Two new Commissioners join the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
Two new Commissioners have been appointed on to the Board of the New Zealand National Commission, by the Minister of Education, Erica Stanford. Laura Black will join the Board as our new Social Sciences Commissioner and Professor Gail Gillon (Ngā Tahu) will join as our new Education Commissioner.
Welcome Aboard
They join Chair Liz Longworth and Commissioners Vanisa Dhiru MNZM, Linda Faulkner and Dr Dan Hikuroa on the National Commission.
The new appointments further add to the remarkable mix of skills and experience among the members of the National Commission.
“Both Laura and Gail are exceptional leaders in their individual fields, and we look forward to them joining our National Commission whānau,” says National Commission Secretary General, Vicki Soanes.
As we welcome the two new commissioners, we farewell outgoing Education Commissioner Professor Carol Mutch and Social Sciences Commissioner Emeritus Professor Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop.
“We want to thank both Carol and Peggy for their dedication to supporting the mahi of the Commission, over the past six years, their contribution was invaluable, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours,” says Vicki.
The National Commission connects New Zealand to valuable UNESCO resources, networks, and programmes (such as the Creative Cities Network and the Global Geopark Network). Our mission is to deepen connections between the people of New Zealand and UNESCO globally through the sharing of ideas and building capability for a sustainable, healthy and more peaceful future.
Laura Black and Professor Gail Gillon begin their roles November 2024.
Our New Commissioners
Professor Gail Gillon – Education Commissioner
Professor Gail Gillon is an international leader in children’s speech, language and early literacy development. She is Co-Lead Developer of the Better Start Literacy Approach and is also the founding Director of the University of Canterbury Child Well-Being Research Institute. Professor Gillon was Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Canterbury between 2007 and 2018 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, the American Speech-Language and Therapy Association, and the New Zealand Speech Language Therapy Association.
Laura Black - Social Sciences Commissioner
Laura Black has extensive governance experience in economic development, research and community organisations. This includes as the Independent Chair on the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Study Governance Group, as Chair of Otago Science into Action, and as Deputy Chair at the Otago Museum Trust Board. She has a consultant for the Family and Sexual Violence Multi-Agency Initiative and the Social Wellbeing Agency and was the Head of the Alumni and Development Office at the University of Otago. She is the Director of the Methodist Mission Southern.
