ECC Conference 2026:
The Power of Choice
Navigating challenges, building bright futures
Conference Programme
Meet Your MC: Jehan Casinader
Jehan Casinader is an award-winning journalist, speaker and mental health advocate.
Jehan is passionate about leading courageous conversations about the issues that matter. He is a respected voice in the areas of wellbeing, leadership and workplace culture.
Over the past decade, Jehan has hosted a wide range of high-profile events in the education sector. He looks forward to joining us for ECC Conference 2026, where he’ll host stimulating discussions about the future of our sector.
Our Keynote Speakers
Abbas Nazari
About Abbas
Abbas Nazari fled the Taliban in Afghanistan as a child and was resettled in New Zealand after his family were rescued by the Tampa containership in 2001, an international story known as the Tampa Affair.
Abbas and his family have thrived since being resettled to New Zealand. In 2019, Abbas was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to the United States, where he graduated with a Master's in Security Studies from Georgetown University, Washington DC. His memoir, After the Tampa: From Afghanistan to New Zealand, is a #1 bestseller.
About Jehan
Jehan Casinader is an award-winning journalist, speaker and mental health advocate.
He was named “Reporter of the Year” at the New Zealand Television Awards, and “Best Political Columnist” at the Voyager Media Awards.
In the aftermath of natural disasters, terror attacks, sporting triumphs and everything in between, Jehan has helped hundreds of people to share their inspiring, deeply personal stories.
In 2020, Jehan opened up about his own journey through depression and suicidal thoughts, in a book called “This Is Not How It Ends: How rewriting your story can save your life” (HarperCollins). He is an official ambassador for Men’s Health Week.
Jehan is passionate about leading courageous conversations about the issues that matter. He is a respected voice in the areas of wellbeing, leadership and workplace culture.
Over the past decade, Jehan has hosted a wide range of high-profile events in the education sector. He looks forward to joining us for ECC Conference 2026, where he’ll host stimulating discussions about the future of our sector.
About Lisa
Lisa O'Neill is a force of nature who has spent over twenty years helping people and organisations transform through her unique combination of straight-talking wisdom and infectious humour. Raised in small-town New Zealand, Lisa brings a rare authenticity that allows her to connect with everyone from CEOs to frontline staff, delivering hard-hitting messages in ways that crack people open to possibility.
Our Workshop Programme
Living the Story: What Happens When Storytelling Becomes the Heart of Pedagogy
Workshop Description
Storytelling is far more than an educational technique; it is the neural architecture through which humans make meaning, regulate emotion, and build connection. This presentation examines the developmental science behind narrative and its profound influence from infancy through adulthood. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, developmental psychology, and early childhood pedagogy, Del Costello (Coactive Education) illuminates how stories function as cognitive, social, and emotional engines for learning.
Research shows that rich narrative experiences strengthen executive function, build empathy, lay the foundations for literacy, and support children’s evolving sense of identity and belonging. At the same time, the stories adults carry, including our metaphors, memories, and cultural narratives, shape the environments we construct and the relationships we form with children.
This session shares lived insights from implementing storytelling-centred pedagogy across three early childhood services. Del will explore how making story the foundation of practice influences curriculum design, teacher behaviours, assessment, and community engagement. Participants will hear about the opportunities, challenges, and transformative outcomes that emerged when storytelling became the guiding philosophy for these learning communities.
Through shared stories, reflective dialogue, and practical examples, this presentation invites educators to consider how intentionally designed narrative practices can deepen children’s learning, strengthen relationships, and create early childhood environments where story is not an activity but the heart of pedagogy.
Who should attend?
This session explores the science of storytelling and its impact on learning, identity, and relationships in early childhood. Drawing on research and lived examples from three services, Del Costello shows how story-centred pedagogy transforms curriculum, teaching practice, and community connections, offering practical insights for designing narrative-rich learning environments.
About Del Costello
Del Costello is the founder and director of Coactive Education, specialising in storytelling pedagogy, early literacy, and culturally responsive practice across early childhood and primary education. With a background spanning leadership, teacher development, and curriculum design, Del works alongside services across Aotearoa to build learning environments grounded in narrative, identity, and connection.
Del’s work integrates insights from neuroscience, developmental psychology, and oral storytelling traditions to support educators in designing rich, relational learning experiences. She leads professional learning programmes, develops place-based stories with communities and mana whenua, and partners with centres to embed storytelling as a foundation for pedagogy.
Passionate about the power of narrative to shape thinking, belonging, and wellbeing, Del supports kaiako to strengthen children’s language, literacy, and identity through intentional, story-rich practice.
Ako takiwā: Exploring place-based education
Workshop Description
A Place-based curriculum prioritises local perspectives, histories and narratives as the context for learning.
‘Takiwā’, in te reo Māori can mean area, space, setting, time/period. Through exploring the notions of ‘takiwā’ and asking the questions ‘who (ko wai)’, ‘where (ko hea)’ and ‘what (he aha)’, this kaupapa aims to refresh, reimagine and realise our understanding of Place-based education (PBE) and reconnect us to ‘why (ko te take)’, - “to develop in learners a love of their environment, of the place where they are living…” (Penetito, 2009, p.16).
With a focus on whenua, taiao and tāngata, this session will also highlight the significance of time (when) in PBE and provide practical ideas of ‘how (me pēhea)’ Kaiako can empower tamariki with knowledge of their takiwā through connection to their takiwā. It will also demonstrate how Te Reo Māori can be used intentionally to strengthen relational ties to their takiwā and foster culturally grounded learning experiences.
Who should attend?
Kaiako who are seeking to refresh their practice or gain new perspectives, this initiative offers insights and innovative approaches to integrating place-based education into teaching and learning.
About Krystal Taiapa
Krystal is a dedicated Te Reo Māori educator who has experience in designing curriculum-aligned digital resources for the teaching and learning of Te Reo Māori. Before joining New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC), she led online professional learning and development (PLD) courses in Te Reo Māori for teachers and support staff across Aotearoa. Now serving as Kaiārahi and a member of the lecturing team at NZTC, Krystal supports students and plays a key role in designing and creating the college’s reo Māori programmes. She also delivers online reo Māori sessions for academic staff and facilitates external PLD initiatives.
The Balance Between Purpose and People in Modern ECE Services
Workshop Description
This workshop is for centre owner–operators focused on a future-ready approach to achieving vision and desired outcomes. A strong philosophy forms the foundation of a successful centre to guide decision-making, shape culture, strengthen relationships, and support both meaningful outcomes and long-term financial viability.
Together, we will explore how to balance purpose with people in a modern ECE service, including the vital working partnership between an engaged centre owner and an effective centre manager. Drawing on my 25+ years as a centre owner and extensive client experience, I will share practical strategies for building a viable service that prioritises outcomes for tamariki while pursuing organisational excellence.
This workshop also provides space to review systems and processes related to regulatory and funding requirements, helping centres move forward with clarity and confidence.
Who should attend?
This workshop is for the centre owner that is also the centre’s licencee and for the centre manager.
About Todd Painter
Todd Painter has extensive experience in ECE as a centre owner and consultant involved in governance, management, and centre-based administration. Todd supports services to maintain viability and sustainability, so that they can provide the best outcomes for our children and provides training in ECE funding and how to optimise use of student management systems.
The Power of Choice: Reclaiming Agency in Leadership and Pedagogy
Workshop Description
The theme 'The Power of Choice' resonates throughout our sector, affecting both how we lead and how we educate. This workshop explores the two core pillars of choice, agency and power and control and then apply them to conscious leadership and conscious pedagogy.
For leaders, managers and kaiako we'll offer insights into the research of choice theory, then a dive-deep into understanding how to consciously choose approaches and how this impacts the dynamics in the centre and learning environment. Finally, we will collaborate on some resources and activities to take back into your place of practice.
Reclaiming the agency of choice can lead to truly transformational change for yourself, your team, and the tamariki whānau you serve.
Who should attend?
Leaders, managers and kaiako
About Laurayne Tafa
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A highly skilled and engaging professional with extensive experience in instructional and transformational leadership, teaching, learning and curriculum, culture creation, race power & privilege advisory and evaluation.
Drawing on evidence-based research, Laurayne applies a deep inquiry discourse in her sessions, resulting in self-awareness, knowledge-building, practice analysis and constructive challenge.
What Hat to Wear? Making Better Choices in Your ECE Centre
Workshop Description
Running an early childhood centre can mean wearing many hats – owner, manager, employer, educator, problem-solver – often all at once. But knowing what hat to wear, and when, is one of the most effective ways to make clear, confident choices in an increasingly challenging ECE environment. This workshop explores how understanding your different roles can strengthen decision-making, improve oversight, and support the long-term stability and success of your centre.
Using practical concepts drawn from the Institute of Directors’ governance frameworks, we’ll look at the difference between working in your centre and working on it, how to set clear expectations and boundaries, and ways to reduce risk and avoid common decision-making pitfalls. Participants will gain simple, adaptable tools they can apply in their own context — helping them choose the right hat at the right time and make decisions that lead to better outcomes for their centre, staff and tamariki.
Who should attend?
ECE centre owners, managers and licensees
Owner-operators juggling multiple roles
Emerging leaders taking on wider decision-making
Committee or board members supporting ECE services
Anyone responsible for key choices that shape their centre’s direction and success
About Judene Edgar
Judene Edgar is a Principal Governance Advisor at the Institute of Directors (IoD), helping organisations lift performance, improve decision-making and strengthen leadership. She brings governance experience across ECE, education, energy and aviation sectors and has a background in behavioural science and communications. She is a Chartered Member of the IoD.
The Ripple Effect of You
Workshop Description
The leaders who make the biggest difference don’t sit around waiting for opportunities; they create them through courage, discipline, and intentional action. This PLD is your moment to do exactly that. It’s where you sharpen your discipline, strengthen your team’s mindset, and learn how to execute strategy in a way that actually moves your centre forward. Every minute you spend in this space is an investment in your influence, your decision-making, and the ripple you create across your team and tamariki.
The first choice is the simplest but the most defining: show up. Be fully present. Step into the level of leadership you know you’re capable of — the kind that inspires others, lifts outcomes, and builds culture. This session is designed to be high-impact, practical, and transformative, giving you tools you can use the very next day.
Your leadership future is shaped by the choices you make now. Don’t miss this one.
Who should attend?
Centre owners, Centre managers, leaders, and teachers aiming to be leaders
About Preety Sehgal
Preety Sehgal is an ECE consultant, organisational leader at Kids’ World, and ex-ERO reviewer known for shaking up systems and lifting standards fast. She builds leaders, fixes the messy stuff, and transforms centres into high-performing, future-focused spaces where quality isn’t accidental: it’s engineered.
Growing a Centre with Purpose: Nature, Community and a load of Faith
Workshop Description
In this 45-minute workshop, I’ll share the journey of building and leading a nature-based early childhood centre grounded in Christian philosophy and strong environmental values. Over the past 12 years, our centre has grown from a small 30-place service to a purpose-built setting licensed for 50 children, nestled on two acres of land.
We are a mixed-age centre welcoming children from 10 months to 5 years, with fully qualified teachers who are supported through full pay parity. Our programme is deeply rooted in nature, whānau connections, and faith, and we weave sustainability and care for creation into our daily practice.
This session will explore the key aspects of our journey — from curriculum design and environmental practice to leadership, team culture, and community engagement — offering insights and practical ideas for other early childhood educators, centre owners, and managers looking to develop a purposeful, values-driven learning environment.
About Bridget Gifford
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I am a former primary school teacher who followed a passion for early learning and now own and manage a nature-based early childhood centre. I’m a wife and mum of two teenagers, and I feel most alive travelling or being outdoors — running, exploring our world and spending time in nature.
Te Kete Rangimārie: Building life long social and emotional health in tamariki
Workshop Description
Te Kete Rangimārie is the guiding strategy for Tōtara Kids ELC’s behaviour management and positive guidance policy. This ‘basket of peace and harmony’ allows us the space and tools to help tamariki learn to cope with, and explore, their spectrum of emotions in a safe and socially appropriate way – an important, lifelong skill. Rangimārie means a state of peace, harmony and acceptance. Te Kete Rangimārie is not about getting over your emotions by removing them, squashing them down or sucking them up - it is about finding peace and acceptance with how you’re feeling through a variety of strategies.
Neuroscience teaches us that our brains are unable to process logically when in a heightened state. Te Kete Rangimārie works with dysregulated brains to move back to rangimārie (regulated) so that Kaiako and parents can coach through what happened. During this workshop Elise and Erin will explore the What, Why and How of using Te Kete Rangimārie.
Who should attend?
Any Kaiako, Parent or homebased educator wanting to support children to develop social and emotional regulation strategies. Owners/ Managers wanting to equip their teams with a proven, meaningful, realistic and easy to use positive guidance policy.
About Elise and Erin
Elise (Tōtara Kids ELC Owner/Manager) and Erin (Social Emotional Competency Leader) have worked together for over 6 years, sharing a passion for teaching social and emotional regulation and handing this power back to tamariki. They now present in-person Te Kete Rangimārie workshops to ECEs and parents. Together they hope Te Kete Rangimārie and the impact it has at an ECE policy level will also have positive flow on effects for the mental health and resilience of our Kaiako, teens and families.
Rough and Tumble Play: Facilitating Big Movement, Big Emotions, and Big Learning
Workshop Description
Haere mai! Join Max Christie and Poppy Savage for an engaging session on how Kaiako can confidently facilitate rough and tumble play with tamariki. Often misunderstood, this form of play offers rich opportunities for physical development, emotional regulation, social learning, and connection.
This 45-minute workshop will explore the value of rough and tumble play through both research and lived practice. We’ll discuss the kaupapa behind this play, intentional teaching strategies, and the language that supports it. Whether rough and tumble play challenges you or fuels your passion, this session is for you.
About Max Christie
Max brings over a decade of experience in early childhood education, blending academic expertise with hands-on teaching and leadership. Max currently lectures at EIT Te Aho a Māui, where he inspires future educators through a commitment to quality ECE for tamariki and whānau.
He began his teaching journey at Childspace Northland, where he also gained leadership experience and has facilitated PLD internationally and across Aotearoa. Max is deeply passionate about nature-based education, play, te ao Māori, leadership, innovation, and affirming the mana of Tamariki, Kaiako, and our teaching profession.
Invest in your professional development
All of our sessions are designed to support you and your team to build capability and grow confidence within your roles. Our workshops and panels are all exclusive to the conference, meaning you won't be able to be able to find these opportunities anywhere else.
Phone: 0800 742 742
Email: admin@ecc.org.nz
Floor 1, Petherick Tower,
38 Waring Taylor Street, Wellington
PO Box 5649, Wellington 6140,
New Zealand