Tom Hullena

Tom is a principal advisor to schools in Wellington, Manawatu, Taranaki, and the Hawkes Bay regions. He has an extensive teaching and learning background spanning 30 plus years in secondary, tertiary, and community education. Most of this time has been in secondary schools where he has held a range of teaching, middle leadership, and senior leadership roles.

From 2005 to 2008 Tom worked at the Victoria University School of Education as a school advisor, lecturer, and Head of Faculty. Following this he was appointed Principal of Makoura College which in 2014 received the Prime Minister’s Excellence Award for Leadership. In 2016 Tom was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education.

On leaving Makoura College Tom worked for the Ministry of Education as a School and Principal Advisor with a special focus on secondary transitions and Māori achievement. Following the Ministry Tom worked for local government in community development. This involved developing and implementing a community education plan and a range of community development initiatives, including establishing and leading a provincial growth fund initiative focusing on transitioning at-risk youth into education, training, and employment.

His most recent work has been as an education consultant and serving as an elected member on his local council. Tom has a range of educational qualifications including a Master of Art (with distinction) in Education.

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with family, reading, watching sport, and engaging in a range of outdoor pursuits.