed to building strong, collaborative relationships with schools, tertiary providers, and industry partners to enhance student educational outcomes and help them better understand what is possible beyond school. I see the Trades Academy as a vital addition to our education system, offering students a different learning journey and a real chance to discover their passion and thrive.

I look forward to supporting the continued growth of the Trades Academy and ensuring it meets the evolving educational needs of our students and the future pathway opportunities in our region.