Principal

Linda is the Principal of the Southern Health School.

Linda has been an educator for over 30 years, working mainly in the south of New Zealand. She was previously principal of Fiordland College in Te Anau, and Otago Girls’ High School in Dunedin.

Prior to taking up the role at Southern Health School, Linda spent four years as an Educational Leadership Consultant at the University of Auckland, developing and supporting school leaders in schools throughout New Zealand, Australia and the Middle East. She continues to deliver leadership development programmes to principals in New South Wales, Australia.

Linda has also worked for the New Zealand Teaching Council, carrying out a nationwide consultation with both primary and secondary principals around professional learning needs, NZQA, where she was the National Facilitator for Geography during the implementation of NCEA, and ERO, where she was a Review Officer.

Linda holds an MEd through the University of Tasmania, a National Diploma of Educational Leadership through Christchurch College of Education, a Diploma of Teaching through Dunedin Teachers’ College and a BA through Otago University.

Linda is also a Justice of the Peace and a celebrant.

Presiding Member

Craig is the current Board Chair/Presiding Member for the Southern Health School.

Craig works as a Service Manager for the Forensic and Intellectual Disability Services at Hillmorton Hospital, Christchurch.

Prior to this he worked for more than 20 years as a manager in Child and Adolescent Mental Health for the Te Whatu Ora, Waitaha.

He brings considerable experience of child and youth mental health to his role on the Board of Trustees.

Craig holds an MBA from Canterbury University/Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, a Diploma in Management from the New Zealand Institute of Management, and he is also a Registered Comprehensive Nurse. He joined the BOT for the Southern Health School in 2015 and served in the previous term as Board Chair.

Craig is also the Chair of a Not-for-Profit Trust, based in Waitaha/Canterbury and a member of the Institute of Directors, Canterbury Branch.

Deputy Presiding Member

Nicola is a senior lecturer at Massey University/Te Kunenga Ki Pūrehuroa, where she coordinates the Masters of Education (Inclusive Education) endorsement and the Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Support. She is also the National Facilitator for the Learning Support Network – an interprofessional community of practice that brings together professionals working in learning support roles throughout Aotearoa. Nicola contributes to a range of education-related committees and professional networks, including the Equity through Education Centre, Teaching Complaints Assessment Committee and the Australia New Zealand Education Law Association. Nicola is committed to ensuring all ākonga at Te Kura Whaiora ki te Tonga / the Southern Health School feel safe, valued, respected, and supported to learn and thrive.

Chair of Audit and Risk Committee

Matthew McVicar is a member of the Board and currently serves as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. He first attended the school as a student and brings a valuable lived perspective of the support the kura provides to ākonga.

Matthew is completing his law degree at the University of Canterbury and works as a law clerk in Christchurch. Alongside his role at Southern Health School, he is involved in other governance and community initiatives.

Matthew is passionate about ensuring that all young people are able to remain connected to education during periods of illness or recovery, and is proud to contribute to the important work Southern Health School does across Te Waipounamu.

Staff Trustee

Nikki Freeman has been a teacher at Southern Health School since 2017 and brings extensive experience as a secondary school educator. Her background spans a wide range of teaching contexts.

Nikki holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Career Development from NMIT, which informs her commitment to helping students navigate educational pathways and future opportunities. She has a particular interest in student wellbeing that fosters engagement, and strengthened skills and confidence. Nikki’s involvement on the Board of Trustees supports this work by contributing to decisions that strengthen student wellbeing and ensure learners are well supported throughout their time at Health School.

Member

David holds degrees from Waitaha / Canterbury/Oxford Universities & Australian Catholic University.

He is a former Fulbright Scholar.

David Ivory has been involved in governance of a number of educational institutions, including Council Member of Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha/University of Canterbury, President of the Canterbury Workers Education Association, and has represented the Minister of Education on a number of school boards including both Halswell/Westbridge Schools and Kingslea School. He has also served as a Board Member on the New Zealand School Trustees Association and served as the chair of its Audit and Risk Committee.

He represents the Minister of Health of the New Zealand Paramedic Council, and is a director of several companies.

Member