Our gifted education specialists are available to personally respond to your queries, challenges or concerns. Read through their bios and decide who best fits your needs in your current situation. Then email your query, challenge or concern to your chosen expert with "Gifted Aotearoa: Waka Ama" in the subject line. She will respond to you personally. All questions and answers will be collated and shared to the wider network so that everyone can benefit. We will ensure you are not identifiable in any way in this process. Go on ... Sue, Brooke and Rosemary are ready to help you now!
Sue Barriball
NZ Centre for Gifted Education
Email: sue.barriball@nzcge.co.nz
Sue is an experienced educator, having taught primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and has specialised in teaching gifted learners for the past 15 years. She is a former director of the George Parkyn National Centre for Gifted Education and REACH Education tutor, and currently oversees all student programmes at NZCGE. Sue has extensive knowledge and experience in gifted education, thinking skills, and the depth and complexity framework. In addition, Sue has delivered PLD online and face-to-face and presented nationally and internationally on gifted education. She is also a parent of gifted children and contributes regularly to both educator and parent groups.
Brooke Trenwith
NZ Association for Gifted Children
Email: president@giftedchildren.org.nz
Brooke is a New Zealand Representative on the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children and a MOE Accredited consultant. She has taught early childhood through to university level, been a GaTE Coordinator and was assistant director of an English Language School in Taiwan. Brooke was project leader of the Te Toi Tupu contract, helping schools develop robust, transparent and cohesive approaches to gifted education. Brooke’s specialisations include giftedness, inclusive education, relationship-based learning/cultural responsiveness, coaching/change management, thinking skills, digital fluency, innovative learning and collaborative practice. Brooke is on the Reference Group for the Ministerial Review of Curriculum, Progress and Achievement.
Rosemary Cathcart
REACH Education
Email: reacheducation@xtra.co.nz
Dr Rosemary Cathcart is director of REACH Education, Ministry-accredited providers of the award-winning Certificate of Effective Practice in Gifted Education, and was formerly founding director of the George Parkyn Centre for Gifted Education. Rosemary has been proactively involved in almost every aspect of gifted education for over 30 years, working intensively with children, teachers, parents, education groups and organisations and as a political advocate. She is deeply committed to supporting teachers and schools in improving their knowledge in this field, both through her published materials and through workshops, courses, conferences and individual advisory work.
