Parisa Tadi
“My passion for early childhood education (ECE) began over 20 years ago when I started teaching in kindergarten. Since then, I have been deeply engaged in ECE as a parent, teacher, researcher, and lecturer. Currently, I am a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the BEd in ECE at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), where I integrate my research focus on children’s rights and superdiverse environments into my teaching.
I have been a member of OMEP since 2021 and served as the Publicity Officer until 2025. I now contribute as the Tāmaki Makaurau Rōpū Representative. My involvement with OMEP Aotearoa has been a keystone of my advocacy for children’s rights, particularly for those from minority, immigrant, and refugee backgrounds. I am currently engaged in various projects focusing on children’s rights, literacy, and reading for tamariki, as well as democracy in ECE teacher education. Additionally, I support a reading project for refugee and resettled children in Aotearoa. OMEP Aotearoa has provided invaluable opportunities for me to expand my knowledge, engage with global networks, and contribute to meaningful change in the field of early childhood education and children’s rights.” |
Margaret Stuart
Margaret Stuart is the unofficial Waikato Rōpŭ representative to National Executive.
Waikato is a small group who need to grow our numbers in these times of challenge. Presently we have the numbers to meet minimum requirements but we dearly want new blood to swell our ranks and feed our passion. |
Gwen Davitt
Tēnā koutou katoa,
No Scotland ahau. Engari ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara ahau. Ko Gwen Davitt taku ingoa. Tēna tatou katoa. I have been a member of OMEP for over 20 years. I am an active learner and researcher with an extensive background in early childhood education as well as adult teaching and learning. Currently I hold the role of Regional Manager for Playcentre Aotearoa. I am passionate about advocacy for tamariki; leading change for best practice; integrating theory and practice and strengthening pedagogies of teaching, learning and leadership. Furthermore, I actively contribute to submissions; engage with policy; and/or facilitating professional learning. Being part of the ECE community and belonging to OMEP ensures that I work to maintain currency of knowledge and practice forefronting the rights of tamariki. |
Rikke Betts
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko te pepeha o tēnā takiwā Ko Takatimu te waka Ko Aoraki te Mauka Ko Waitaki te awa Ko Kai Tahu whanui te iwi Ko Rikke Betts ahau Nō Denmark ahau, engari kei Ōtautahi e noho ana I have been an OMEP member since 2002, Co-president (2012) and Chapter National Executive Liaison (2017) and am continuing to advocate for children’s rights, social justice, and access to quality early childhood education (ECE). I am a certified early childhood teacher and lecturer in early childhood education, with special interests in professional practice, diversity, government policies implantation and implication for early childhood education; treaty issues in education; the professional teachers status; and the discourse of other. Interests areas that OMEP Aotearoa offers me opportunities to explore, research and grown my knowledge in. |
Lianne Dudson
I have been a member of OMEP in the Ōtakou Rōpū since 2017. I am a senior lecturer of early childhood education based in Ōtepoti, Dunedin at Otago Polytechnic, Te Pūkenga.
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