Ms Karen Sewell, Trustee of Asia:NZ

Karen Sewell is the Secretary for Education and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Education. From 2001-2006 she was the Chief Review Officer of the Education Review Office, with responsibility for reviewing and reporting on the quality of early childhood services and schools throughout New Zealand. Before she joined ERO Karen was principal of Green Bay High School, a large co-educational secondary school in Auckland. She has been President of the Auckland Secondary Schools Principals’ Association, and between 1994 and 1996 she was Chairperson of the Principals’ Council of the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association.

Karen Sewell has held a teaching fellowship at Victoria University of Wellington, and a Nuffield Bursary for study at the Institute of Education, University of London.  She has delivered keynote addresses and seminars at national and international educational conferences. In June 2005 Karen took on the role of Acting Chief Executive of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.  She returned to her role as Chief Review Officer in May 2006.