The Open Polytechnic is a dedicated Distance Teaching Institution. It's a dynamic and interesting place to work We provide learning support to some 35,000 students, or over 6000 full-time equivalents, mostly within New Zealand. Our students are generally adults, often in full-time work - the average age of our students is about 27 years.

As well as government funding for about 80% of our students, we provide full fee places to students in some industries, and to international students. We also work in contracts with Industry training organisations, and in partnership with high schools.

The Open Polytechnic specialises in vocational education, and we have a strong bias towards applied research. We operate a large portfolio of courses and programmes, in commerce, agriculture, trades and professional training, humanities, health and education.

The Open Polytechnic is already "in transformation". We have undergone significant change in the last 6-7 years, in response to:

• changes in tertiary education funding and regulation,
• the advent of the NZ Qualifications Authority and the National Qualifications Framework,
• changes to Industry training,
• a shift in student demand and massive growth in participation in tertiary education I should also add:
• the quality movement
• technical change
• student fee increases
• a change in the New Zealand regulatory environment
• growing competition in tertiary education

I came to the Polytechnic from a background in Economic consulting, particularly for resource management. I've also been an Economics tutor for the Open Polytechnic. My qualifications extend to a BCA and about half of a Diploma in Tertiary Teaching. Nevertheless, I'm constantly involved in less formal education. I can't claim any research publications (yet!) --most of my analysis is for internal use. That may be about to change.

In spare moments, I'm a director for a small private training organisation, which specialises in art and creativity. They are a dynamic little education organisation that lots of us could learn from.

I'm recently married--my husband Matthew consults with Price Waterhouse. We live with an intelligent and independent cat. Matthew and I are real foodies--he specialises in French and Italian peasant cooking, and I do a good line in a variety of Asian cuisines. Our friends eat with us often. When I have time, I write and paint.

We are keen skiers, and hope to ski in Canterbury after the conference-- there are slim pickings on Mt. Ruapehu (the erupting volcano, where we normally ski) at the moment!

I look forward to some interesting e-mail conversations, and then to meeting you all.