INQUIRING MINDS EDUCATION CONFERENCE
23 OCTOBER 2026
Wellington College’s Armour Institute warmly welcomes you to attend a one-day conference to be held on Friday 23 October 2026. This conference will bring together educators, researchers, and leaders from around New Zealand to share their experiences, research, and insights that help to shape high quality educational experiences.
We are privileged to host Sir James Chapman as our keynote speaker. Sir James was awarded a knighthood in 2026 for his services to literacy education. Sir James is currently a researcher at Massey University, and has a wealth of experience in education, including gaining his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta in Canada, and will deliver his keynote on the topic: Believe It to Achieve It? The Influence of Students’ Self-Beliefs.
While there is a Secondary School focus, the conference is open to all educators from the diverse contexts found across New Zealand.
For any questions about the conference, please contact Nilesh Naran, Deputy Principal at Wellington College: n.naran@wc.school.nz
DETAILS
Date: Friday 23rd October 2026 (Term 4, Week 2)
Venue: Wellington College
Cost: $120 per person (GST inclusive)
Includes: morning tea, lunch, hard copy of Wellington College’s Teaching Playbook – Ako Tahi
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Sir James Chapman: Believe It to Achieve It? The Influence of Students’ Self-Beliefs
PRESENTERS
Ben Clausen – Rathkeale College
Changing the Narrative: Developing Year 12 Boys’ Mindset for Success in Vocational Pathways
Nilesh Naran – Wellington College
Driven to Focus: Reducing Year 11 Boys’ Distraction Through Self-Created Study Plans
Casey de Wit & Paul Fordham – Westlake Boys’ High School
Courage, Connection, and Culture: Building Belonging Before Day One
Dan Reddiex – Dilworth School
Leading Through the Storm: From Strategic Visioning to Visible Excellence
Mason Summerfield – Hastings Boys’ High
Purposefully Designing a Characterful School
Nikki Corbishley & Serena Lawrence – Wellington College
Ako Tahi: Bridging the Research-to-Practice Gap
