Nick
Billowes

Qualifications

Diploma of Teaching – University of Waikato
Bachelor of Science

Professional profile

Combining his years of teaching and management experience along with a commitment to new technologies and passion for professional development, Nick was in an ideal position to help establish the organisation that was to become CORE Education, Ultralab South in April, 2003. It is now known as Tātai Aho Rau Core Education.

Having met Professor Stephen Heppell, a leading thinker in the technology and education field and director of Ultralab in the UK, Nick was inspired to establish a similar organisation in the southern hemisphere. His role has evolved since then and he remains passionate about the role of Tātai Aho Rau Core Education in making the learning and teaching experience more real and satisfying for all involved.

The Director of Development role entails living a "a rather itinerant life”, travelling the country and beyond developing Tātai Aho Rau’s business by establishing partnerships and project opportunities. Within Tātai Aho Rau, Nick supports the major national contract programmes with a major role overseeing the Te Toi Tupu consortia, the Early Years Programme, national online contracts under the National Curriculum Online, executive support to the Kaihautū Māori team leaders as well as a range of other contracts currently held by Tātai Aho Rau with the Ministry of Education.

Expertise

• Relationship management
• Motivator and momentum generator
• Project management and delivery ($13M), including financial control
• Facilitation through blended elearning and face-to-face delivery
• ICT and technology understandings and skills
• Change management and business development
• Public speaking and keynote delivery
• Professional development and learning design and implementation
• Board experience and chairperson-ship
• Management team experience
• National Direction and coordination of extensive programmes affecting national education programmes
• Significant event management experience (in excess of 40 national and international conferences)
• Publishing experience in traditional and new media modes (20 years' experience)
• IT systems management and coordination.

Personal statement

Tēnā koutou. Ko Nick Billowes ahau. Ko Ngāti Pākeha tōku iwi. Ko Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui tōku kāingā ināianei. Nō reira, tēnā koutou katoa. Greetings, I am Nick Billowes, originally from UK a lifetime ago and presently living in the Wellington Region. Tihei mauri ora!
I am a passionate educator, a believer in social equity, with a desire to help people become the best they can be and find their way purposefully in life. I am a professional teacher and an educator! This is the best calling in the world...

My learning life has been punctuated by excellent working opportunities bringing me to a career highlight at CORE Education. Now, as Director of National Operations, I have a role in the team in visioning, leading, evaluating, developing and encouraging the running of CORE's national contract programmes. With a stunning group of colleagues, together we are focused on making a difference for learning outcomes for kids / students / tamariki of Aotearoa, New Zealand. I get the chance to advocate for CORE as a part of the Executive, with a focus on gathering new business. My most enjoyable work is, however, connecting with and facilitating opportunities for our amazing team, the best colleagues one could possibly wish to work alongside.

As for my personal life, Jane is the most wonderful partner and we enjoy everything together. In particular we enjoy discussion and conversation, working and dreaming, house fixing, eating and golf. My kids are wonderful people who have and are making a difference in their worlds, something for which they must thank their Mum. I am proud of them both for their differences and specialness'.