Greg’s story
For our 10-year anniversary, we’ve asked several long-standing team members to reflect on their role at N4L, what drives them, and what they see for the future of technology in learning.
Meet Greg Duff, Head of Education & Engagement
Kia ora, I’m Greg, the Head of Education & Engagement and I’m 4 helping all ākonga thrive in a digital world.
I whakapapa to Twizel and am the proud dad to three young kids. My journey in education started out as a secondary school teacher before I landed my role at N4L a few years ago.
You could say my team’s role is to be the eyes and ears of N4L, engaging with schools and figuring out their needs, and then supporting them along their technical journey. No two days are the same and no two schools are the same — that’s one of the things I love the most about it here: it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Technology obviously plays a major role in both the current state and future potential of learning, and our job is to remove the technical ‘noise’ in this process so that kaiako and ākonga can get on with the really important stuff: teaching and learning. My experience as a teacher has really helped inform my work here, knowing first-hand the pain points of tech and the opportunities it presents. The best outcome is when it works seamlessly, when it feels invisible.
One of the things I’m most proud of at N4L is our mahi protecting students from harmful content and networks from security compromises. It’s a big job, and a reflection of our great partners and collaborations with the likes of the Ministry of Education and Netsafe.
When I think about the future and what’s possible in the next 10 years, the opportunities almost feel endless. I think the faster technology develops, the closer we can get to universal access for all ākonga. It’s a really exciting prospect.
If you’re interested in hearing more of Greg’s story, you can find a video here.