The Springboard Trust Team

Meet the people who keep Springboard Trust thriving.

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Dale Bailey

Tumu Whakarae | CEO (Tāmaki Makaurau)

Dale has worked in numerous role that influence his passion for the lives of young New Zealanders, holding responsibility for learners across the nation. He began his career as a teacher of geography and social studies in Palmerston North, before working as a Review Officer (and later Deputy Chief Review Office Northern) at the Education Review Office (ERO). 

He has since worked as Counties-Manukau Regional Manager and Northern Manager at Careers New Zealand, leading the redevelopment of careers education and support for schools. More recently, Dale joined the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa as Director of Collections Research and Learning. In the last year Dale has been undertaking work as a consultant for his own company. 

Dale is keenly interested in promoting high quality education and life long learning across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Andrew Bull

Pou Whakahaere | Head of Operations (Waitaha)

Andrew joined Springboard Trust as Head of Operations in 2021, following more than 20 years in the commercial sector both overseas and in Aotearoa - most recently an eight-year journey through our dairy sector. In this time, he developed a wealth of experience in high-growth organisations, senior leadership and general operations across a multitude of sectors - including many years as a Springboard Trust facilitator in the Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme. A long-standing school trustee and father of two, Andrew embodies the cross-sector magic that Springboard Trust delivers and is looking forward to maintaining a high-performing team and environment with us. 

Ellie Sutton

Pou Aratuku | Head of Delivery (Waitaha)

Ellie leads our programme delivery. She brings more than 15 years of professional experience working in the not-for-profit sector with passion and drive to contribute her energy, skills and experience to make a difference in our communities. 

Before joining Springboard Trust, Ellie worked for the Ministry of Education and the Westland Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP). In this role, she led the development of the 10-year strategic plan for youth development in Westland.

In her spare time, Ellie volunteers for a Rangatahi Māori Youth Development Trust and sings with Christchurch City Chorus. 

Linnae Pohatu

Pae Arahi (Tāmaki Makaurau)

Linnae (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu, Rongowhakaata, Ngai Tāmanuhiri and Te Aitanga-ā-Mahaki) has 14 years experience as a senior executive in the state and museum sectors. This includes leading Māori and Pacific strategy and development at Career Services, representing them during the development of the Government’s Māori Education Strategy Ka Hikitia Managing for Success (2008-2012). She was also the Tumuaki Director Māori and Pacific Development at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum. There, Linnae was responsible for strategic Iwi Māori and Pacific partnerships and relationships, Māori and Pacific strategy, and human remains repatriation. Linnae also has experience as Bicultural Policy Analyst at the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Policy Analyst at the Office of Treaty Settlements which included a period as Private Secretary to the then, Minister Responsible for Treaty Settlements, Hon Margaret Wilson, and as an Associate Clerk to the Māori Affairs Select Committee in New Zealand’s Parliament, after completing a Bachelor of Arts (Hon) in Māori Studies at Te Pūtahi ā Toi, Massey University. Linnae’s voluntary life saw her working with her iwi, for over 20 years, as an oral history researcher, Trust Secretary and Trustee for the Ngā Taonga ā Ngā Tama Toa C Company, 28 Māori Battalion Trust. Linnae lives in Tāmaki Makaurau with her partner, Julian, and their 9-year old son Tamati who is a graduate of Te Kohanga Reo and current learner in one of Auckland’s oldest Māori Language Immersion units, Whanau Ata, at Freeman’s Bay Primary School.

Chris Sullivan

Kaiārahi Whanake Pakihi | Business Development Manager (Tāmaki Makaurau)

Chris brings a wide range of experiences to Springboard Trust as an experienced director, consultant, general manager and project manager and more than 15 years of experience working with public, private, and not-for-profit clients. His areas of expertise include learning design, change management, stakeholder and partner management in new and established teams and organisations. Chris has worked in a range of sectors including education, GLAM, publishing, B2B, youth and health. Chris has led significant local, regional, national, and international projects. His interest lies primarily in education and the interface of strategy and practice; the use of data and evidence to inform change; and relationship management in complex multi-sector and multi-agency environments. Chris has been a volunteer capacity partner and facilitator for Springboard and currently serves on the board of the New Zealand Youth Mentoring Trust. His interests include the outdoors, travel and playing the guitar and piano.

Dianne Smardon

Kaiwhakatūtuki Mahi | Delivery Manager (Waikato)

Dianne brings skills in staff development, educational leadership and e-learning to her role with the Springboard Trust.  Over the past 20 years Dianne has worked as an adult educator in NZ where she has led several professional development projects. She has also fulfilled short term consultancy contracts in Hong Kong, working as a coach with school leaders and teachers. 

Most recently, Dianne has been contracted by the University of New England (NSW) in the capacity of In-Country Lecturer in a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded Teacher Education Project, in the Republic of Nauru. 

Eleanor McNellan

Kaiwhakatū (Kaikirimana) | Delivery Partner (Contractor) (Tāmaki Makaurau)

Eleanor joins Springboard Trust with a background in consultancy. With KPMG in the UK she specialised in strategic planning and implementation, change management and transformation – both in business and the public sector. She has spent several years in the education sector working with schools and local authorities to implement Government policies aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people. She is passionate about education and the difference it makes in young people’s lives. 

Emma Robertson

Pou Herenga Kiritaki | Customer Relationship Manager (Tāmaki Makaurau)

Emma joins Springboard as a skilled service delivery and relationship manager with more than 10 years' experience leading teams. She has broad industry experience across private, public and not-for-profit sectors including 5 years in the business training sector supporting business growth. 

Bringing strengths in leadership, strategy and stakeholder management, Emma joins Springboard Trust with a passion for services which benefit the wider community and promote equity. 

Jennifer Wright

Kaiwhakatūtuki Mahi | Delivery Manager (Tāmaki Makaurau)

Jennifer joins Springboard Trust with extensive experience in the education sector with a career that started by supporting charities teaching in developing countries. She is skilled at leading programmes that make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and strengthening education frameworks. Passionate about making a difference in peoples' lives and giving back to the community, Jennifer has a proven ability to create environments of open communication, innovation and learning, working with key stakeholders and communities, listening to their needs and fostering channels of openness to achieve mutually beneficial goals.

Krystyna Frampton

Kaiārahi Aromātai me te Kounga | Evaluation and Quality Lead (Whanganui)

Krystyna is relatively new to both New Zealand and Whanganui, having arrived in Aotearoa from the UK in September 2021. She has a first-class BA Hons in Social Science and is an experienced manager and consultant in impact measurement, stakeholder engagement, economic regeneration, and skills development, with over 13 years’ experience working in this space. Krystyna has worked both in the business private sector and the public sector and has provided training and consultancy services to enterprises and economic development agencies wanting to understand how to measure their social impacts. She is passionate about redressing the imbalance of opportunities and resources available to individuals from disadvantaged cohorts and those marginalised in our society.

Merryn Statham

Kaiwhakatū (Kaikirimana) | Delivery Partner (Contractor) (Te Tai Tokerau)

Merryn joined Springboard Trust in April 2021, bringing a diverse range of skills and sector experience to her new role as Relationship and Programme Manager for Northland. She brings experience across primary, secondary and tertiary education settings, public health leadership, community organisations, local government, and stakeholder and relationship management. Merryn is keen to use this experience to work alongside school leadership teams to support their development. Originally from Hawkes Bay, 25 years in Auckland, now loving living in beautiful Whangarei, with beautiful beaches and wonderful people.

Nicholas Williams

Kaiwhakatū (Kaikirimana) | Delivery Partner (Contractor) (Waitaha)

Nicholas has 20 years experience working in primary, secondary, and adult education in both teaching and senior management roles.

Nicholas holds a Masters degree in Educational Leadership, a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching, a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling, and a Bachelor of Commerce. He has a particular interest in leadership within cross-cultural contexts and has studied te reo me ngā tikanga Māori and advanced wānanga in Māori health and education practices.

Prior to joining Springboard Trust, he worked for AIHE consultants and Kakakura Health Services providing cultural direction and Māori educational programmes for individuals and organisations.

Rebecca Brown

Kaiwhakahaere Tūao me ngā Kiritaki | Volunteer and Partner Relationship Manager (Te Tai Tokerau)

Rebecca joined Springboard Trust in October 2017. She has an extensive background in education, based in Wellington for the past 15 years. She holds an honours degree in education and has worked as a teacher, assistant Principal, Deputy Principal and Acting Principal. 

Rebecca has also worked for Te Toi Tupu in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Cognition, supporting principals and their schools in curriculum areas. Rebecca has three daughters and loves spending time with her whānau relaxing in the outdoors. 

Shahin Sultana

Kaitauawhi Pakihi | Business Support Officer (Tāmaki Makaurau)

I am really excited to be a part of Springboard Trust as I always had a keen intertest to be a part of an education sector and a non-profit organisation so I could give back to the community and contribute to the better future of our students. I hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering from India along with data analysis certification from Otago Polytechnic. I have a diverse IT background specifically in data analysis/management and project coordination with experience working in shipping, space, and finance industries. A few of my hobbies include baking, gardening, travelling, and building Legos with my two primary school going boys.

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