Richard has been in and around computers since they first came into our lives. His expertise in the human-to-computer interface couples his background in the hard sciences – mathematics and physics – with a strong involvement in human communication. He programs in a variety of systems but particularly enjoys doing cunning stuff in Microsoft Excel.

A pioneer of computer education, Richard’s Ph.D. thesis in that field was a world-wide first. His instinct for innovative research has led him into other pioneering initiatives in fields as diverse as theology and Maori tribal history. NZQA regularly retain Richard to evaluate organisations that deliver tertiary education.

Widely published (see Publications page), Richard’s style is crisp, efficient and sometimes humorous. His text has been praised for its clarity and readability, which lately he has turned to account in producing Web content. An Anglican priest (detail) , he delivers what has been described as ‘a mean sermon’ but balances that with a concern for individual spirituality which underlies everything he does.

Fluent in IT languages, he also speaks and writes Maori, French and Spanish. He has a flair for assisting diverse groups to achieve consensus, and in this capacity has become something of a professional chairman, most recently for EECA, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

Gail is a multilingual languages activist. Her wide experience and her highly developed analytic, conceptual and writing skills, are in high demand. Internationally published author and a polished and challenging presenter, Gail has deep cross-cultural understanding and experience through working nationally with Maori, Pacific, and Deaf communities, Latin specialists, and diplomatic representatives from Japan, China, France, Spain, and Germany.

Programme leader for languages in the NZ Ministry of Education, Gail has managed policy design working across 14 languages. Also a suite of projects, including multi-modal learning; teacher development; international education and exchange programmes; national curriculum and learning materials development; languages pedagogy research. As a result, a new learning area for languages was included in the revised national school curriculum.

Gail has taught languages in primary and secondary schools and community education programmes, and brokered cross-cultural teacher and student programmes with other countries. With a mid-career Masters degree in educational administration, Gail is a capable teacher educator through her roles as school department head, adviser to schools and to government.

Honoured with Life Membership of the NZ Language Teachers Assn and twice its President, Gail led and represented the association nationally and internationally at languages policy meetings and conferences.