School Board Minutes

School Board Members

The most recent elections were held in 2022 and the current South Wellington Intermediate School Board members are:

Emma Rutherford  (Chairperson)

Kia ora kouto e te whanau Te Kura ō Paekawakawa. My name is Emma Rutherford and I’ve lived in Newtown for 17 years.  This year my second child is attending SWIS.  I’m really passionate about education.  I’ve worked for the last seven years for NZEI Te Riu Roa giving industrial advice to members as well as co-leading a cultural and digital transformation project. I also work as a contractor in learning design – creating online learning modules.  I really value the role of schools in the community and have especially appreciated this during the pandemic.  It is important to me that school is a safe place where all children can participate in learning.  I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the BOT over the next couple of years.

Devon Heaphy

Kia ora koutou, my name is Devon Heaphy. I am passionate about the educational experiences on offer to the children of our community, which I believe sets them well on their way to success in the future.

I am married to Mel, and we have three children going through SWIS over time – one is already at secondary school, Xavier is currently in Year 8 at SWIS, and one is year 5 and will come later.

I have school board experience, including as chair and on finance committees. I think a board plays an important governance role in setting the overall direction, policies and tone of the school and it should be as representative as possible of the whanau and staff communities that it serves.

For students, SWIS is a unique two years of their lives at a pivotal stage in their development. I’m interested in student wellbeing and well-rounded opportunities, as well as academic achievement.  The upcoming building possibilities are also a great opportunity for the school.

On a personal level, I am family-oriented, enjoy being part of the Island Bay community, dabble in lighting design for plays and musicals, actively play football, and have a strong interest in lots of sports.

Mel Millington

Tēnā koutou katoa, My name is Mel Millington and I am excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the SWIS community as a whānau representative on the board. My son Ollie is in year 8 (2023) and really enjoying his time at SWIS. I also have a bonus daughter at St Mary’s College Wellington, and a bonus son at an international primary school in Japan. I’ve lived in South Wellington for eighteen years, and love it. Those that know me will know I am passionate about bringing community together and working towards better outcomes for everyone.

In my professional life I work as an Enterprise Architect (Technology), and have experience across leadership, risk management, finance, facilitation and communication, strategy and planning, and health and safety. I listen to understand, which I think is critical around the board table and to represent our community. The role of the School Board is to support the school to ensure positive learning outcomes and the wellbeing of our tamariki. This includes prudent management of the school, and ensuring the important issues are faced with compassion and leadership. I’m really passionate at empowering our young people to have the best opportunities and experiences, with a particular interest in youth leadership.

For fun, I love having adventures with my family, I’m a board game nerd, I love getting outdoors camping, and I’m an avid gardner trying to grow as much as I can in my small urban plot.

Amanda Rowe

Ko Amanda toku ingoa. I am originally from Ahuriri, and came to Wellington to study Social Work in the 1990’s and apart from a few years travelling overseas, have never left.

My work career includes front line practice at Oranga Tamariki and various roles including leadership in a range of community services; Disability, Adolescent Mental Health, Homelessness, Youth offending and most recently delivering parenting programmes (Triple P) and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to Youth.

My husband and I have three children; our oldest is currently in Year 8 at SWIS, and has embraced her time at Intermediate, highlighting the uniqueness these two years offer our rangatahi.

I enjoy an active lifestyle, involving anything outdoors, yoga, family holidays and walking our dog.  When time allows I dabble in a bit of craft and genealogy.

I look forward to being part of the SWIS School Board.

Catherine Buyck
  • Toby Stokes (Principal)
  • Chris Hickey (Staff representative)

If you wish to contact the School Board, you can do so by emailing us. Board email addresses are first name. last name@swis.school.nz. e.g. emma.rutherford@swis.school.nz