TRUSTEES
Sue Leslie (Chairperson)
Education Consultant: Leadership, Assessment for Learning, and Science Education
Sue Leslie is an Education Consultant based in Gisborne, New Zealand. With more than 25 years’ experience as a science teacher and leader in secondary schools across Wellington, Tauranga, Auckland, and London, she brings deep expertise in both teaching and educational leadership.
While teaching in Tauranga, Sue was awarded a Rotary Study Exchange to the Netherlands, where she and four other professional women explored approaches to science education. The enthusiasm of teachers and students she encountered there continues to inspire her work today.
In 2002, Sue transitioned from classroom teaching to consultancy, specialising in leadership development, assessment for learning, and professional learning in science education. She has since supported both primary and secondary schools to strengthen classroom practice and leadership at middle and senior levels.
A three-year period teaching science in a London primary school broadened her perspective on global approaches to science education. Upon returning to New Zealand, Sue settled in her hometown of Gisborne, where she continues her consultancy work and has also taught science part-time at a local secondary school.
Sue joined the Trust Board in 2012 and has served as Board Chair since 2020. She contributes to the Sir Paul Callaghan Academy, particularly in assessment and evaluation, and works to build connections with other science organisations to enhance science teaching and learning across New Zealand.
Richard Hartshorn
Professor of Chemistry, University of Canterbury
Richard Hartshorn is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Professor Hartshorn has been recognised locally, nationally, and internationally for excellence in teaching and education, including the UC Teaching Medal (2009), the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies award for Distinguished Contribution to Chemical Education (2023), and the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry sciPAD Denis Hogan Chemical Education Award (2019). He has served more than 10 years on the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Committee on Chemistry Education.
He is a co-author of an Australian high school chemistry text (“Nelson Chemistry VCE Units 3&4”, Nelson Thomson Learning, Melbourne, Australia, ISBN 0 17 009469 3. 2000, 512 pages, and related texts) and of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) publications on chemical nomenclature that have been translated into multiple languages.
He has been a member of the Trust Board for the National Science-Technology Roadshow since 2007 (Chair 2011-2020). He also served on the Trust Boards for Science Alive! (2007-2018) and Rutherford’s Den (2010-2015), and established the UC Science Outreach Programme in 1998, leading it until 2005.
Among other international roles, he has been Secretary General of IUPAC 2016-23, and has just been elected Vice President of CODATA. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.
Professor Hartshorn’s research interests are the coordination chemistry of dinuclear and heterodinuclear systems. He has a long-standing interest in chemical nomenclature and new ways of systematically naming and representing chemical compounds.
Renee Raroa (Ngāti Porou)
Learning and Insights Manager & Regional Lead at Toha Foundry
Renee Raroa is the Learning and Insights Manager & Regional Lead at Toha Foundry based in Gisborne. She sits on several boards and regional governance groups that connect council, industry, iwi organisations, and institutions.
Renee is an experienced science educator and has worked with schools across the Tairāwhiti region as well being a committee member and organiser of the Eastland Network Science Fair and an Awapuni School trustee.
Renee has networks throughout the Tairāwhiti community as an impact event organiser, including Startup Weekend Tairāwhiti & Recloaking The Whenua, and also as co-founder and trustee of Tairāwhiti’s first impact house, Tāiki E!
Chris Wikaira
Director of BRG- a Communications and Public Affairs Company
Chris is a Director of BRG- a Communications and Public Affairs Company based in Wellington. He provides specialist Māori communication, media and political advice and analysis. An award-winning journalist with an unrivalled reputation among politicians, business and the public service, he has a particular ability to be able to identify and analyse complex kaupapa Māori issues.
Chris’s tribal affiliations are Ngāti Maniapoto, Nga Puhi and Pākehā. He brings an important perspective to his work as a consultant, providing advice to Māori organisations on how their views can be communicated effectively. He provides advice to private and public organisations on how to engage with Māori at hapū, iwi, regional and national levels.
Simon McAtamney
Deputy Principal, Newlands Intermediate
Ko Rau Parerau te maunga.
Ko Tonoa te awa.
Ko waka Pakanga te waka.
Ko Ngāti Pakeha te iwi.
No Māniototo ahau.
Ko Simon McAtamney tōku ingoa.
Ko Tumuaki Tuarua o Te Kura Waenga o Horokiwi.
At Newlands Intermediate, I am an experienced leader, committed to innovation and collaborative leadership, currently leading research into the impacts and implementation of AI in the modern classroom. I value relationship building (Whanaungatanga) and am committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ensuring that our efforts align with the vision of Mātaitipu: to grow and nourish a thriving community.
As a Trustee of The National Science-Technology Roadshow Trust, I am dedicated to providing quality, interactive learning experiences in science, technology, and innovation across Aotearoa, New Zealand. I approach this role as a curriculum-first leader who actively encourages active involvement in science and is passionate about exploring and extending individual talents through self-directed learning. My dedication to science education and innovation is further enhanced by my experience as a graduate of the Sir Paul Callaghan training that the trust provides.