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Emeritus Professor Wayne L. Edwards

It is with great sadness that the educational leadership world acknowledges the passing of Emeritus Professor Wayne Edwards in Palmerston North on 28 October 2021.

Wayne was the consummate professional. A brief review of his educational career and community service will point to a stellar contribution to the field of educational leadership in New Zealand, beginning with his foundational work as director of the Masters of Educational Administration degree programme at Massey University in the early 1990s; his professorial and departmental responsibilities at Massey’s Faculty of Education; his training programmes for the New Zealand Education Review Office; his role as President of International Pacific College in Palmerston North; and his vast contribution, both at national and international level, to AFS Educational Trust.

I would like to share a personal insight into the contribution that Wayne made to my own learning and teaching career. I first met Wayne in 1992 when I commenced studies in the MEdAdmin programme as a distance student. He took a deep personal interest in my learning, which was no mean feat given the numbers of postgraduate students enrolled in the course.

I came to appreciate the humanistic and strong ethic of care that was an inherent part of Wayne’s personal and professional integrity. He patiently guided me through the early phases of the PhD, with thoughtful reflection on my halting progress and encouragement to improve my academic writing and understanding of the research process.

When I think of Wayne’s modus operandi in support of my, and many others’ professional learning in the field of educational leadership, the term “servant leadership” springs quickly to mind. For me, this means Wayne’s capacity to inspire us to reach our academic potential, while taking little credit for the guidance and critical mentoring that he had so willingly given.

As evidence of Wayne’s continued willingness to assist others, he agreed without hesitation to write a foreword for a 2011 book on successful educational leadership in New Zealand. The opening sentences of Wayne’s foreword offer us an insight into the man who devoted decades to improving our leadership understanding: “Being invited to write a book’s foreword is a privilege – probably the result of one’s advanced years. However, in responding to Dr Ross Notman’s request, feelings of being somewhat humble but touched come readily to mind. The concept of leadership in educational (and other) contexts has filled many hours of my wakeful thoughts.”

Wayne contributed hugely to the lives of New Zealand teachers and educational leaders. His support for national professional development programmes was enduring, no less so in the Otago/Southland region over a 12-year period. Wayne’s generosity of time and counsel was well known in our field. I count myself privileged to have had such a professional as a role model, enabler and critical friend.

Emeritus Professor Ross Notman

Dunedin