Dilworth School’s Special Projects Advisor, Asha Tupou Vea, recently received an ISNZ Honours Award for helping shape and drive strategic change at Dilworth School.
Asha was honoured alongside a stellar line-up of some of the country’s best educators at the Independent School NZ Conference in Wellington.
An extract from ISNZ’s citation emphasises the extensive impact of Asha’s work on Dilworth’s project reset and Boarding strategy.
“Asha has made an outstanding contribution to education through her leadership in strategic change, curriculum innovation, and community-centred transformation at Dilworth School and beyond. As a core member of the Project RESET team, she played a pivotal role in designing and implementing six major areas of foundational, curriculum, and structural change. Her evidence-based approach, courageous creativity, and unwavering ākonga-centred vision ensured RESET delivered sustainable, transparent, and coherent improvements across the school.
Her ability to bring diverse voices together, foster co-design, and lead with optimism and grace has been widely recognised by colleagues across independent schools. She is a visionary, a leader, a collaborator, and a living taonga within New Zealand education”
There wasn’t a dry eye at the Dilworth table during the Awards dinner as Asha's colleagues and Dilworth Board members watched her receive this well-deserved award.
Reflecting on the award and what it meant to her, Asha commented,
“My highlight was sharing in the journey and successes of the transformative mahi at Dilworth. I loved seeing how inspired and moved our ISNZ colleagues were by Headmaster Dan Reddiex’s presentation, 'Leading through the Storm.’ Hearing him speak from the heart about one of New Zealand's most challenging leadership roles over the last six years was a powerful reminder of the relentless drive for positive change and the unwavering championing of ākonga”.
Asha went on to say, “Dan helped everyone understand the remarkable legacy of James and Isabella Dilworth, the true proposition and what 'Dilworth Now' is.
Huge congratulations to Asha Tupou Vea from everyone at Dilworth. We are extremely proud of you.
