President’s Pānui October 2023

Ko te whaea te takere o te waka
Mothers are like the hull of a canoe, they are the heart of the family.

That is not to say that this announcement is of our mother, however when you read this I hope you see the relevance of my introduction.

In what is probably the worst kept secret in CATE presently, it is with elements of pride intermixed with sadness to announce that our Kaiārahi, Leigh Gray has accepted a position as Principal Adviser Secondary Transitions for Nelson, Marlborough, and West Coast with the Ministry of Education. Her contract with CATE as Kaiārahi will officially end on December 31st.

We will of course farewell Leigh properly at our CATE Conference in Whangārei, however I did want to say a few words here.

I cannot think of anyone who has ever been at a presentation or had interactions with Leigh who hasn’t been inspired or touched at her professionalism, passion, and determination to see Careers raise in profile across our sector. Four years ago when we first pitched an idea for a Kaiārahi, as an Executive we didn’t know what this would look like. Leigh took the role and created something we could never have hoped more for, and the results of the recent survey around the Kaiarahi role shows that 100% of respondents stated that this role is highly—extremely highly valued. That is in no short part to the work that Leigh has placed into the role.

This is not goodbye, Leigh will be staying on as Kaiārahi until December but will also be heavily involved with the handover to our new role (once we have had outcomes regarding funding etc). She will also remain with CATE and sitting on the National Executive as the Nelson/Marlborough representative. We will also continue to support Leigh as our representative advocate working with TEC and the Ministry on policy details, working alongside other members of the National Executive.

Leigh leaves us with a true legacy and framework on which to build this role and continuing to have our voice heard at the highest levels in regards to shaping the careers landscape. While she will be missed in her current role, I am delighted that she will continue to be involved with CATE moving into the future.

I hope you will join with me in wishing Leigh the very best in her new role.

Craig Dyason
CATE President