Our People
Dr Anne Meade - Whanake Trust Founder CNZM, QSO
Dr Anne Meade has had a long career as a teacher of young children and adults and as an educational researcher and policy developer. She has been a senior lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington, Director of the NZ Council for Educational Research, and a Senior Fulbright Scholar. As a consultant, Anne has worked in Australia, Qatar and the UK, as well as in Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2018, Anne was given the Minister of Education’s Life-time Achievements in Education Award.
Linda Meade - Whanake Trust Founder
Linda is a consultant, advisor and independent director. She is passionate about improving the lives of peoples and communities in New Zealand through everything she does. Linda’s career includes 28 years in “big 4” consulting firm culminating in seven years as a partner at Deloitte where she advised a broad range of for-profit, not-for-profit and government entities. Her expertise focused on supporting wise design, decision-making and delivery of flagship programmes and sector leadership across transport, education, health and housing.
In 2020 Linda made the decision to leave Deloitte to focus on her governance roles – including owner/director at Daisies as well a trustee of Whanake – and to act as consultant to programmes and projects where she believes she can make the most difference to New Zealanders.
Dr Rachel Denee - Whanake Trust Founder
Rachel Denee has been working in early childhood education for over twenty years, in various teaching, leadership and research roles. She has worked in kindergarten, private and community-based ECE settings, as well as contracts for tertiary providers, the Ministry of Education, professional learning facilitation, and leadership coaching. Rachel recently completed a PhD at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), studying teacher professional learning and visual arts pedagogy. She is now employed full-time at VUW as a Lecturer in ECE. She is a trustee with Reggio Emilia Aotearoa New Zealand. Rachel is a co-owner and pedagogical leader at Daisies, and collaboratively leads the team to develop innovative research-based approaches to teaching and learning.
Meg Kwan - Lumitree Digital Operations Manager
Meg Kwan has worked in the ECE sector for over 10 years, working her way through from an unqualified teaching assistant to a Head teacher in that time. Meg has a life long love of learning that has led her from taking Taichi lessons to completing Horticulture certificates. With some overseas teaching experience under her belt and having recently completed her Masters of Education, Meg has taken up the role of Lumitree Digital Operations Manager, alongside her part time teaching position at Daisies.