Our Executive Leadership

Dr Fourie joined Toi Ohomai in December 2016, bringing with him a wealth of experience in tertiary education management both in New Zealand and his native home of South Africa.

Formerly Dr Fourie held the position of Deputy Chief Executive at Unitec Institute of Technology; he was a member of the senior leadership team at Unitec from 2009 – 2016. Prior to coming to New Zealand, Dr. Fourie held an executive position at Vaal University of Technology in South Africa and a number of senior roles at Tshwane University of Technology.

Dr Fourie has extensive expertise in framing, leading and implementing institutional strategy and plans. In 2015 he received the Woolf Fisher Trust Scholarship and completed Harvard University’s Senior Executive Educational Leadership programme in Boston, USA

Patrick Brus has more than 20 years of senior management experience building an in-depth understanding of how to develop clear business strategy and shape successful teams. He has spent many years at the ‘top table’ in various companies and has always maintained his passion for education and enabling others.

Mr. Brus has extensive experience in operational and service management roles and has had previous involvement in major change and restructure in public and private sectors. His previous appointments span a multitude of industries and include companies such as Comvita, WINTEC and Fonterra.

Dr Clarke Raymond has a PhD in neuroscience and worked internationally in the medical research field for 15 years. In 2011, seeking a career change, he returned to New Zealand and took the role of Director of Research at Toi Ohomai legacy provider Waiariki Institute of Technology. 

He went on to hold various senior management and executive roles as the Institute transformed into Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, before embarking on the newly created role of Executive Director Strategic Projects and Development in 2020.

Dr Raymond is a problem solver with highly developed analytical skills and a commitment to continuous improvement. He enjoys creating simplicity and order out of complexity, and applies this to the development, implementation and monitoring of strategy across large organisations. Dr. Raymond gains particular satisfaction from seeing large-scale projects lead to beneficial outcomes for stakeholders.

Kieran Hewitson (Ngāti Porou me Te Whānau-a-Apanui) is a passionate advocate for providing unhindered education for all learners. This aspirational goal has driven her to commit to more than 20 years of work within the tertiary sector.

Ms Hewitson has previously held positions with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (Associate Kaihautū – Marautanga) and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic (Director Education and Māori Development).  

In addition to her Executive Dean role, Ms Hewitson also serves on several boards and is an establishment member of the Te Pūkenga Academic Board.

Huia joined Toi Ohomai in February 2021 and is responsible for maintaining and enhancing our relationship with Te Kāhui Mātauranga and Te Pae Tawhiti leadership within and for Toi Ohomai. She's also responsible for providing strategic guidance for Kaupapa Māori initiatives and cultural integrity within the organisation. 

Our Kaitiaki Māori (wahine and tāne) and Kaitiaki Marae report through to her. 

Huia says she's excited about the industry's increasing focus on Māori success and equity in the education system, through a commitment to honour and give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

She has extensive experience in the public sector, particularly in education, and has held strategic and analytical roles, as well as focusing on Māori development.

Anthony has over 20 years’ senior management and leadership experience in tertiary education – both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He is an innovative leader, a pragmatist, and has a strong grasp of what it takes to ensure that providers like Toi Ohomai remain financially sustainable. In fact, he has recently accepted the additional challenge of taking on the Executive Director Finance role at Eastern Institute of Technology, on a two-year fixed term basis, as both institutes continue to adapt to their new roles as subsidiaries of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.

Anthony is a values-based professional with a desire to contribute to the continuous improvement of people and organisations. He is a firm believer in the strength of collaboration and has gained valuable experience from his involvement in several organisational mergers.

He joined Bay of Plenty Polytechnic (one of two Toi Ohomai legacy institutions) in 2012, and carried on as the Institute changed and his role expanded. Anthony was previously the Chief Financial Officer at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, and Vice Principal Corporate Services at Gower College, Swansea (UK). 

Having been a Chartered Accountant for more than 25 years, Anthony also worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, providing advice and assurance services to a range of New Zealand and UK companies.