New Director Student Success appointed

Annette Pitovao has been appointed Director – Student Success. Annette has previously held several senior leadership positions here at Unitec including; Head of Centre – Student Services at Waitakere,  Student Central Manager, Customer Experience Project Manager and more recently as General Manager – Commercial Services. Annette brings a wealth of tertiary knowledge and leadership experience that will support and lead our newly created Student Success team.

We’ve also appointed Rowena Fuluifaga as Manager – Learning and Achievement. Rowena has over 14 years’ experience in the sector. She has previously held a number of roles within our organisation including: Disabilities Liaison Mentor, Pacific Academic Support Advisor, Project Manager for the Centre of Pacific (previously the Pacific Centre), and Academic Lecturer in the Design and Contemporary Arts pathway.  As one of our Pacific leaders, Rowena is ideally placed to provide further support for both Māori, Pacific and all of our learners. 

Annette joins on Monday 23 July and Rowena’s start date is still to be confirmed. 

Annette will report into Glenn McKay, Tumu Tauwhirowhiro Maori & Exec Director, Student Experience.

In welcoming Annette to Unitec, Glenn also acknowledged the work of both Moira Fraser (Library Director) and Verity Jade (General Manager – Student Experience). 

He said: “Both Moira and Verity have made a significant contribution to Unitec in a number of areas – none more so than with the establishment of our newly created Student Success team.  The newly merged Student Success team brings together the specialist skills, expertise and experiences of both our Student Experience and Library teams under one banner and one leader (the Director – Student Success) and will now operate as one team – Student Success. I have every confidence this team will continue to deliver outstanding support and services to staff and students alike.  This is something both Moira and Verity should be extremely proud of.”