ANNUAL FORUM

INFORMATION SUMMARY

The New Zealand Education & Scholarship Trust (NZEST), together with The Woolf Fisher Trust, are sponsoring their eighth annual seminar for emerging secondary school leaders in 2026.

The Trust runs the Emerging Leaders’ Forum with the aim of deepening the pool of talented, emerging leaders across all (state, independent, co-ed and single sex) secondary schools across all socio-economic communities in our country. A related aim is to set up a high quality support network including ongoing communication and mentoring.

All attendance costs of invited candidates will be met, including airfares where appropriate, as well as overnight accommodation and meal costs, for all participants.

THE PROGRAMME

The Two day programme is designed to be interactive and provides practical advice to those who are keen to realise their ambitions to become capable and motivated Principals of secondary schools.

The programme will include round table discussions on current educational topics, a dinner address by a noted business leader, sessions led by current or former principals and by reputable leaders of industry.  It will also feature career planning, feedback, and follow-up opportunities.

ABOUT NZEST

NZEST was set up in 1991 with the initial aim of retaining the national Scholarship Examination at secondary school level.  For 12 years it successfully ran scholarship examinations in 19 subjects.

More recently NZEST has been sponsoring activities such as Teach First NZ and research papers into School Leadership, Initial Teacher Training and Teacher Quality.

Its latest initiative, The Sir John Graham Emerging Leaders’ Forum was started in 2018.

ABOUT THE WOOLF FISHER TRUST

The late Sir Woolf Fisher was a passionate supporter of education in New Zealand.  In 1960 he founded the Woolf Fisher Trust for the advancement of scientific and general education in NZ through its prestigious fellowships and scholarships.  When making these awards, the Trust has always sought to uphold the guiding principles and values of its founder.