Leadership team
On this page:
Senior and academic leadership
Senior leadership
The faculty's senior leadership consists of the deputy deans, te Tumu and directors of faculty operations and finance.
Academic leadership
The faculty's academic leadership consists of the associate and assistant deans. They complement and work in tandem with heads of academic units and schools, and are integral to the faculty’s leadership, reporting to the dean.
Deputy deans and directors
Deputy Dean People and Culture
Associate Professor Katherine (Kathy) Smits
Kathy brings extensive academic leadership experience to the role of Co-Deputy Dean, having served as Arts' Head of the School of Social Sciences since 2021 and as deputy head prior. She successfully navigated the transition of her school from autonomous departments to a cohesive, collaborative unit, fostering collegiality and strategic curriculum planning across disciplines. Kathy is recognised for her skills in equity-focused leadership, transparent decision-making, and empowering colleagues as agents of change. With experience in governance, strategic planning, and budget management for large academic units, she is a skilled communicator and strategic thinker.
Kathy has contributed to key University initiatives, including working groups on academic standards, freedom of expression, and gender-based harassment policies. She is deeply committed to the principles of Taumata Teitei and supports Arts and Education's success as a diverse and inclusive community.
Read Kathy's profile.
Deputy Dean Business Development
Dr Camilla Highfield
Camilla has over 18 years of experience in academic leadership, and served as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Work (EDSW) immediately prior to this role. She has extensive expertise in strategic leadership, governance, and operational management, having worked with a diverse range of teams and stakeholders within the University. As deputy dean, she oversaw academic staff workload, managed complex change initiatives including commercial contracts, and worked closely with the financial team to ensure fiscal sustainability.
Camilla has a strong commitment to supporting kaupapa Māori and Mātauranga Māori in teaching, leadership, and research, and has built strong relationships with Māori and Pacific communities throughout her career. Her research focuses on equity, particularly in relation to improving outcomes for indigenous Māori students. She is passionate about fostering collaboration, diversity, and sustainability within higher education.
Read Camilla's profile.
Te Tumu
To be appointed.
Director of Faculty Operations (DFO)
Claire Philipson
Claire is responsible for leading the faculty's professional staff operational and technical services to support teaching, learning and research. In addition, the DFO partners with central functions to achieve the strategic objectives of the University. Email Claire.
Director of Faculty Finance (DFF)
Bevan Iles
Bevan Iles is responsible for leading the faculty’s finance function focusing on financial strategy and operational success. Bevan has previously been the DFF for the Faculty of Education and Social Work has over 25 years of experience in the tertiary sector. Email Bevan.
Associate deans
Associate Dean Pacific (Learner Success)
Associate Professor Caroline Vercoe
Caroline (Vailima, Samoa, Aotearoa NZ) brings over 30 years of academic experience, including leadership roles such as Associate Dean (Equity, Outreach, and Student Experience) and Head of Art History, alongside her most recent roles as Associate Dean Faculty of Arts, Programme Director, and Major Specialist Lead in Art History. She has been instrumental in initiatives like the Junior Arts Programme, engaging over 1,500 Year 10 students annually across seven partner schools, and is internationally recognised for her research in Contemporary Pacific Art.
A passionate advocate for Māori and Pacific students, Caroline is dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging and success within Arts and Education, drawing on her extensive experience in teaching, supervision, and collaborative leadership style to create an inclusive and dynamic environment aligned with Taumata Teitei.
Read Caroline's profile.
Associate Dean Research
Professor Nancy November
Nancy brings over two decades of academic experience, including significant leadership in research strategy, development, and engagement. She has a proven track record in fostering vibrant research cultures, mentoring early-career researchers, and building strategic international partnerships. She was most recently Associate Dean of Research (Operations) and previously Associate Dean of PBRF for Creative Arts and Industries, Nancy has led initiatives that align research practices with University priorities, supported transdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthened faculty-wide research performance. Her role as National Contact Point for Horizon Europe Cluster 2 highlights her expertise in facilitating global research collaborations, securing funding, and advancing strategic goals.
Nancy’s leadership philosophy emphasises diversity, inclusion, and culturally sustaining practices, with a strong focus on Māori and Pacific research aspirations. Her vision for Arts and Education includes promoting research excellence, supporting emerging fields such as AI and cultural sustainability, and creating pathways for research career development. With her extensive experience, Nancy is well-positioned to elevate Arts and Education's research profile and drive innovative, impactful outcomes.
Read Nancy's profile.
Associate Dean Postgraduate Research
Professor Christa Fouché
Christa is an accomplished academic leader with a proven track record of fostering research excellence, innovation, and collaboration. Previously serving as Associate Dean Postgraduate Research at EDSW, she brings extensive experience in building cross-disciplinary networks, enhancing postgraduate culture, and advancing equity initiatives.
As a Professor in Social Work, she is internationally recognised for her research in the nexus of social work practice and scholarship. Her leadership, research and teaching are characterised by relational and collaborative approaches, informed by her deep understanding of the tertiary sector in New Zealand and globally.
Across her academic career and several leadership positions, Christa has made strategic contributions to curriculum development, research infrastructure, and equitable support systems for Māori, Pacific, and other equity groups. With a strong bicultural commitment and a global perspective, she is dedicated to creating inclusive, impactful academic environments. She looks forward to working with the Assistant Dean Postgraduate Research (to be appointed) in this role.
Read Christa's profile.
Associate Dean Postgraduate Taught
Dr Lindsay Diggelmann
Lindsay brings a wealth of leadership experience and dedication to his dual role as Associate Dean Postgraduate Taught, and Learning and Teaching. A historian and lecturer at the University since completing his PhD in 2004, Lindsay is recognised for his energetic teaching, engaging research communication, and commitment to academic excellence.
He has held key leadership positions, including eight years as the inaugural Associate Dean Learning and Teaching in the Faculty of Arts, where he was instrumental in enhancing teaching quality and promoting student success. As the Arts Academic Lead for the Curriculum Framework Transformation Project since 2021, he has driven innovative curriculum changes, and in 2024, he served as Acting Deputy Dean, further demonstrating his ability to guide teams through transition and change.
Lindsay’s collaborative leadership style is grounded in the principles of Taumata Teitei, emphasising service to students and communities. He is deeply committed to fostering continuous improvement, celebrating achievements, and building a strong foundation for Te Pūtahi Mātauranga’s future success.
Read Lindsay's profile.
Associate Dean Academic
Associate Professor Jason Brown
Jason brings over six years of academic leadership experience, having served as Associate Dean Academic for both the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries. He has led significant initiatives, including the restructuring of major academic qualifications, and is passionate about enhancing postgraduate offerings through innovative solutions that create efficiencies and support smaller academic units.
Jason is committed to exploring potential enhancements to the BA programme and aligning faculty initiatives with university strategy. Known for his collaborative approach, he works closely with schools, programmes, and project managers to drive progress while fostering connections and understanding diverse perspectives.
Read Jason’s profile.
Associate Dean Teaching and Learning
Dr Lindsay Diggelmann
Also Associate Dean Postgraduate Taught
Associate Dean Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Dr Jennifer Tatebe
Jennifer is a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, dedicated to advancing justice for the University’s equity and historically marginalised communities. As Co-Associate Dean Equity and Inclusion for EDSW, Jennifer led significant initiatives, including a pioneering 2023 project exploring the experiences of staff and students across six equity communities. This work demonstrated her ability to translate insights into meaningful changes that centre equity in environments, attitudes, and practices.
With a background as a high school teacher and as a visible woman of colour from a multicultural, multilingual family, Jennifer’s commitment to social justice is deeply personal and professional. She brings a transformative vision to Arts and Education, fostering an inclusive culture where all can thrive and contribute to a more equitable society.
Read Jennifer's profile.
Associate Dean International
Professor Lawrence Jun Zhang
Lawrence is a Professor of Education in the School of Curriculum and Pedagogy and most recently served as Associate Dean International Partnerships for the Faculty of Education and Social Work. Lawrence’s research focuses on how cognitive, linguistic, sociocultural, and developmental factors influence reading and biliteracy development. His work explores areas such as critical reading awareness in language education, metacognition, self-regulated learning, and bilingual education in primary and secondary schools. He has also conducted extensive research on teaching English as a second or foreign language in university settings, the impact of self-regulated reading and writing instruction, emotions in learning and teaching, and teacher identity and cognition in language teacher education.
Lawrence brings a wealth of expertise to his role as Associate Dean International for Arts and Education, reflecting his deep commitment to fostering global partnerships and advancing international perspectives in education.
Read Lawrence's profile.
Head of Initial Teacher Education
Dr Paul Heyward
Assistant deans
Assistant Dean Academic
To be appointed.
Assistant Dean Academic
To be appointed.
Assistant Dean Learning and Teaching (Relational Pedagogy)
Tara Winters
Tara brings a wealth of experience as a teaching academic, programme leader, and researcher in the scholarship of teaching and learning. She is deeply committed to fostering a ‘community of practice’ approach to teaching excellence, championing relational pedagogy and transdisciplinary approaches as cornerstones for innovation and inclusivity. Tara’s leadership emphasises creating supportive environments that align individual teaching philosophies with broader faculty and University strategies.
Tara has led transformative initiatives, including designing new transdisciplinary and hybrid studio courses, mentoring colleagues, and spearheading flexible learning options. Her research focuses on studio-based methods, amplifying social, affective dimensions of learning and diverse ways of knowing, and advancing creative, future-oriented pedagogy. Known for her calm, thoughtful leadership, Tara excels at building trust, inspiring collaboration, and driving meaningful change, especially in challenging contexts. In partnership with the Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, Lindsay Diggelmann, she is excited to help shape a distinctive teaching and learning environment that reflects the diverse strengths of Arts and Education.
Read Tara's profile.
Assistant Dean Teaching and Learning Māori
To be appointed.
Assistant Dean Research Māori
To be appointed.
Assistant Dean Postgraduate Research
Associate Professor Nicholas Malone
Working in partnership with Professor Christa Fouché (Associate Dean PGR), Nicholas is looking forward to supporting the Faculty’s postgraduate research students and their supervisors. Nicholas has served the University in numerous department-, school- and faculty-level leadership roles, including: as disciplinary head (Anthropology), as major and specialisation leader (Anthropological Sciences), as Deputy Head (Research) for the School of Social Sciences; and as a member of the Faculty of Arts Research Committee. Nicholas will bring his relevant knowledge into the postgraduate space to create clear processes for supervisors, and to build strong research support networks among students.
Nicholas is primatologist and anthropologist. His writing situates the study of primates within the broader contexts of anthropology, history, and research ethics. Nicholas will bring the insights he has gained, from both his own research and from supervising students across a wide array of topics and contexts, to his leadership role in our newly established and diverse Faculty.
Read Nicholas’s profile.