Meet the Governing Council

Our governance body (Council) members are responsible for ensuring our legislative functions are carried out effectively and efficiently and in the interests of the profession and the public. 

Councillors serve three-year terms. 

Seven members are elected by the profession: a teacher and professional leader from the ECE sector, a teacher and principal from both the primary and secondary sector, and a registered teacher from the initial teacher education or continuing teacher education sector. The last election was held in February 2025. 

Six members are appointed by the Minister of Education.

The current Council took office on 1 July 2025. 

Robyn Baker ONZM - Chair (extended role through to 28 August 2025)

Robyn Baker was a secondary teacher and then a tertiary lecturer and manager between 1984 and 2000, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Council for Education Research until 2014, and the Chair of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) between 2016 and 2023.

In recent years she has also undertaken a range of work in the education sector, including coordinating the development of the Leadership Strategy for the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, chairing the selection and monitoring panel for the Teacher-led Innovation Fund, contributing to curriculum development initiatives within the Ministry of Education (MoE), and acting as Programme Director for the Curriculum Enhancement Programme at the University of Waikato. 

She was a member of the Royal Society Council from 1997-2002 and chaired its Education Committee.

Names of Governing Council members