Open invitation to GCED panel discussion

Opened by Hon Jenny Salesa, Associate Minister of Education, the event will feature the perspectives of five well-respected academics and thinkers. Each was commissioned to write a paper discussing GCED from their own unique position, ideas and experiences. Perspectives range from Māori, Pasifika, academic and education to youth. All explore GCED from a New Zealand context, and consider approaches to GCED that may contribute to addressing the world’s pressing issues.

The purpose of this event is to share and discuss the papers, including a Q & A session at the end. It will also enable networking opportunities for anyone interested in the area of GCED.

When: 12 August 2019, 5.30-7.30pm
Where: National Library auditorium, 70 Molesworth St, Thorndon, Wellington

Hon Jenny Salesa – Member of Parliament

Hon Jenny Salesa is New Zealand’s first Tongan born, Tongan speaking Member of Parliament and the first Tongan born Cabinet Minister of the Crown. In 2014 she was elected in as the Member of Parliament for Manukau East and was subsequently re-elected in 2017.

Following her re-election, Jenny was sworn into Cabinet as a Minister of the Crown with portfolio responsibilities for Building and Construction and Ethnic Communities, and with Associate responsibilities for Education, Health, Housing and Urban Development. She is also the Minister Responsible for Relations with UNESCO.

Carol Mutch – Education Commissioner, New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

Dr Carol Mutch is the National Commission’s Education Commissioner. She brings a strong education research perspective that is closely aligned to UNESCO’s work in nations experiencing rapid change, conflict and trauma. Dr Mutch is an Associate Professor in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland.

Bronwyn Wood – Senior Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington

Bronwyn Wood is a Senior Lecturer in Education at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Her research interests centre on issues relating to youth participation, citizenship and education. She has a particular interest in youth politics and citizenship participation and the ways that young people understand and experience both formal and informal modes of citizenship participation and how education mediates this. Her recent research focuses on experiences of belonging and citizenship for young people growing up in some of New Zealand’s most culturally diverse communities. She is an Editor of the journal Theory, Research and Social Education and has published in many journals including Emotion, Space and Society, Political Geography, Teaching and Teacher Education and the Journal of Youth Studies.

Dr Sonja Macfarlane (PhD) ­– Practice and Implementation Adviser (Maori focus), former Associate Professor, University of Canterbury

Sonja Macfarlane (Ngāi Tahu; Ngāti Waewae) is a Pouhikiahurea (Practice and Implementation Adviser: Māori Focus) at the Ministry of Education based in Hamilton. Until mid-2019, she was an Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Canterbury (UC). The focus of her research and writing is on culturally responsive evidence-based approaches in education, psychology, and counselling. Her work has been widely published in leading research journals, both nationally and internationally. In 2017, Sonja received New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) Tohu Pae Tawhiti Award for her contributions to Māori research over many years. In 2017, she was the member of a team that received the UC College of Education, Health and Human Development Research Team Award. In 2015, she was a co-recipient of the CLNZ Education Award “Best Resource in Higher Education”, and in 2014 received a UC Research Excellence Award. Sonja is a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society, as is an advisory member on several ministerial-funded projects.

Jacoba Matapo – Associate Dean Pasifika, University of Auckland

Jacoba Matapo is the Associate Dean Pasifika at the Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland. Jacoba is also the programme leader of the Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) Pasifika specialisation. Jacoba lectures across a range of courses in teacher education including, learning in Pasifika contexts, Pasifika arts, education philosophy and politics. Her focus in Pasifika indigenous wisdoms calls into question tensions of normativity and teleological ethics in research practice and processes.

Maria Perreau – Teacher/Doctoral Candidate, University of Auckland

Maria has been passionate about citizenship education and its intersection with social justice since early in her teaching career. Currently the Curriculum Leader of Social Sciences at Ōtaki College, Maria weaves together her classroom experience with her skills as an educational researcher to bring a unique perspective to her work with young people and educators. She is also completing her doctoral thesis on the being and becoming of young social activists in Aotearoa, and co-chair of the executive committee of the Aotearoa Social Studies Educators’ Network.

Pete McKenzie – UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leader

Pete McKenzie is a journalist and student. He volunteers weekly for the Wellington City Mission, serves as an enlisted soldier in the Army Reserve, and studies Law, Political Science and Mandarin at Victoria University. He writes mainly on youth, law, social movements and international relations.