Angela Beaton joins the team

This week Te Kura Matatini o Taranaki welcomed Dr Angela Beaton to the role of Acting Executive Director to see WITT through the transition as business divisions integrate into Te Pūkenga.

“It’s an exciting time to join the team as we join forces across the motu to work as one organisation to benefit our learners, employers and communities.”

Angela has worked in the tertiary education, health and research sectors in New Zealand and Australia for the past 20 years, and education in some shape or form has always been a central theme in her life and work. Most recently, she held the role of Deputy Chief Executive Delivery and Academic with Te Pūkenga based in Hamilton. Prior to that she worked in management positions at Te Toka Tumai Auckland DHB (now Te Whatu Ora) and at Wintec where she led the establishment of Aotearoa New Zealand’s third physiotherapy school.

“I’m looking forward to working with Te Pūkenga kaimahi in Taranaki and what we can achieve with a more collaborative approach across our network of delivery.”

Having delivered large-scale academic innovations, collaborating with learners, industry, employers, researchers, communities, Iwi, marae, Pacific leaders and education providers in the past, Angela has vast experience to draw on.

“I consider the biggest challenge we face is creating an equitable vocational education system. There is no such thing as high-quality education that is inequitable, and our current system is largely designed so that Māori experience differences in educational outcomes that are not only avoidable but unfair and unjust.

For Angela, the outcomes of the mahi are the rewards for New Zealand as a whole and New Zealanders as individuals, whānau and communities.

“A healthy and vibrant Te Pūkenga is a vital part of ensuring that Aotearoa has an education system that can meet the skills needs of the future. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to work together to shape this kaupapa and improve outcomes for everyone involved in the sector.

“At its best, education is transformative. Learners are at the heart of what we do here and every single one of us has an important role to play in their journey. I don’t think we should ever underestimate what a difference education can make in the lives of learners with their whānau and communities, and everyone deserves that opportunity.”