Unitec Staff Excellence Awards – Ngā Tohu Kairangi o Wairaka 2020

 

It’s that time of year when we recognise and celebrate the amazing work that our people have contributed to Unitec. There are 10 categories, providing the opportunity for people across the organisation to be recognised.

Register to attend the awards event – you’ll receive a ticket that will be your pass to enjoy the lunch and drinks. No ticket, no refreshments. Registration closes at 5pm, Friday 27 November.

Our 2020 winners and finalists:

Excellence in Early Career Teaching

*Winner* Amanda Perry – Lecturer, School of Community Studies: Amanda is student-centric and has a genuine interest in her students’ needs. She is the Y3 and U25 support person for the Bachelor of Teaching and her compassion and ability to connect with students is evident. She is actively engaged in research and she is currently designing micro-credentials to share her passion and knowledge of play therapy.

*Winner* Duaa Alshadli – Lecturer, School of Engineering and Construction: Duaa came to Unitec from a successful career as a hydrographic surveyor, and has brought her technical and team works skills required for that position into the classroom. She is active in construction and engineering research projects. She demonstrates Kaitiakitanga and a high level of interest in her students; she makes it a priority to meet with all her first-year students when they arrive. The SCC for her courses is always above 90% and she is constantly reviewing and revising her teaching practices so she is continuously improving.

Anna Kimaro – Lecturer, School of Engineering and Construction: Anna goes the extra mile to provide teaching material which is industry-focused and relevant to her students. She incorporates Mātauranga Māori into all her courses. One of her BCONS courses during lockdown exceeded the Successful Course Completion rate by 2.27% to 97.37%.

Lauren Prior – Lecturer, School of Environmental and Animal Sciences: Lauren joined the vet nursing team as a Unitec graduate from clinical practice. Her teaching and pastoral care are very student-focused, putting the student at the heart of all decision-making. This is demonstrated in the way she embodies the Unite values, particularly Ngākau Mahaki, through the respect she shows her students, colleagues and the wider vet nursing community. Lauren introduced Study Guides for our distance students, along with weekly emails to back these up. These have been very well received by students, and will be expanded into all courses from 2021.

Excellence in Teaching

*Winner* Emma Smith – Senior Lecturer, School of Creative Industries: Emma makes a huge and ongoing contribution to the School, to students and to the broader Unitec environment. She has led the team teaching our contemporary arts students who have had major successes in the Eden Arts’ Art Schools Awards in 2019 and 2020. She shows tremendous concern and care for all her students. In a survey, one student commented: “I was blown away by Emma Smith. She didn’t just go to the library and look up books related to my practice, she had read them all then and gave me thorough feedback on the related readings… though she hasn’t been teaching me this semester she has found time for me for critiques, and often checks in to see how I’m coping.”

*Winner* Veterinary Nursing teaching team: Kristina Naden, Lauren Prior, Robyn Gear, Kate Harder, Laura Harvey, Kristie Cameron and Sofia Chambers: The veterinary nursing teaching team demonstrate consistent hard mahi to provide student-centered teaching and learning, led by the principles of Te Noho Kotahitanga. The team receives regular positive feedback from their students, demonstrating the care and commitment to their everyday roles, and the respect they have for their teacher-student relationships. They actively work in the space of Ako to encourage students to bring their unique knowledge and share it with their peers. A number of the team are working toward their Masters qualifications, and are committed to improving their teaching and learning through formal qualifications and the Unitec Teacher Capability Development badges.

Level 3 Carpentry Teaching Team: Joey Pitovao, Kris Wang, Louise Heaps, Eugene Nehring, Terry Church, Jacky Mo, Chris Stoddard, Mark Darwen, Ruben Sigglekow, Kiri Warburton, Andy Pivac, Ross Maskell, and Angus Robertson: This programme is one of the most intensive full time practical based programmes in Unitec, where lecturers are Licensed Building Practitioners, teaching students how to build a house from scratch to current building standards. Despite the COVID lockdowns, 92% the 90 students who started their 12 month programme in February have completed the course, in a programme which consists almost entirely of Māori, Pacific and under 25 students. The community that is created within these courses and is supported by the wider Unitec community exemplifies the spirit of Te Noho Kotahitanga.

Magdalena Garbarczyk – Lecturer, School of Architecture: Magdalena has been teaching and leading Design Studio and elective courses in the Bachelor and Master programmes since 2012. She is also an exceptional supervisor at Masters level, whose students are selected every year to represent Unitec at the NZIA Central Innovation Student Design Awards for Master of Architecture Professional students within New Zealand. Magdalena focuses on developing a holistic environmental approach to practising and teaching architecture, and acts as the Sustainability Champion aiming to influence change and to consider environmental issues across all programmes in the School.

Excellence in Teaching – Kaupapa Māori

*Winner* Sofia Chambers and Joanne Jones – Certificate in Animal Care: Sofia and Jo are the inspirational kaitiaki of the level 3 NZ Certificate in Animal Care. This programme is the first entry into tertiary education for many students and Jo and Sofia weave Whakawhanaungatanga, ako and aroha throughout their teaching and learning and pastoral care to support the students in their learning journey. Jo and Sofia have moved the NZCAC from low achievement by Māori students to higher course completion by improving Mātauranga Māori and Kaupapa Māori aspects of delivery, addressing these using the Te Tīpare lens.

Evelyn Hikuroa – Lecturer, School of Healthcare and Social Practice: Evelyn’s approach to teaching and learning is centred around inclusiveness. She role models acceptance of others’ views and communication styles. Feedback from the clinical nursing areas acknowledges the preparedness of the Unitec students in their knowledge of Mātauranga Māori. Evelyn has planned a mentoring scheme for Unitec Māori students for 2021 where qualified Māori nurses mentor and motivate students during their studies.

Excellence in Teaching – Supporting Pacific Learners

*Winner* Sione Kavaliku – Lecturer, School of Trades and Services: Sione is the champion for Pacific students in the NZ Certificate of Automotive Engineering, showing great Rangatiratanga by supporting Pacific students to succeed – they’ve moved from being the lowest performing priority group in 2019 to having the highest achievement of all priority groups in the programme this year. Sione also created a special initiative called Tokoni’i where lecturers run catch-up sessions in the semester break for students who need extra support, demonstrating great kaitiakitanga of these students.

Pacific Support Team in School of Engineering and Construction: Ronnie Matafeo, Polisi Faumuina, Tina Martin, Rokosiga Morrison and Ioane Aleke Fa’avae: The Pacific Support Team for the School of Engineering and Construction has created a supportive educational journey for Pacific students. For example, the onboarding orientation process includes focus group sessions where the teaching team get to know Pacific learners and a Talanoa room has been set up for students to attend workshops, tutorial classes or to study. The team have also empowered staff with core knowledge through the Pacific badge.

Sport, Recreation and Exercise team – School of Community Studies: Sue Emerson, Wesley Verhoeff, Rob Gambolati, Mikki Williden, John McFarlane, Chantel Baker, Anna Bassett, John Russell, Kevin Toto and Angela Dean: This team has had a focus on supporting priority group learners this year. The whole team has completed the Pacific Learners badge and adapted their timetables to accommodate the busy lives of Pacific learners. They refer to the ‘Fonofale’ model as a way to look at health through a Pacific lens. The team regularly invites Pacific speakers to share what they do out in the community, providing great role models for our students. Students who miss a class are contacted immediately to check they are ok, and the team discuss student progress at length at each staff meeting.

Vimlesh Shukla – Lecturer, School of Healthcare and Social Practice: Vimlesh ensures Pacific learners feel comfortable at Unitec so they can approach him with any issues in their studies. Using his own experience of Fijian culture, Vimlesh connects with learners and their culture, helping him to develop strong, trusting relationships. Vimlesh has also worked with other teams to apply a learner-centred approach and keeps all the student support resource teams in the loop to help Pacific leaners within the Te Noho Kotahitanga values.

Excellence in Research

*Winner* Ngā Wai a Te Tūī, Māori and Indigenous Research Centre: Ngā Wai a Te Tūī has progressed from being a brand new department last year to now leading and supporting a number of significant Māori research projects. These projects will have positive impact on our Māori communities and have created impressive revenue, job opportunities and more importantly relevant research that ultimately benefits the communities we serve. This has proven valuable in attracting like-minded and valued researchers to join the Ngā Wai a Te Tūī Māori Research Centre.

Renata Jadresin-Milic – Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture: Renata is an architect and architectural historian and is one of Unitec’s most promising researchers. In 2020 she has led research teams that involve community groups, industry partners and Unitec staff and students. She won a grant from the Unitec Early Career Researcher Fund to lead a project around the digitalisation and archiving of heritage buildings in New Zealand. Renata also actively mentors new and emerging researchers in her School.

Samantha Heath – Lecturer, School of Healthcare and Social Practice: Samantha’s work as Research Leader for the School of Healthcare and Social Practice has helped increase staff research activity in the Bachelor of Nursing from 35% to 85% in just one year. Samantha has found innovative and accessible ways of engaging staff in research and creating an exciting and proactive research culture. In terms of her own research outputs in recent years, Samantha has presented at four conferences, was awarded her Doctoral Thesis and is currently working on three nationally significant research projects.

Innovation and Enterprise

*Winner* Paul Hays – Marketing Advisor, Experiential Events and Sponsorship: Paul Hays is a force to be reckoned with. His passion and commitment to Unitec and to incorporating the values into his development of innovative projects continues to benefit Unitec and our community. Paul led the implementation of our first-ever Virtual Open Day with a minimal lead time due to the second COVID-19 lockdown. He collaborated with every School and department to ensure the successful delivery of the event while opening the door to continuous improvement in future.

Cathy Zheng and Abhishek Masih – Finance: Cathy Zheng and Abhishek Masih have used their knowledge of Power BI Dashboard to create a valuable resource that will help make the journey of our Priority Group learners more enriching. Using their knowledge they’ve created an in-depth insight into the challenges our Priority Group learners face which in turn has led to a much more effective and responsive approach on our part to wrap the right support around them at the right times.

New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering Team: Bryan Davis, Vithanage Perera, Derrick Solomon, Prem Chandra Samujh, Hirendra Kumar, Ian Mitchell, Sione Kavaliku, Steven McAfee, Sefanaia Naqama, Caleb Wong, Duncan Wales, Prabhat Chand, Joshua Iwan, Darrell Edwards and Kasun De Alwis: The NZCAF Team have continued to exemplify innovation and adaptability this year. With virtually no online material available the team pulled together during the COVID-19 disruption, adapting material online while learning new skills in the delivery of education. This is a strong, committed team of lecturers with a single-minded focus for evolving new ways to improve student learning and success.

Te Puna Ako: During a time of uncertainty, Te Puna Ako worked ‘around the clock’, achieving things we may never have thought were possible before COVID-19. Despite the immense challenges, Te Puna Ako ensured our staff had the capability and support to continue enagaing with and teaching our students online. Not only did they achieve this, they’ve continued to review and improve the platforms, systems and processes as they learn and share their experience.

Contribution and Collaboration Award

*Winner* Learner Outreach Project Team: Helena Finau-Hakalo, Tahreem Zia, Jessica Rudman, Melinda Jenkins, Annette Pitovao, Aline Meerburg, Dan Zhao, Debbie Roberts, Gia Ngatai-Smith, Grace Zhang, Melody Hao, Mrinal Mehra, Nadia Bulanova, Reza Bahmanzad, Sophie Martin-Welsh, Yoshie O’Neill, Vince Shepherd, Andrea Stills, Jo-Anne Hammond and Ashutosh Basnyat: The Learner Outreach Project has had a massive impact on both staff and learners in 2020, prioritising our learners and making sure their welfare and learning needs were met during COVID-19 lockdowns. This project feeds into the vision of our Manaakitia Te Rito strategy.

*Winner* EER Team represented by the Steering committee: Simon Nash, Simon Tries, David Glover, Annette Pitovao, Cathy Tyler, Chris King, Trude Cameron and Glenn Mckay: The EER team has worked across the organisation to build awareness and engage hearts and minds and consistently delivered “relentless communication and radical transparency”. They’ve worked tirelessly towards the shared goal of a positive EER outcome. The EER team reaches across the whole institute – all Schools and Support teams – so everyone who contributed to this important work this year can be proud to be part of the wider EER team – the core steering team is representing all of you.

Incident Management Team: Nick Sheppard Annette Pitovao, Helen Vea, Clint Hill, Andrew Happy, Fred Pau, Dan Brady, Kate Dobbin, Simon Nash, James Oldfield, Jacky McManus, Hamish Martin, Nick Hanvey, Erin Hughes, Mary Johnston and Tracy Chapman: The Incident Management Team has been at the centre of what we do and how we do things in 2020 and has worked tirelessly within a rapidly changing landscape. The IMT demonstrated the essence of Te Noho Kotahitanga with outstanding forethought, dedication, collaboration, sacrifice, and sheer grit in leading Unitec to successfully face the COVID pandemic.

Insights Team: Jeff Honey, Michelle Sun and Lai Kei Pang: The Insights Team develops and presents institutional academic data through Power BI and provides detailed reporting on our academic outcomes. In the spirit of Mahi Kotahitanga they have worked with Heads of Schools, APMs and others to collaboratively design dashboards, develop targets and review surveys to meet the needs of Schools. This team has continually enhanced and expanded Unitec’s academic reporting, ensuring that the academic outcomes data that is used across the institute is accurate and accessible to those who need it.

Excellence in Support – supporting students

*Winner* Grace Zhang – International Student Advisor and LOP Advisor: Grace lives the values of Kaitiakitanga and Mahi Kotahitanga in the work that she does. She’s always willing to go the extra mile to find a better solution for students. Her dedication at work reminds everyone the student is the centre of our work and we should aim to provide the best services for them.

Daisy Bentley-Gray – Pacific Academic Development Lecturer, Pacific Centre: Daisy’s work has had an undeniable impact on our students’ success as well as on our staff. Her mahi is all done with a strong heart, aligning with pacific methodologies, creating a ‘va’ of success for all. Daisy quietly works away and is incredibly humble but her effect on students is obvious.

Debbie Roberts – Student Advisor, School of Bridgepoint: As Student Advisor for Bridging Education, Debbie displays the principle of Rangatiratanga – prioritising the success of all learners at all times. The team is so fortunate to have such a person part of the School who is so passionate about the success of students and respects all the people she works with. She is also very humble: “Kāore te kumara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka” (The kumara does not talk of its own sweetness).

Excellence in Support – supporting staff

*Winner* Abha Chitalia – Academic Advisor, Te Puna Ako: Abha is a stand-out example of Kaitiakitanga and Mahi Kotahitangi. In her support of the the Plumbing and Gasfitting teams during times of significant change, she has demonstrated dedication and commitment to providing academic support and assisting with improving their service to learners and industry. All this, in addition to her day-to-day role. Abha has also been an invaluable resource to the School of Computing, Electrical and Applied Technology for several years, and has been key resource in the development of three new programmes. “Simply outstanding” is how one of several nominators described Abha.

Angela Hunt – School Business Administrator, School of Computing, Electrical and Applied Technology: Angela is an exceptional resource for the School; her professionalism, patience, top organisational skills, proactive approach and ability to help keep everyone on track with timeframes and deadlines is truly valued. She’s always on hand to help – whether it’s a broken photocopier or some intel on a policy or procedure, Angela can be relied on, and always with a smile and a positive attitude.

Gregor Steinhorn – Research Partner Tūāpapa Rangahau – Research and Postgraduate Office: Gregor connects and weaves people together says a colleague, he’s a huge asset to Unitec and extremely capable says another. He leads and supports, is kind and thoughtful in ways that extend beyond life on campus, and is recognised by his peers for for going the extra mile, particularly with supporting teaching staff with working research into their busy schedules, and for creating long lasting collaborations. Gregor reflects Te Noho Kotahitanga in everything he does.

Treena Brand – Academic Advisor, Te Puna Ako: Treena is recognised for always placing our students and their success at the centre of everything she does, for her commitment to embedding Mātauranga Māori, her commitment and love for teaching and learning, and going the ‘extra mile’ – in particuarly taking on additional School liaison role during lockdown and is a valued member of the wider EAS School. Treena also played a key role in the development and implementation of the Living Te Noho Kotahitanga and Te Tīpare badge, and contributed to the School of Constructions improved NPS. Her colleagues also say she epitomises the values of Te Noho Kotahitanga.

Excellence in Support – processes and systems

*Winner* Yvonne Sang – Resource Specialist, Library: Yvonne Sang continuously goes above and beyond to ensure our student support team have the resources, information and tools they need to encompass and maintain Manaakitia Te Rito. She’s mastered internal systems and used her strong communication and relationship building skills and knowledge to implement innovative and effective processes and systems across her team and the wider institute .

Chantelle Daniels – Operations Manager, Enrolment & Academic Operations: In a massive win this year, Chantelle delivered the online invoicing project for Operations, something the team has discussed for at least five years. She also stepped in to fill a manager role that was left vacant when the previous manager left, leading three teams with outstanding respect and support. She is driven to see her teams succeed in their roles and aspirations.

Esther van Klink – Specialist, Enrolment Setup: Esther always places the student at the heart of what she does and has incorporated this approach and embodied Te Noho Kotahitanga in the development and implementation of her projects. In her role as a Specialist – Enrolment Setup, she has succesfully engaged with a number of networks and stakeholders to ensure the students voices were key to re-shaping the enrolment process.

Thushara Fernando – Computer Support Engineer, Information Technology: Thushara is a Rangatira of the IT world for our Waitākere whānau, he provides constant unwaivering support and guidance, while continuing to maintain an endless flurry of requests. He exhibits the values of Te Noho Kotahitanga in everything he does and leads his appraoch through Ngākau Māhaki and Mahi Kotahitanga.

Te Noho Kotahitanga Team Award

*Winner* Incident Management Team: Nick Sheppard Annette Pitovao, Helen Vea, Clint Hill, Andrew Happy, Fred Pau, Dan Brady, Kate Dobbin, Simon Nash, James Oldfield, Jacky McManus, Hamish Martin, Nick Hanvey, Erin Hughes, Mary Johnston and Tracy Chapman: The Incident Management Team has been at the centre of what we do and how we do things in 2020 and has worked tirelessly within a rapidly changing landscape. The IMT demonstrated the essence of Te Noho Kotahitanga with outstanding forethought, dedication, collaboration, sacrifice, and sheer grit in leading Unitec to successfully face the COVID pandemic.

Information Technology Team: The IT team has consistently demonstrated a commitment to their mahi, our values, and to our people, both staff and students alike. During the first lockdown, the team went above and beyond to ensure that the move to a virtual world went smoothly. Mā te huruhuru ka rere ai te manu – Adorn the bird with feathers so it may soar. The IT team gave us the feathers to fly.

Te Korowai Kahurangi: Working tirelessly with a clear and determined focus, the TKK team strives to support the whole institution to stand strong and proud in all things quality. Every AAQ is committed to providing efficient and effective administrative support to Programmes and Courses in all areas of academic quality assurance and administration of the student cycle – all done with a smile and generous encouragement.

Unitec Champion

*Winner* Annette Pitovao – Director, Student Success: Annette is a real model for delivering Unitec’s Te Noho Kotahitanga values in everything she does. She has an incredible work ethic; juggles multiple responsibilities in her highly diverse role and always remains calm, caring and supportive. Her nominator says she has observed her compassion towards staff and students during COVID-19, and also during the EER prep sessions when she would take time out from her busy schedule to listen to the details of a risk student case. She is a shining example to us all.

Aroha Lewin – Project Manager, Takohanga: Since Aroha took over the role of Takohanga Project Manager, the School of Trades and Services has witnessed remarkable progress. Primarily there was a need to understand the magnitude of mahi and open communication across the institution, while challenging the School to adapt to new and improved ways of working. Aroha has demonstrated Rangatiratanga in its purest form. In many ways, she has challenged and led the institution to achieve higher levels of performance. This has been achieved through exemplary leadership, Mahi Kotahitanga and partnering with internal stakeholders.

Aulola Lino – Academic Project Manager, School of Healthcare and Social Practice: Aulola accepted her position after Unitec had been downgraded to a Category 3, along with various changes to leadership at Unitec. Within a year, she has rebuilt the quality assurance process including moderation plans, PAQC committee and advisory groups – all processes that document the good work that people do and make it easier to share best practice. Thanks to her hard work, organisation and leadership, the department got outstanding feedback from the five-year review by the Social Work Registration Board and the team confidently stood in front of the EER panel to tell their stories of their amazing journey.

The People’s Choice – Your vote!

*Winner* Debbie Roberts – Student Advisor, School of Bridgepoint: Debbie displays the principle of Rangatiratanga – prioritising the success of all learners at all times. The team is so fortunate to have such a person part of the School who is so passionate about the success of students and respects all the people she works with. She is also very humble – “Kāore te kumara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka” (The kumara does not talk of its own sweetness).

 

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As with last year, winners will receive beautiful locally handcrafted awards.