Meet David, a proud Westie, sports fan and School Relationship Manager (North) at N4L. Having discovered a new career in education and igniting his passion to give back to the sector in 2021, he’s never looked back! Get to know him better below.
Where did you grow up?
I’m proud to say that I was born and raised a “Westie”, right here in Glendene. Most of my upbringing involved plenty of sports, always being outside with friends and finding new places to explore. I have stayed true to my love of all things West as I currently live in Hobsonville with my lovely wife and our two daughters, Izzy and Ayla.
What brings you joy outside of work?
I am and will always be a huge sports fan. I love to watch anything live and love a good concert. I used to play a lot of sports, but now I spend more time being a kid, with my kids. We have a camper that we take away to remote spots as often as we can. But we also do a bunch of relaxing in our own backyard, listening to music, etc.
How did you end up working in this role?
I spent over 20 years of my career in the travel industry until I found working in education a few years ago, and I have never looked back. My previous role involved designing, installing, training and supporting classroom technology for schools around the country. Being in a familiar environment, moving into this role allowed me to continue doing what I love, making a positive difference, and hopefully, giving some time back to our kaiako in the classroom.
What appealed to you about the role?
Honestly, making a positive difference in our schools is always rewarding. This role gives me the opportunity to do that. Whether it’s upgrading a network, rolling out a new layer of security to give some peace of mind, or delivering news about the next product that is about to be released. It’s the connection with the people that appeals the most.
Tell us about your role.
I look after West, East and South Auckland, the Hauraki Plains and Coromandel regions. Meeting with school leaders, tech leads, heads of departments and IT providers, my days are filled with face-to-face catch-ups, online product and training sessions and plenty of liaising between different groups to ensure we are getting results.
What feeds your passion within your role?
Ever since discovering the education sector, I have felt a need to give back. It brings me much joy if I can contribute to our schools in any way. Making things faster, safer and easier to use allows our kaiako to spend more time inspiring, and this can only be a good thing!
What does it mean for you personally in the work N4L delivers?
I think collectively as a team, we play a huge part in helping schools across New Zealand provide safer and more secure learning environments. For me, it’s about connecting with people, understanding their vision for using technology and championing digital equity so that all our kaiako and ākonga can explore.
Tell us about a highlight or stand out story in your role as a School Relationship Manager.
Being a School Relationship Manager brings a new experience every day, and although I cannot pinpoint one particular moment, a major highlight for me is being able to see each school and understand their unique values and how they inspire and celebrate their students. It’s such an important part of your life, and every school has a different story to tell.
What do you hope to achieve in the future of schools and kura?
We are in an ever-evolving environment, and so as we grow and learn, the technology we use does as well. I want to ensure that all our schools and kura, our kaiako and ākonga, feel empowered to use technology and explore new environments, knowing they can do it quickly and safely.
Meet the rest of the Education and Engagement team by visiting our website.