Gillon (Ngāi Tahu iwi) is director of the Child Well-being Research Institute at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC).

As Education Commissioner, Gillon will work with the National Commission to fulfil New Zealand’s obligations as a member state of UNESCO, the United Nations agency responsible for promoting cooperative action in the areas of education, natural sciences, culture, social and human sciences, and communication and information. 

Gillion is delighted by the opportunity, which she says recognises her research team’s years of groundbreaking contribution to early childhood literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

“I am very much looking forward to working with the other National Commissioners to advance UNESCO’s goals and aspirations,” she said in a statement. 

“Quality and equitable education for all is one of the highest priorities within UNESCO’s programme of work. UNESCO highlights that quality education is the pathway to economic growth, peace and sustainable development,” she added. 

“... our National Commission is supporting UNESCO’s aspirations within our unique Aotearoa New Zealand context, grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and informed by Māori tikanga and values. I look forward to contributing to this work and in sharing our activities within New Zealand with our UNESCO global partners.”

Laura Black will also join the Board as New Zealand’s new Social Sciences Commissioner.

Black and Gillon will pick up where outgoing Education Commissioner Professor Carol Mutch and Social Sciences Commissioner Emeritus Professor Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop have left off.

“We want to thank both Carol and Peggy for their dedication to supporting the mahi of the Commission, over the past six years, their contribution was invaluable, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours,” National Commission Secretary General, Vicki Soanes said.

Alongside the appointment, which is for a three-year term, Gillion and her colleagues in the Child Well-being Research Institute will continue to deliver the Better Start Literacy Approach across New Zealand. 

So far teachers in around 900 primary schools and 45,000 five-and six-year-old children have engaged with the team’s structured literacy programme.