Debbie Rickard - ECNZ.

Tēnā koutou katoa,

ko Debbie Rickard toku ingoa,

No Te Papaioea ahau

Ko te Kaiārahi matauranga-a-rohe ki te takiwā ako o Te Papaioea

I am the Regional Education Leader (REL) at the Palmerston North Regional Education Centre for Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand. We are a not-for-profit, private training provider with a 60-year history and a commitment to bicultural teaching and learning.

I have been involved with unions all my working life, starting with the PSA and on joining Te Rito Maioha in 2009 transferred to ASTE and then TEU. I am an active member of our TEU branch, having held positions of Treasurer and REL rep. I am currently co-branch President and have held this position for over 5 years.

I was elected to the Industrial and Professional Committee at the last election and would love to continue in this role.

I am an organised and systems focused person which I believe will be an asset to the Industrial and Professional Committee. I enjoy working collaboratively ensuring diverse voices are heard. I am reminded of the whakatauki – ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini – my strength is not as an individual, but as a collective. I favour listening to the views of others prior to providing my own input. This approach supports a collective approach.

If re-elected as your PRRISM Tiriti representative on the Industrial and Professional Committee I will strive to ensure our voices are heard.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.