Media Release
18 June 2008
New leadership team for SPC
After two-and-a-half years at the helm of the Secondary Principals’ Council, chairman Arthur Graves will hand over
leadership to a team of two – Graeme Macann and Julia Davidson.
Mr Graves will be leaving Greymouth High School, where he has been principal for 10 ½ years, next term to take up the
post of chief operating officer at Whitireia Community Polytechnic in Porirua.
PPTA president Robin Duff said Mr Graves’ contribution to the SPC was invaluable in terms of support for schools and
principals.
“He provided constant reminders to the public of the difficulties facing principals and their boards and was also very
aware of the role school management played in making school effective for both teachers and students,” he said.
He also commended the work Mr Graves had done at Greymouth.
“Arthur has done a great deal of work in the realm of the ‘jagged edge’, enabling students to have experiences and get
training outside of secondary school.
“His resourcefulness has been quite remarkable and has enabled his students to gain access to courses that enable them
to gain qualifications for employment,” Mr Duff said.
Mr Graves would now have the opportunity to do this on a larger scale by going into the polytechnic sector.
“We are sure he will be right in the thick of it all,” he said.
A new leadership team is now preparing to take up the challenge of chairing the SPC.
Auckland principal and former PPTA president Graeme Macann, from Rosehill College, will take on the role of chair and
will be the main media contact.
He will be joined by Wellington Girls’ College principal Julia Davidson in the role of deputy chair. She will focus on
representing SPC in the Wellington area.
Mr Duff is looking forward to working with both principals and wishes them the best for the future.
ENDS