Our people

What we do

Meet our leadership team

Our Governing Council is supported by an organisation of about 100 employees led by a chief executive and leadership team.

Get to know our executive team.

Lesley Hoskin, Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive

I believe great teaching changes lives, and strong leadership has the power to transform professions and create lasting impact. I know this not just from being Chief Executive of the Teaching Council, but from my own experience as a young person who left school early because I didn’t feel seen. That experience fuels my purpose today - to ensure every learner in Aotearoa is supported by a teacher who is trusted, valued, and empowered to do their best work.

My career began in a large IT company, but my heart led me to start an e-learning and change management business, which I ran for 15 years while raising my family. Over the past decade, I've held senior roles in the education sector, where I've had the privilege of leading policy conversations and large implementation teams - all with a focus on lifting student achievement. This included serving as Associate Deputy Secretary for Student Achievement at the Ministry of Education and leading the teacher payroll recovery project as Associate Deputy Secretary of Novopay.

I bring a strategic mindset and a genuine passion for creating solutions that make a real difference. I hold a Diploma in Te Reo Māori, a Master's in Public Sector Management, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management & Leadership from Oxford Universtity.

Tamahau Te Rau , Pou Kaiāwhā | Deputy Chief Executive

As Deputy Chief Executive (Whanganui, Taranaki Whānui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngā Wairiki, Ngāti Apa), I’m honoured to help lead the Teaching Council in our journey as a Te Tiriti-led and values-based organisation.

Before joining the Council, my path was one of service - to my people as an iwi education leader, to culture as an advisor, to knowledge as a lecturer in Wānanga and universities, to wellbeing as a health worker, and most importantly, to education as a teacher. I’ve walked alongside learners in kōhanga reo, primary, kura kaupapa, and secondary schools, and those experiences continue to shape everything I do.

Each step has deepened my belief in the power of education, the strength of our heritage, and the responsibility we carry for the generations to come. I see teachers as the heart of our communities, trusted, skilled, and deeply committed, and I’m here to support and uplift the profession so that every kaiako feels valued and empowered.

Clive Jones , Pou Kaiāwhā | Deputy Chief Executive

As Deputy Chief Executive at the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, I am privileged to work alongside teachers, principals, and leaders across the motu to help strengthen the mana of teaching - so teachers can change lives. Every day, I see the expertise, care, and commitment that kaiako bring to their work, and I am driven by the Council’s purpose to support and uplift the profession.

My background spans over two decades in education and public service, including senior roles in higher education and at Education New Zealand. I have led teams through change, advocated for the profession, and worked to ensure our systems and standards reflect the realities of teaching today. At the Council, I focus on delivering services that are responsive, fair, and grounded in our values - whakamana, manaakitanga, pono, and whanaungatanga. I am committed to listening to the profession, building trust, and ensuring our mahi honours the vital role teachers play in shaping lives and communities.

I believe that when we work together - teachers, leaders, and the Council – we can create the conditions for every learner to thrive. My goal is to help ensure the profession is valued, supported, and empowered to make a difference, every day.

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