Lesley Hoskin appointed as new Chief Executive

The Teaching Council’s Governing Board has appointed Lesley Hoskin as the Council’s next Chief Executive.

Lesley has been working as the Interim Chief Executive since the departure of Dr Graham Stoop in December 2018.  As Interim Chief Executive, Lesley has been responsible for the strategic direction and ensuring the more than 130,000 registered teachers and professional leaders are provided with the guidance and leadership to lift the status of the teaching profession.

In previous roles Lesley has worked at the Ministry of Education in various capacities, including Associate Deputy Secretary Student Achievement, Acting Associate Deputy Secretary and Senior Manager Change and Transition for Corporate and Infrastructure Group (CIG). She was responsible for group strategic financial management with $5.4b from Crown and $77.3m departmental funds. She had oversight of the Schooling Policy Team and Leadership of all three curriculums Te Whāriki, the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Mārautanga o Aotearoa.

Teaching Council Board Chair Nicola Ngarewa says Lesley will be an outstanding leader of the Council.

"We are very excited to have Lesley accept the position of Chief Executive. Lesley is an experienced leader with a deep understanding of the education sector. We know Lesley’s poised to take the Council to the next level,” says Nicola.

Lesley, who lives in Wellington with her husband, says she is excited and privileged to have the opportunity to lead the Teaching Council as it continues the transition from regulatory authority to membership body.

"I’m very humbled to have this opportunity to build on the work my predecessors have done at the Council, but also to look forward to working with teachers and professional leaders in areas of concern to them, including physical restraint and leadership. The Council plays a vital role in supporting the profession and I’m eager to working alongside Council staff and the Board to grow our organisation.

"Like a number of young people at school, I didn’t fit into the confines of the classroom and as a 15-year-old found myself at odds with the schooling system, so I ended up leaving at just 16. That experience could have had a very negative effect about learning and the role teachers have in developing young people, but it did the opposite, providing me with a drive and commitment for education and wanting to make a difference for every learner, inclusive of diversity.

“I’m excited by the work we’re currently doing at the Council and we’re looking forward to working on a number of upcoming projects, including our role around Leadership announced in the updated Tomorrow’s Schools reforms. There’s a number of exciting developments moving forward, so watch this space!” she says.

Lesley will take up the position of Chief Executive immediately.