Our people

I am a year 11 student at Orewa College. Born and schooled on Auckland's North Shore until I moved to Orewa in 2016. My current interests at school include taking part in Duke of Ed, Debating, SADD, Student Council and Nepia House monitor. Outside of school I enjoy reading, going for walks with my dog, watching movies and spending quality time with friends and family. I am excited to have been elected as the student rep and my intention is to represent my peers to the best of my ability. I enjoy the learning environment at Orewa College, the various opportunities provided for the growth of students and I strive daily to uphold the core values of Manaaki Orewa.

Having worked in the education sector for the past 22 years I have been fortunate in the past two years, to be charged with ensuring the efficient and practical provision of Non-Teaching services to the College. Working with highly skilled professionals in the areas of Property, Health and Safety, Human Resource and Finance management, success in all areas is consistently achieved. This role includes being Secretary to a motivated and passionate Board of Trustees. No day is ever the same and it is a pleasure to be included in a staff who practise Manaakitanga.

j.delaney@orewacollege.nz

I have served as a member of the Orewa College Board of Trustees since 2013. I was previously a Trustee and Chair at Red Beach School for two terms. I also have current and past involvement in governance of Sport Waitakere and Harbour Basketball. I am active in supporting sport at Orewa College and are a coach and committee member for Orewa College Basketball and my husband Darren coaches rugby for the school. I am the Business and Enterprise Manager at Auckland Tourism Events and Economic development and oversees the team supporting business growth and innovation on behalf of Auckland Council. My husband and I also own a business in Orewa. Our family has lived on the Hibiscus Coast for 18 years and are active in a Red Beach Surf Club.

I have been a Board of Trustees member for 18 months. My current role involves managing a range of ICT Facilities Projects for DHBs within complex clinical environments and on hospital campuses; this can include new hospital and community health buildings, refurbishments, and departmental expansions.
Originally from Liverpool, I have worked primarily in IT and Telecoms in both England and Scotland. Before emigrating to NZ, I spent a fascinating 12 years working as an IT Manager with the UK police, specialising in emergency call handling systems, network projects, covert ops support and managing the Force’s mobile telephony contract.
As a volunteer, I have lived and worked with adults and young people with learning disabilities and, in contrast, on international work camps with the National Trust for Scotland on Fair Isle, Britain’s most isolated inhabited island! I have also spent a year as an elected Parent Governor at a primary school in England.
Together with my wife Julie I have lived in Orewa for 7 years and have a son (who has just graduated from Orewa College) and a daughter at Orewa College. We all now hold joint UK-NZ Citizenship.

Interests include football (Liverpool FC of course), photography and trying to keep fit.

I have served as a member of the Board since 2010. I was previously a school trustee at Maunu Primary School in Whangarei from 2001 to 2007. I work as a planning manager for northern and western Auckland at Auckland Council and have previously worked at Rodney District Council and Northland Regional Council. I hold Masters’ degrees in Geography and in Public Management. I am a third generation Hibiscus Coast resident and myself and my wife Sally have two daughters, both of whom have attended Orewa College. I am now enjoying learning to paddle board. My Board interests lie particularly in long term planning and community relationships.

I have served on the Board of Trustees since 2012 and I am an ex-student of Orewa College. I work full time for the New Zealand Police and also work in the aviation industry, holding a commercial pilots licence and flight instructor rating. I hold a Diploma in Aviation and I am finishing off a Law and Commerce degree from the University of Auckland. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with friends and family and working on aviation or community related goals. As deputy chair, I believe in promoting alternative career pathways for students believing that one size does not fit all.

Having served 3 terms on the BOT at Red Beach School I find myself following my 2 children to Orewa College. Home for me and my family has been in Orewa since 1999, and it is a place where I am happy to live and contribute. I have worked in education for quite some time, initially in an Outdoor Education and Recreation facility, followed by University training in Education, followed by a period of teaching in science and physical education. I transferred to AUT in 1999 as a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Science and have this year elected to return to the ‘coal face’ in the role of Programme Manager at the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre. I have the opportunity in this role to contribute to the two things that I think are most important, and they are people and nature. I believe Orewa College is well managed by people who are dedicated to a diverse community and my intent is to help support these people all other contributors in the endeavour of providing a quality experience for everybody involved.

I have served as a board member since 2013. My career was a chartered accountant and software entreprenuer. After a 25 year absence from Tāmaki Makaurau, my family and I chose the Hibiscus Coast as our home in 2012 on returning to NZ from overseas. My interests lie in the wildlife and environment of the Hauraki Gulf as well as keeping abreast of new technologies. My interests on the board include the prudent management of the school’s finances as well as its technological participation.

My name is Linda Rubens and I am a year 9-13 English teacher. I have been teaching for 27 years and have been at Orewa College for over 9 years. Currently I am a lead teacher in the Orewa Kāhui Ako: Community of Learning. I am loving working with students and teachers from across our wider community. In my own class, I encourage independence and strive for students to find their own learning path. I use a blended approach with a variety of teaching tools and resources to suit the individuals that make up the class. I feel privileged to have been accepted into the Apple Distinguished Educator programme and this has opened up so many wonderful opportunities for me to grow as a teacher.

I have lived in Orewa for 12 years having emigrated from the UK with my wife, Angela, and son, Joshua, who has attended all his schooling in Orewa. I have worked in the hospitality and service industry for over 30 years and hold a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Auckland University. My current role is as Operations Manager for Northland DHB looking after cleaning and patient food services across 5 hospitals. Prior roles have covered Regional and Operations Manager in the Auckland and Waikato regions. In my spare time I enjoy tramping and camping in New Zealand’s great outdoors with my son.

I was elected to the Orewa College Board of Trustees in 1993, after serving on the Board of Whangaparaoa Primary from the inception of “Tomorrow’s Schools”. I was closely involved with the development of the Hibiscus Coast Area Strategy and the subsequent new building programme at Orewa College and other Education Facilities on the Coast. As the National Buildings Director for WSP Opus, I am responsible for a wide range of Education and Public Sector projects, and are involved with all aspects of the development and management of new building assets.

Along with my wife Elizabeth we have lived on the Coast for over 30 years and our four children have attended Orewa College and enjoyed the benefits of an excellent local education. My business, community, and education involvement ensures a sound basis to be an effective member of the Orewa College Board of Trustees, contributing particularly in the areas of Property and Governance.

My journey at Orewa College began as a Mathematics teacher moving on to Head of Department then to Principal in 1996.

I enjoy being involved in the education of young people, encouraging self-management and preparing them for the next stage of their lives, and keeping our education relevant and future focussed. Leading a group of such professional, dedicated staff is rewarding and inspiring. Education is rapidly evolving towards more self direction, more personalised learning, more relevant technology and more involvement with opportunities to work in business and social partnerships beyond the school. This brings challenges within the school and across schools, challenges we face with enthusiasm and optimism.

Working in a beautiful natural environment here on the Hibiscus Coast in a well resourced successful school, is a privilege.