Ko Wai Mātou
Meet our People
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world? Is it the people, it is the people, it is the people!
Discover the people who power UCOL
At UCOL, our people are the heart and soul of everything we do. Together, they drive innovation, excellence, and opportunity, helping UCOL realise our vision to be the leading skills engine driving economic and social development for the Central North Island.
We’re proud to celebrate their achievements and share their stories. In this section, you can:
Meet our leadership team boldly leading UCOL's future
Explore inspiring profiles of our kaimahi (staff), graduates, and current students
Celebrate academic excellence, featuring kaimahi who have achieved the highest honours in UCOL's academic framework as Experts and Fellows
Stay connected with upcoming events that bring our community together
Join us in recognising the people who make UCOL extraordinary - and discover how their passion and expertise create opportunities for learners and communities across Aotearoa.
Experts & Fellows
See our kaimahi with outstanding achievements of Expert or Fellow within our Academic Framework. A testament to excellence, innovation, and leadership in education.
Our Leadership & Council
Meet the people guiding UCOL's strategic direction and driving our success into the future.
Meet our People
Read the stories of all the different people who make up UCOL
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Aqela Cakobau
Information and Enrolments Advisor
With a passion for helping young people flourish, Aqela (pronounced An-ge-la), our Information and Enrolments Advisor is the friendly face you’ll first meet when enquiring or enrolling at UCOL Whanganui.
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Roman Sarki
Bachelor of Design & Arts ākonga
A Bhutanese-Nepalese immigrant, Roman Sarki had a friend in Nepal who knew the word fashion in English when they were kids – just hearing the word itself was what kickstarted his design journey.
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Erin Hall
Early Childhood Lecturer
As a teenager, UCOL Early Childhood Education (ECE) lecturer, Erin Hall, says she knew becoming a teacher was her calling and she hasn’t looked back since.
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Michael Katene
Diploma in Architectural Technology ākonga
Dreams can come true according to UCOL Diploma in Architectural Technology ākonga, Michael Katene.
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Campbell Poulton
New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Trade) - Apprenticeship
Campbell Poulton's decision to pair his practical farm work experience with study has turned out to be the perfect match.
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Wendy Johns
New Zealand Diploma in Business (Majoring in Accounting) Graduate
Wendy Johns' decision to return to UCOL 18 years after she first left couldn't have resulted in a better outcome.
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Shane Hayter
Automotive Engineering Lecturer
Shane wasn’t looking to become a teacher, but with some encouragement from his wife, he took the plunge and applied.
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Tessa Ander
Beauty ākonga
This isn’t the first UCOL graduation for Tessa, who is successfully working her way through UCOL’s beauty programmes, from Level 2 to Level 5.
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Leana Malcolm
Beauty Therapy graduate
The challenges Leana Malcolm has overcome, as a young mum of two, to find success in her studies are something she’s very humble about.
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Shayla Nelley
Hairdressing ākonga
Shayla Nelley is celebrating wrapping up her year studying the New Zealand Certificate in Hairdressing Level 3.
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Dr. Eswaranathan (Nathan) Ehambara
Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Development
Nathan's education journey is international. Originally from Malaysia where he initially studied, he has worked, studied, or taught in Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Solomon Islands, and here in New Zealand.
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Nova Doyle
3+2 ECE ākonga
Nurturing is just part of who Nova Doyle is, and it’s this strength that is driving her towards success.
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Nina Kereama Stevenson
Bachelor of Creative Media ākonga
After initially considering a career in Indigenous psychology after high school, Nina is thrilled with her decision to bring creativity to life through her choosen path in design, as she wraps up her final year of UCOL’s Bachelor of Creative Media.
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James McDonald
Bachelor of Creative Media ākonga
Meet James McDonald, the animator whizz behind the Palmerston North City Library’s latest Walls Alive project.
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Dan Pitman
Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Imaging Technology) ākonga
Moving to Palmerston North to study was a significant change for Dan Pitman. Hailing from Whangārei, the 34-year-old has never lived far from the coast and had previously worked in marine conservation and terrestrial environmental work.
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Dr Shawn Rasheed
ICT Lecturer
Shawn began teaching in 2018 and has taught full-time at UCOL since 2023. Shawn has a BSc from the University of Queensland, an MSc in Informatics (focusing on machine learning and data) from the University of Edinburgh, and a PhD from Massey University.
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Tere Karaitiana-Bray
Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) Wairarapa Lecturer
Tere's parents met as ākonga at Palmerston North Teachers' College, sparking a lifelong connection to education that shaped her journey.
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Yug Uphadhyay
Veterinary Nursing Graduate
Yug Upadhyay grew up in Gujarat, India—a region known for its rich history and notable figures like Gandhi.
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Dr Amardeep Singh
ICT Lecturer
With a wealth of machine learning, AI, and data science expertise, Dr Amardeep Singh uses a mentoring approach for ākonga so they gain confidence and take charge of their learning.
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Risabh Bastola
Bachelor of Applied Science (Laboratory Science) ākonga
From Nepal to New Zealand: Risabh Bastola’s journey in science and self-discovery.
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Fatima Haddadian
Nursing Graduate
Growing up in Shiraz, Iran, Fatima always had a nurturing spirit. Whether caring for her grandparents or being the ‘caretaker’ among her friends, she had a passion for helping others.
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Marcus Flintoff
Veterinary Nursing Lecturer
Marcus Flintoff has more than 14 years of teaching experience. He is a Lecturer in Veterinary Nursing. This year, he began a new journey with Te Atakura. His work has earned him recognition from UCOL and the New Zealand Veterinary Nurses Association.
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Amber Roberts
Beauty Lecturer
Amber is passionate about beauty therapy and lifelong learning.
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Davis Ferguson
Bachelor of Nursing ākonga
Davis Ferguson's journey to becoming the Te Rūnanga Tauira Chairperson is inspiring.
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Morgan Beugelsdyk
Bachelor of Nursing ākonga
Morgan Beugelsdyk’s journey into nursing is deeply rooted in a lifelong passion and a series of profound life experiences.
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Sam Shortall
Automotive Engineering ākonga
Sam's fascination with cars, particularly those from the 1960s, and his love for all things automotive led him to enrol in the New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering at UCOL.
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Esmay Krause
Early Childhood Education ākonga
“The universe is built on relationships. It’s about how stories are told and passed down. This is how we honour my culture and Te Tiriti.”
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Milana Mariu-Reade
Diploma in Creativity (Music) Ākonga
The wings of a future star have begun to grow for Milana Mariu-Reade, a UCOL music ākonga, who at 17, was cast in one of the leading roles in Act Three’s upcoming production of Kinky Boots at the Regent on Broadway.
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Ngakita Ngatai
Graduate of Bachelor of Nursing
Recent graduate Ngakita Ngatai believes that everyone deserves fair and equitable treatment when accessing healthcare, which motivated her success in her nursing studies at UCOL Wairarapa.
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Rihari Peeti
Graduate of Bachelor of Applied Science (Wellness and Sport)
From UKIDS early learning to UCOL graduate, Rihari Peeti's journey has led him full circle. With a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wellness and Sport) in hand, Rihari now helps others understand how to move their bodies for wellbeing.
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Niels Huibers
Hospitality Lecturer
The Dutch have an adoration for coffee and for Niels Huibers, this love ignited a whole career.
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Gary Whiting
Graphic Design lecturer
Following in the footsteps of his father, Dr Cliff Whiting, Gary Whiting has dedicated his life to educating the next generation of artists in Aotearoa.
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Coral Hanna
Student Success Senior Manager
Not many people love their workplace enough to choose it as their wedding venue, but after over 20 years helping ākonga at Whanganui UCOL navigate the twists and turns of life, it was the perfect choice for Student Success Senior Manager Coral Hanna.
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Grace Souness
Diploma of Veterinary Nursing Graduate Valedictorian
Graduating is an exciting time, and even more so when you get a surprise email telling you that you’ve been named as Valedictorian for the Manawatū campus.
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Kayla Clark
Level 4 Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care Graduate
For someone who had never considered childcare as a career path, Kayla Clark has ‘absolutely loved’ her time studying the Level 4 Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care.
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Fili Kurene
Bachelor of Information and Communication Technologies Graduate
Majoring in Business & Systems Analysis, as well as Project Management, Fili hopes her journey will inspire other Pasifika people to continue their education and take up an interest in the IT industry.