We’re a professional team of educators and administrators that are passionate about lifting literacy outcomes in New Zealand.

Being an approved institution of the New Zealand Teaching Council means our level of expertise and appraisal systems are second to none.

Learning MATTERS Executive Team

Greg McNeil

Chief Executive Officer

Carla McNeil

General Manager

Tracy Findlay

Learning MATTERS Intervention Teaching Certification (LMIT) Manager

Louise Payne

iDeaL Development Manager

Fiona Wilder

Consultancy Manager

Rachael Griffin

Marketing and Communications

Learning MATTERS Consultants

An approved organisation on the Ministry of Education Professional Learning and Development panel means the Learning MATTERS’ consultancy team is able to provide funded, regionally allocated professional learning and development (PLD) services to schools, kura, Kāhui Ako and clusters in Assessment for Learning and Local Curriculum Design.

Professional Development Waitlist

Pam Weir

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Northland Region

Pam’s professional background spans nearly three decades in education. Her primary focus has been within the middle and junior school levels. Throughout Pam’s journey, she has remained steadfast as a dedicated and passionate educator.

Bethany Donnell

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Auckland Region

Bethany has spent the last five years working in Auckland as a Within-School Kāhui Ako Leader, Digital Technologies Curriculum Leader, and Team Leader. She's seen the profound impact that a Structured Literacy approach has on all students.

Paula Hastings

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Waikato Region

Paula has more than 25 years of experience, including Principal and Assistant Principal positions in the Waikato Region. Paula’s interest in Structured Literacy began while working on her Master of Education.

Marion Kirby

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Bay of Plenty Region

Marion has been engaged in various aspects of education for more than thirty years, including 5 years as a literacy and numeracy intervention specialist at Learning MATTERS. She has completed MSL (Multi-sensory Structured Language) training through ISMLE (Institute for Multisensory Language Education) Australia, and a Post Graduate Coaching course through Waikato University.

Fiona Wilder

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Hawke's Bay Region

Fiona has experience as a classroom teacher, Lead of Literacy, and Deputy Principal. She has predominantly worked in the junior school area but has experience in teaching across all year levels.

Jill Symonds

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Wellington Region

With more than 30 years of primary education experience including syndicate team leader, Assistant Principal, Deputy Principal and Literacy leader, Jill has a passion for literacy and improving learning outcomes for all learners.

Ruth Blair

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Southland, Otago and Canterbury Regions

Ruth has more than 20 years of experience teaching years 1 – 8 in New Zealand and overseas. Ruth worked as an intervention teacher, SENCo and SPELD tutor in Central Southland.

Darnelle Darlison

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Southland, Otago and Canterbury Regions

With a career in education spanning more than 20 years including teaching overseas and across a variety of year levels. Darnelle has previous experience in management roles as a Deputy Principal and Syndicate Leader.