Chris Lord – Wintec.

Kia ora. Ko Chris Lord ahau.

I am honoured to be nominated for the position of Te Tumu Arataki IPC Tiriti | National Vice President – IPC Tiriti.

I am currently a Principal Academic at Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec – Te Pūkenga) in the Centre for Education and Foundation Studies. Before entering the tertiary sector, I was a primary teacher and rural teaching principal, and an active NZEI Te Riu Roa member, holding a range of branch and regional roles between 1990 and 2006.

Since joining TEU (formerly ASTE) in 2007, I have contributed across many areas of union life – serving as committee member, health and safety representative, bargaining team member, and since 2020, Branch President. I also serve on the Union’s Industrial and Professional Committee. Through these roles I have helped to strengthen branch engagement, supported members through bargaining and workplace challenges, and worked to uphold union values of equity, solidarity, and Tiriti partnership.

This is a pivotal time for TEU. We are consolidating the constitutional changes and strategies that members have endorsed. Our industrial strategy has just been refreshed, a professional strategy is in development, and Conference has set ambitious goals for the next 3–5 years.

As Te Tumu Arataki Tiriti | National Vice President – IPC Tiriti, I would welcome the opportunity to provide strong and collaborative leadership to the IPC and contribute to Council. My focus is to ensure the IPC provides robust support to Council on matters of pay, working conditions, and professional issues, and that our work reflects our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and delivers the best possible outcomes for all members.