John Leonard

Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāi Tūhoe.

Dip Tch, G DipBIT (Hoaka Pounamu), BTchLN, PG DipEd.

  • John is the Chief Executive of Ihi Research. He brings extensive management experience, with over 25 years spent in the education sector, and 16 years as a school principal.

    John has led research and evaluation projects in Whānau Ora, Family Harm, community-based initiatives, and high-performance sports. This included comprehensive campaign reviews of the tier two nations' preparation and performance at the Rugby World Cup 2019, all Women’s Rugby World Cup 2022 teams, and 12 unions at RWC 2023; a review of the Australian Sailing Tokyo Olympic Campaign; and, campaign reviews for the Fijian Drua and North Canterbury Rugby.

    John and his partner Catherine, live in Waikuku and have a blended family of seven children and two mokopuna.

    Education & Qualifications

    University of Canterbury

    • Post Graduate Diploma in Education 2016

    • Bachelor of Teaching and Learning 2009

    • Hoaka Pounamu: Graduate Diploma in Bilingual and Immersion Teaching 2008

    Christchurch College of Education - Diploma of Teaching (Primary) 1989

Dr Catherine Leonard

Ngāi Tahu,

EdD, PG Dip Ed Psych, MEd Psych, BEd, BAppB

  • Catherine (formerly Catherine Savage) is the research manager at Ihi Research, working alongside her husband John. Catherine began her career as a psychologist, she worked with children and whānau in schools on the East Coast of the North Island.

    She spent ten years as a senior lecturer at Victoria University and completed her Education Doctorate at Massey University in 2006, which investigated the School Network Reviews of 2004.

    From 2010 to 2014 Catherine was the Chief Executive of Te Tapuae o Rehua, a subsidiary of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Since 2014, Catherine has been the co-director of Ihi Research and led various research and evaluation projects.

    She has produced a series of research and evaluation projects investigating social impact from innovative approaches to achieving social change. Her research interests lie in qualitative methodologies and working with grassroots community organisations to demonstrate evidence of change.

    Education & Qualifications

    Massey University New Zealand

    • Education Doctorate 2006

    • Post Graduate Diploma Educational Psychology 2000

    • Master of Educational Psychology 1999

    • Bachelor of Education (Teaching) 1992

    Otago Polytechnic - Bachelor of Applied Management: Transformation & Change 2014

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa - Kāwai Raupapa (Intro to Arts) 2010

    Te Wānanga o Raukawa - Huia Te Reo 2016

Dr Anne Hynds

PhD, MA (Distinction), PG Dip Tch, PG Dip (TSSN), Dip Tch, BA

  • Anne is a senior researcher at Ihi Research. She brings a wealth of experience as an educator and researcher with a passion for achieving equity and excellence. Her particular interests lie in qualitative research and integrative literature reviews.

    At Ihi Research she has led and worked on various research evaluations. She previously worked as the Editor in Chief for the Oxford Bibliographies in Education (Oxford University Press) and was a member of the Teacher-led Innovation Fund (TLIF) Selection and Monitoring Panel, for the Ministry of Education, New Zealand. She has held academic positions at The University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). She received an ‘Award of Excellence in Mentoring’ from Te Putahi Atawhai (VUW) in recognition of her academic mentoring for Māori and Pasifika postgraduate students.

    Anne lives in the Wairarapa with her husband Derek, where they both volunteer for the annual Featherston Booktown Karukaea Festival; a celebration of storytelling, books and ideas.

    Education & Qualifications

    Victoria University of Wellington

    • PhD 2007

    • Master of Arts (with Distinction) 2000

    Wellington College of Education

    • Advanced Postgraduate Teaching Diploma 1997

    • Postgraduate Diploma Teaching Students with Special Needs 1997

    Auckland College of Education

    • Higher Diploma of Teaching 1994

    • Diploma Teaching students with Hearing Impairment 1991

    • Diploma of Teaching 1992

    Auckland University - Bachelor of Arts 1989

Olivia Martin

Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa

BA Philosophy, Certificate of Whānau Ora

  • Olivia holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canterbury majoring in Philosophy and Indigenous Studies. She is currently studying toward her Masters degree in Philosophy.

    Prior to studying Olivia was a therapeutic support worker at Stand for Children in Ōtautahi for 3 years, a job she loved. This role sparked an ongoing interest in kaupapa Māori support interventions for tamariki.

    Olivia has been with Ihi Research since she completed her degree in 2021. During this time she has worked on a variety of research and evaluation projects including the evaluation of 298 Youth Health Centre, Te Ora Hou Truancy Innovation and Whānau Ora wave commissioning.

    Olivia has an interest in rongoā Māori and holistic health and wellbeing.

    Education & Qualifications

    University of Canterbury - Bachelor of Arts Philosophy

    Tipu ora - Certificate in Whānau Ora

Ngaroma Crown

Rereahu

  • Ngaroma joins Ihi Research as a seasoned interviewer and an articulate communicator, with a decade of dedicated support to numerous non-profit and community initiatives. Her experience spans immediate disaster relief efforts and the coordination of logistics for vulnerable communities.

    Over the years, Ngaroma has had the privilege of collaborating with government entities and NGOs in various roles, conducting thorough workplace reviews and audits, and delivering detailed, insightful reports. Her expertise also extends to social media, where she effectively amplifies awareness and fosters engagement for the causes she champions, harnessing digital platforms to maximize community impact.

Kate Standring

Ngāpuhi

Communication Specialist

  • Kate has worked in the media and print industry in New Zealand and the United Kingdom for more than 30 years. She spent the past 15 years as the editor of an award-winning community newspaper.

    In 2017 she established her own business, Allokate Creative Communication. Kate’s aim is to make communication, and its presentation, as easy as possible enabling her clients to get on with what they do best.

    Kate’s passion is communication. For Ihi Research this means ensuring we communicate research findings as best we can to the people who matter. Our research often has multiple audiences, using Kate’s skills we develop a communication plan that ensures key messages are disseminated to all stakeholders. Kate can turn impact research into clear concise media releases and supporting communication documentation such as infographics.

    Kate and her husband David have a dairy, cattle and sheep farm in Wairoa, Northern Hawkes Bay.

Ō Mātou Tāngata
Our People

"E koekoe te tūī, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū."

“The tūī sings, the kākā chatters, the wood pigeon coos.”

The outcome is always better when everyone is able to contribute their unique strengths.

We are a team of highly skilled researchers and innovators that believe in social responsibility and delivering positive outcomes for people and their communities.