Getting to know Sean McKinley
21 August 2026
As our new Chief Executive, Sean McKinley, settles into the role, we’ve taken the opportunity to introduce you to the person behind the position.
Sean brings extensive experience spanning education, psychology, professional regulation and governance. Yet he believes the foundations of his leadership were laid much earlier, growing up in Christchurch with a mother whose life was dedicated to improving the lives of others.
"My social worker mother, Margaret Grenfell, instilled in me a strong sense of social justice and a deep understanding of the importance of enabling others," he says.
Margaret devoted her career to supporting vulnerable people. She established a social service agency for solo parents and was actively involved in significant social issues, including advocacy around the introduction of the Domestic Purposes Benefit and some of the earliest counselling work for the New Zealand AIDS network.
"Growing up, there was always an emphasis on honesty and respect," he says. "Those weren't just values we talked about – they were simply the way we lived."
Sean recalls that Margaret fostered in each of her children a spirit of adventure. “She placed enormous importance on education, too,” he adds.
“When my sister, brother and I were young, my mother went to university to further her training. We all chipped in to make the household work. While I wasn’t conscious of it at the time, it’s where I was first introduced to the importance of teamwork and the value of collaboration. The idea that by working together, big things can happen (in this case my mother receiving her degree)," he says.
Margaret’s wide network of friends and colleagues, including community leaders, MPs and government ministers, exposed Sean to a broad range of ideas and perspectives from an early age.
“People from all walks of life: office holders, families in need and senior business leaders came to visit us at home in the course of my mother’s work,” says Sean.
Those experiences sparked an enduring interest in people and what motivates them. After attending Catholic schools throughout his education, Sean studied psychology and education at the University of Canterbury, where he spent seven years developing the knowledge and skills that would underpin his future career. But it began with a twist.
Sean applied for a position as a bank teller, and, while he was unsuccessful in securing that role, the organisation instead offered him work in computer programming and database development. It was his university studies, however, that opened the door to a career in professional regulation, where he discovered work that closely aligned with his values.
Over the following two decades, Sean held leadership roles across the public, education and not-for-profit sectors, including the New Zealand Psychological Society, the Social Workers Registration Board, Playcentre Aotearoa and, most recently, Toitū te Waiora the Workforce Development Council for Community, Health, Education and Social Services.
Throughout those roles, Sean says he has always viewed regulation through the lens of public service.
"Regulation isn't only about enhancing the profession. It's about protecting the public."
His career has also included significant international experience. As Programme Manager for AFS Intercultural Programs, Sean oversaw student exchange programmes across 56 countries, reinforcing his belief in the transformative power of education.
Sean credits several mentors with helping shape his leadership style. Among them was Arthur Graves, a teacher at Xavier College who recognised his academic strengths and encouraged him to pursue them. Sean says having a teacher who took a genuine interest in him left a lasting impression and reinforced the importance of investing in people's potential.
That belief continues to guide his approach to leadership today.
"Arthur Graves saw me. The school had a strong focus on sporting achievement, and Arthur knew my interests lay outside of that. He encouraged me to pursue what I enjoyed," Sean recalls. "That made a real difference."
A later connection with another mentor opened opportunities to serve on the Social Workers Registration Board and become involved with the international regulatory organisation CLEAR, broadening his experience in governance and leadership.
Those experiences reinforced Sean's belief that leadership is fundamentally about investing in people.
"I see leadership as helping to create the conditions where people can do their best work."
Sean describes his leadership style as participative and grounded in service. He believes strong organisations are built by investing in people, building capable teams and creating opportunities for others to succeed.
Those values drew him to the Teaching Council.
Having worked across education, legislation and professional regulation, Sean recognised the opportunity to contribute to an organisation with a clear public purpose and an important role in maintaining trust and confidence in the teaching profession.
Outside work, Sean enjoys spending time with his family and grandchildren, and the newest member of the household – Martin, a lively Jack Russell Terrier named after Martin Crane from the television series Frasier.
Fast Five Favourites with Sean McKinley
Tea or Coffee? Tea
Beach swim or bush walk? Beach swim
Rock music or jazz? Rock
Fiction or Non-Fiction? Fiction
Favourite NZ film? The Piano
