Reflections as Co-President of NZEALS

Leading Together: Reflections as Co-President of NZEALS 2025–2026 Shelley McKay, Co-President, NZEALS

It is an honour to serve as Co-President of the New Zealand Educational Administration and Leadership Society (NZEALS) for a second term, alongside my colleague Belinda Morgan. NZEALS continues to occupy a vital space within the educational landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand, fostering dialogue across sectors and creating connections between practice and theory.

One of NZEAL’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to convene a diverse range of voices. Through NZEALS, members gain exposure to local and international perspectives that provoke thoughtful reflection and challenge our assumptions. This is particularly valuable in a time when education systems are navigating complexity and change.

A highlight of the NZEALS calendar is the biennial conference, which provides a dedicated space for this cross-sector dialogue. In 2024, the conference was held in Ōtautahi Christchurch, with the theme Optimistic Leadership. Over three days, participants engaged with international speakers and explored opportunities for growth and innovation across early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary, and leadership sectors. The conference demonstrated the power of bringing practitioners and researchers together to reflect, learn, and look forward.

We are now preparing for the 2026 conference in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, which will take place in May. The conference theme, Ka mua, ka muri: Honouring the past, embracing the present, designing the future, invites us to critically examine our histories and collective experiences, celebrate the present, and actively design future pathways for educational leadership in Aotearoa.

This year also marks a period of significant change within the NZEALS Council. It is timely to acknowledge and thank those who have given many years of dedicated service to the organisation. I would particularly like to express gratitude to Dr Ann Briggs, who has contributed to NZEALS over several decades, most recently in the role of Secretary. While Ann is stepping back from this position, we are pleased that she will remain on the Council, where her wisdom and leadership will continue to be an invaluable asset to our work.

We also extend heartfelt thanks to Doug Milne, who has served as NZEALS Treasurer for many years. Doug’s financial stewardship and deep educational insight have supported the organisation’s sustainability and growth. His contributions have been significant, and he will be greatly missed.

As we move forward, we invite all members to share their reflections and insights. NZEALS thrives on the sharing of lived experiences of leadership. Everyone has a story. Please consider contributing your story to Leading Lights and look around you for the many leaders in your organisation who might also be willing to share their unique journeys into educational leadership. Through these collective narratives, we continue to deepen our understanding of what it means to lead in education today.

It is a privilege to stand alongside so many accomplished leaders in education. We can all learn from each other and share the responsibility of preparing young people for the future.