Growing up in the small coastal village of Waiomu on the Thames Coast, Jeff spent his childhood between the sea and the bush behind his family’s motor camp. This unique upbringing, along with his mixed heritage of NZ Māori (Ngāti Awa) and English ancestry, has shaped his approach to education and community work.

Jeff joined Oceania Career Academy (OCA) as Academic Lead in February this year, bringing with him extensive experience in vocational education. A horticulturist by trade, his career has evolved from industry growing to teaching and then into academic and management roles across five New Zealand tertiary education providers.

His professional journey has taken him throughout New Zealand and overseas to Europe, China, and most recently Samoa, where he worked with the Tindall Foundation and the Samoan Farmers Association to improve agricultural production for local farmers.

“I’ve dedicated most of my career to developing and delivering practical, community-based programmes for Māori and Pasifika learners,” Jeff shares. “From foundation levels through to industry employment and higher qualifications.”

“Having taught at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) for many years and developed and delivered programmes all across NZ, I have a deep passion for the transformative nature that practical, culturally aligned and locally delivered vocational education programmes can bring to our Māori & Pasifika youth and second chance learners.”

Ngāti Awa proverb: “He manu hou ahau, he pī ka rere” (I am like a fledgling bird, a newborn bird just learning to fly).

“I think of this as making sure we remember to always have a beginner’s mind that is open to new learnings and experiences,” he reflects. “I welcome meeting everyone across OCA and The Fono and learning more about what you do to support the Kaupapa.”

What drew Jeff to OCA was its purpose-driven approach. “I love that OCA and The Fono’s purpose is to deliver real outcomes for Pasifika communities and whānau in a culturally appropriate and Pasifika-led manner,” he says.

Jeff sees great potential in Pacific learners. “Most Pasifika learners have a strong sense of cultural identity that grounds them. If we can connect this identity to what they’re learning, it becomes a powerful motivator for success and empowerment.”

He also recognises the crucial role of family in education success. “One of OCA’s main points of difference is the work the OCA’s Navigators do in reducing barriers to learning by connecting directly and regularly with our learner’s whānau. This connectedness bridges the gap between our learners’ home life and study life by ensuring that everyone is playing their role in supporting them to achieve. A learner’s whānau can be the difference between success and failure, so yes, they are very important in providing support in education.”

Outside of work, Jeff maintains an active lifestyle – running, cycling, kayaking, and fishing. He is an avid sports fan supporting the Blues, Moana Pasifika, Warriors, and Auckland AFC. His love for horticulture continues through growing vegetables and exploring New Zealand’s native landscapes.

As a volunteer with Volunteer Services Abroad, Jeff spends up to six weeks annually in the Pacific helping local growers improve their crop production, and he proudly shares that he has become an “adopted palagi” within his Samoan fanau.