Swings + Roundabouts Spring 2021

Simon Laube joins the ECC in October 2021. Over the past eleven years he has undertaken various public service roles mostly in the Ministry of Education. In his early career he worked in an incorporated society like ECC before he and family went to India where Simon’s wife Michelle was posted as a diplomat for the Government. Simon has held key senior leadership roles. Most recently he was working on the review of New Zealand’s national secondary schools’ qualifications (NCEA). Prior to this he was responsible for the Ministry’s removal of the partnership schools kura hourua model from the education system, a model he had also been closely involved with in its establishment. For four years he worked for a previous Education Minister as the Ministry of Education’s key conduit for its advice on all early childhood and early learning matters. He is passionate about supporting his people so they can be successful, and ensuring the organisation stays healthy and strong. He seeks to establish trusting relationships and looks for opportunities to work collaboratively. What is your current role in ECE? I come to the ECC with an understanding of how early learning fits into the New Zealand education system. I am closely familiar with the principles that support the current context – the way services are regulated, publicly funded and why. Both my children went to a range of ECE options in Wellington, and I stayed home to look after my son when he was 8 months old for about six months while we were in India. How long have you been working in ECE? I feel honoured coming into the ECC organisation at this point in the organisation’s journey. During the recruitment process I was impressed by the calibre of individuals I met from the Executive Committee, and those supporting them – you have such passionate, innovative and clever people involved in the organisation. It said a lot to me, seeing this talent. It was a big attraction and made me feel excited about the possibilities ahead. What you love most about working in ECE? In New Zealand we pride ourselves on having a diversity of early learning options available so that parents can choose what is best for their tamariki. I love the flexibility we have in New Zealand while ensuring that quality ECE is provided. On the flipside, we don’t want decisions to be made for early learning with closer attention being paid to other matters that, for example, might be more applicable to compulsory schooling. ECE and schooling are not the same. Equally, not everything we do in ECE is about education. Biggest challenge facing ECE today? It is becoming clear that politics and indeed everything in New Zealand is increasingly revolving around the global COVID-19 pandemic. We need to accept this is the current reality and look for opportunities to progress our interests being conscious about that lens. When we think and plan about the immediate challenges, we increasingly will need to ensure we are paying close attention Meet the new ECC CEO: Simon Laube September 2021 { 10 }