Our founders
Pushing the boundaries of educational possibilities.
Meet our founders and read their stories.
Our founders
More than twenty years ago, three educators had a vision. Nick Billowes, Derek Wenmoth, and the late Dr Vince Ham combined their knowledge and expertise to explore how the potential of ICT – Information and Communication Technology (today more commonly called digital technologies) might be harnessed to support teachers to enhance student learning. They were almost certainly the first group of educational thought leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand to apply their skills to this emerging area of pedagogy.
In 2003 they founded not-for-profit Ultralab South, a research and development organisation, to respond to the opportunities and challenges presented by ICT.
With the guidance of a charitable trust board and chief executive Ali Hughes, the three founding directors evolved the organisation well beyond its beginnings and into a thriving professional services company based on the deep belief of education as a public good.
Nick Billowes
Nick brought years of teaching and management experience to his role as Director of Development, along with a strong commitment to emerging technologies and a genuine passion for teacher professional development. He was ideally placed to help establish what would become Tātai Aho Rau Core Education. His work in professional development continues to shape how teachers across Aotearoa New Zealand integrate technology into their teaching practice.
Now retired from his role as director, Nick maintains close connections to the company and is one of our greatest champions!
Dr Vince Ham
Rhodes scholar and one-time history teacher, Vince was one of New Zealand's foremost thinkers and researchers in e-learning and the use of digital technologies in education. Over three decades, his contribution to policy development, strategic implementation, and teacher professional development was immense — and his influence reached well beyond Aotearoa New Zealand.
He was a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, Vince served on the editorial boards of four international education journals and edited one of them. He was a significant voice in shaping the early strategic direction of ICT in education across Aotearoa. We were immensely privileged to have Vince as our Director of Research before he passed away in 2013.
Derek Wenmoth
Derek served as Director of eLearning at Tātai Aho Rau Core Education until 2017, and is widely regarded as one of New Zealand education's foremost future-focused thinkers. His career spans teaching, school leadership, teacher education, and education policy.
Today, Derek continues to work extensively with educators across all sectors, consulting regularly with policymakers and government agencies on the future direction of New Zealand education. He is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences and writes on education and the future through his long-running blog.
Derek is passionately committed to finding ways though education to help build a more positive future for the planet and the people on it.