Anita Homewood
Anita has been a part of the New Zealand Infant and Toddler Consortium since its inception in 2011. An educator for over 20 years, Anita has a wealth of experience in working with infants and toddlers. From early on in her practice, Anita is inspired by Magda Gerber’s Educaring® Approach. In May 2010, Anita completed the RIE® Foundations: Theory and Observation™ course. She continues to share her passion with children, whanau and teachers. She currently works as a Professional Learning Facilitator with Education Leadership Project (ELP). |
Malenka Robinson
Malenka has been on the committee of NZITC in the Treasurers role since 2014. Malenka completed RIE® Foundations: Theory and Observation™ Course in 2011. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) from the University of Auckland. Malenka has experience applying Magda's work in centres as well as alongside parents in home settings. Currently she is focused on being a Mother and a Homemaker, embedding the Appraoch in all aspects of her life and providing a platform for developing a deeper understanding of the approach. Malenka believes in the critical role of strong relationships in being with tamariki and whanau. |
Justine O’Hara-Gregan
Justine is a Professional Teaching Fellow in early childhood initial teacher education. Her research interests are in the fields of teacher wellbeing, interpersonal neurobiology, and social and emotional learning. Justine believes in the value of developing respectful, responsive and reciprocal relationships with learners of all ages. Justine completed her RIE® Foundations: Theory and Observation™ course in 2012. She has been a member of the NZITC committee since 2014 and is the Secretary. |
Helen Lye
Helen joined us on the NZITC committee in 2016 as Marketing Coordinator. Magda Gerber and Emmi Pikler have been influencing Helen’s life since her studies in 2007. Since then, she has attended the Summer Course at the Pikler Institute in Budapest in 2009. She then completed the RIE® Foundations: Theory and Observation™ Course in 2016. Helen is passionate about creating strong, authentic relationships with children, families and teams. She is currently focussing on supporting teams with their learning journeys. |
Ania Wojcikowski
Ania is a RIE® Associate. Ania joined the NZITC committee in 2012 and currently her role is IT Manager. Ania has attended the summer course at the Pikler institute in 2009 and began her RIE® pathway with the Foundations: Theory and Observation™ course in 2010. Ania has many of years of experience working alongside infants, toddlers, young children and their families. Ania is learning te reo Māori and enjoying working part time with the children, teachers and whānau at Ritimana Kōhanga Reo. Ania is also passionate about sharing this work with other adults. |
Elena Marouchos
Elena is a RIE® Associate inspired by Magda Gerber’s Educaring® approach. Her journey towards becoming a RIE® Associate has been a foray in trying to understand what the Approach might look like in different contexts. She is passionate about working alongside teachers, parents and whānau who are interested in layering their own knowledge while instilling a confidence to articulate practice in ways that are authentic and leave lasting impressions on children. Elena is an ECE consultant offering mentorship and professional development within early childhood centres in New Zealand and abroad. The privilege of in home visits with parents have helped her further embrace the Approach as more than a philosophy but a way of life. |