Richard M Kensington JP

MA Hons University of Auckland

Education, both domestic (from 1977) and international (from 1990), business development and curriculum management form an integral place in my daily work.

With ACG Education (renamed UP Education in 2019) held the position of Academic Registrar and more recently as Principal: - Academic Relations. The positions have not restricted my passion and involvement in a wide range of areas from recruitment through to working with one of our three partner universities to provide programmes that meet the need of young Maori and Pasifika students and eventually a pathway to university.

A Geography teacher by training, but taught Mathematics who enjoys the challenges and benefits of commercialising education for the benefit of the student, their parents, and the Board. A career that has evolved state and private education. I value my involvement and participation in international education and offshore projects. A firm believer that service and delivery of core values will enable growth to be sustained. A believer that standing firm on quality and relationship building achieves more. In my curriculum vitae you will get a sense of my involvement; it is a factual statement, but education, life and growth are key areas of my life.

I have

• Experienced in Educational Leadership, Administration and Management
• Experienced in Educational Management, creating and managing change.
• Fastidious organisational skills and continually monitor and follow up on requests, actions, and requirements to maximise efficiency and returns.
• Can think and lead outside the square to look for and evaluate new methods of operation and linkages that will lead to growth.
• Manage crises so they do not cause downstream problems.
• Like to question and put up different views, even when I like the view being promoted.
• A believer that looking after one’s staff, nurturing them, being interested in their family, assisting them to look for other positions and laughing together has delivered more tangible benefits than salary and bonuses will deliver.

• Academic Experience
• Active and continuing experience in school, pre-tertiary, and tertiary based education
• Steered the development of the Year One coursework for the Oman Conversion Project – we part of a NZ Consortium
• Steered the development of the FPP Programme from concept to reality and have lined up providers and support through my prior relationships to a wide range of countries.
• Significant academic input into:
• Our English School programmes,
• AUT University Certificate in Foundation Studies,
• University of Auckland Certificate in Foundation Studies,
• The development of the CUAP Approved Foundation Programme and its subsequent delivery as the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation Studies Programme
• Development of Preparatory Year Programmes for delivery
• Curriculum development for a Year 1 to 12 school

• Board Experience
• Represented the group on the Board of the NZ Tertiary Education Consortium (NZTEC) and worked with our four partner NZ universities on the Oman Curriculum Project.
• An elected Board member of the former Education New Zealand Trust Board for two terms
• Elected member of the Epsom Girls Grammar School Board of Trustees for two terms 

• International Marketing / education experience
• Chaired the former NZ Russian Education Export Network
• Active and continuing international experience.
• Represented our partner universities offshore:
• AUT University in Kazakhstan, Russia, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia,
• University of Auckland in Russia and Saudi Arabia.
• Have an established and continually expanding a network of contacts within NZ and Offshore
• Represent Independent Schools of NZ in a number of ways w.r.t. international education.

Within the NZ environment I have a wide breadth of knowledge, experience, and contacts in all aspects of education or in areas that contribute to education. I have experience in managing and directing operations, have views on what is right and better to follow and am happy to work in a variety of environments and with different platforms. In my years of educational involvement, the need to be efficient, the need to improve / streamline and be more productive has been an essential driver.

I have strong views on the place of private and state education.