From the Chief Executive: Growth and global partnerships in international education

Kia ora koutou,  

It’s great to be home following an impactful, whirlwind visit to Beijing for the China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE).  

I am pleased with the collective outcomes we have achieved from this visit. For one, New Zealand education institutions formalised 32 new partnerships with their Chinese counterparts that present real opportunity for knowledge exchange and pathways for students to experience the best of both countries.  

ENZ signed a letter of intent with the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange to grow our education cooperation, particularly through institutional relationships across higher education and schools.  

As Country of Honour at CACIE 2025 New Zealand had unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate why we are a high-quality education destination, backed by a strong student experience and a reputation for safety, inclusivity and innovation.  

Last week ENZ’s extended leadership team, including our offshore Regional Directors, came together in Wellington. As part of our programme we visited four education providers across the region – Wellington College, Victoria University of Wellington, Whitireia and WelTec Petone and Le Cordon Bleu Wellington – before meeting with the Schools International Education Business Association (SIEBA) to understand the work they do with schools nationwide. These were insightful engagements that enriched our understanding, and we appreciated the warm welcome extended.  

In other news, I am pleased to share with you that Tony Gray has been appointed permanent Chair of the Board of Education New Zealand. Tony has been a strong advocate for us while Acting Chair and a genuine pleasure to work with, so it is fantastic to have him confirmed in the role to 31 October 2027. 

Lastly, I wanted to finish by acknowledging the sad passing of two public sector colleagues, Paul Irwin and Neil Miller, during the month of October.  

Paul Irwin was a valued colleague at ENZ, having been a member of the Senior Leadership Team and part of our whānau for seven years. Although I didn’t work with Paul at ENZ, I knew him from his advertising industry days when we worked together on the ‘It’s Not OK’ campaign for action on family violence. His passing is a tremendous loss and he will be remembered for his strategic smarts, calm nature, and his leadership of New Zealand’s education brand over the years.  

As Chief Advisor - Policy and International at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, Neil Miller was a regular presence at International Peak Body meetings over the last four years. Neil would bring his deep-thinking skills and humour to these meetings, and always took a genuine approach to listening and helping solve issues that matter to us all.  

Our thoughts are with their families and friends.  

Moe mai rā, Paul and Neil. 

Kua whetūrangitia koe 

Return, take your place amongst the stars along with your ancestors that adorn the sky. 

Ngā mihi nui,     

Amanda Malu     

Chief Executive