Inside the Principal’s office – A governance perspective

Overview

What do principals really need from their boards? How can governance support school leadership?

Join us for an exclusive webcast with Nic Hill, Principal of Christchurch Boys’ High School and Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) member, as he shares a principal’s perspective on effective school governance.

Drawing on his experience leading one of New Zealand’s most well-known schools, Nic will discuss:

• Crisis management – What it’s like at the centre of a school crisis and how boards can help.
• Health and safety – The principal’s responsibility vs the board’s role in ensuring a safe environment.
• The governance relationship - What great board support looks like (and what doesn't).

This session is a must-watch for school board members, trustees, and education leaders who want to better understand how governance decisions impact school leadership and day-to-day operations.

Gain a real-world view from a principal in the hot seat.

Nic Hill

CMInstD

Nic has been Headmaster at Christchurch Boys’ High School since June of 2013. He is the school’s 11th Headmaster. Originally from the Hawkes Bay, Nic has taught at Wellington College and Waitaki Boys’ High School. Nic is very proud of his association with Christchurch Boys’ High School.

Kirsten (KP) Patterson 

CMInstD 

Kirsten Patterson MNZM (known as KP) is the Chief Executive of the Institute of Directors and is a Chartered Member of the IoD. In 2025 she was awarded the New Zealand Royal Honour, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to governance and women.  She is a qualified lawyer and a Distinguished Fellow of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, Chair of the Global Network of Directors Institutes (GNDI), and a member of the New Zealand External Reporting Advisory Panel (XRAP).  She serves on the Boards of the mental health charity, Voices of Hope, is Chair of the Brian Picot Ethical Leadership Advisory Board at Victoria University in Wellington and an Ambassador for the Wellington Women’s Homeless Trust. 
 
A strong advocate of diversity, KP is a member of Global Women New Zealand and was one of the founding members of Global Women’s ‘Champions for Change’, a group of senior executives and directors who commit to diversity in the workplace. KP was the founder and is Executive Sponsor for Chapter Zero New Zealand – the New Zealand Chapter of the World Economic Forum’s Climate Governance Initiative - hosted by the IoD NZ to mobilise, connect, educate and equip directors and boards to make climate-smart governance decisions, thereby creating long term value for both shareholders and stakeholders.  

Additional information

Contact

Kristyn Chandler-Yates
National Sponsorship and Events Manager
+64 27 207 2592
Kristyn.Chandler-Yates@iod.org.nz