Board
Every state and state-integrated school in New Zealand has a board. The board's core role is to govern its school.
Our school board is made up of five parent elected representatives, a staff elected representative and the principal. The current board took office in 2022.
The School Board is responsible for the governance of our school through setting the direction and meeting the legal and statutory requirements. This specifically includes the responsibility for implementing the Charter, setting and reviewing goals, implementing policies and assessing performance in relation to these. The principal, as chief executive, is charged with the responsibility of achieving these objectives through effective day to day management of the school’s staff and resources.
Board members are elected by the school’s community once every three years. Board meetings are 'meetings held in public' and are held twice per term, the dates of our meetings are on the school calendar. Please contact our board secretary if you would like to contact the board or to arrange to attend a meeting.
More information on the role of the board can be found here
To contact Joanne Henderson, Board Secretary please email j.henderson@va.school.nz
Victoria Avenue School Board
John Thorman
Presiding Member
I was co-opted to the School Board in November 2018 and unanimously elected as Board Chair in March 2019 and each year subsequent.
My wife, Julie, and I have four children, two of whom are at VAS and two who have moved on to intermediate and college.
I am a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years’ experience currently employed as the co-Founder and Managing Director of Corporate Services New Zealand. I am also a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Outside of work I enjoy sailing, biking and outdoor activities with my children.
email contact:
Martin Cooper
I was co-opted onto the Board of Trustees in November 2018 and have been a member since. My wife, Lidia, and I have two daughters. Chloe is in Year 7 and Caitlin is in Year 5. My background is in engineering and project management before starting my own development management business in 2013. I have a property development company specialising in apartment projects as well. I am also the Vice Chair of the Property Council of New Zealand Auckland Executive Branch where we work to champion and foster the health and success of the property industry especially with Local and Central Government. Outside of work I enjoy biking, tennis and squash and various other sporting activities with the family.
email contact:
Kerrie Gregory
My partner Jarrod I have two boys – Cooper & Oliver. Cooper is in year three at VAS, and Oliver is a very excited New Entrant. I have been actively involved as a member of the VAS Friends Association, and a Class Parent since Cooper started in 2020.
I grew up in the South Island and studied at Otago, where I completed a Bachelor of Education. After doing an O.E, I moved to Auckland, which has now been home for 16 years.
I currently work for a publicly listed company that owns multiple subsidiaries specialising in recruitment. I’ve held leadership positions across the group, and I’m currently the General Manager of Operations – responsible for leading innovation and business improvement across our group. I am also a business owner, having recently opened a brand new hotel in Newmarket.
Away from work: My family is my heart and centre. You’ll see me on the side lines of Cooper & Oliver’s sports most weekends, heading out for a family bike ride or doing activities together. I enjoy baking all things sweet and exercise (debits and credits)!
email contact:
Chun Li
Kia ora koutou, hello everyone, and 大家好! I was elected as a school board member in September 2022. I am a parent of two girls, Tisha is in Year 2 and Tamsin in Year 1 at VAS. Born in China and living in Aotearoa for 15+ years, my wife, Jie, and I identify ourselves as Aucklanders. As a migrant, I appreciate the cultural differences between countries, and recognise the shared values about education. Holding a master’s degree in computer and information sciences, I worked at the University of Auckland and recently joined Saint Kentigern as an Education Information Systems Analyst. With my passion about education, culture and innovation, I am a fellow at One-League and a member of the MIT Bootcamps Graduate Community, where I meet entrepreneurs, educators and researchers across 100+ countries. Outside of work, I enjoy outdoor activities in the mountains.
email contact:
chun.li@va.school.nz
Alfred Chong
My wife, Tiffany, and I have two children, Tarquin and Alya. Tarquin is in year 2 at VAS, and Alya will join the school when she turns 5 years old in two years time.
I am a lawyer and have been practising law in New Zealand since 2008. I am the founder and managing director of a law firm in Auckland.
Apart from English I speak fluent Mandarin and Cantonese. Outside work I enjoy playing basketball, snowboarding and outdoor activities with my children. I also enjoy contributing to the community such as volunteered for many years as a legal counsel for the Better Chance Charitable Trust, to offer legal assistance to the wider community.
LLB, BSc
email contact:
a.chong@victoria-avenue.school.nz
Ilona Cater
Staff Representative
to be appointed
Jane Bush
Principal
It has been my privilege to be the principal of our wonderful school since 2020. I love working with our staff, board and community to enhance the learning opportunities that help our students to thrive.
email contact:
jane@va.school.nz
ConcernsComplaintsFlowchart.pdf