Kate’s deep expertise in the importance of Teaching for Understanding, along with her clear, practical approach to planning, has helped teachers develop a structured and effective process for both teaching and assessing understanding.

I always leave Kate’s workshops with a deeper understanding of what it truly means to design and implement a conceptual curriculum—and why it matters. Kate has an exceptional ability to explain complex ideas in a way that just makes sense.

What I value most is that my colleagues and I always walk away with practical, actionable strategies tailored to our context. We’re not expected to start from scratch or overhaul everything we’re doing. Instead, Kate helps us build on the strong foundations we already have, making small, sustainable changes that are both manageable and impactful.

She is a thoughtful listener with a refreshing sense of humour, and her workshops are both empowering and highly motivational.

Emma Burns

Curriculum Coordinator
American International School of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh city
Vietnam

I am writing to offer my wholehearted endorsement of Kate Brown, who has been working with our school to design and implement a high-quality, future-focused conceptual curriculum and assessment plan. Kate’s expertise, dedication, and professional integrity have made an exceptional difference to our school community.

Throughout her time with us, Kate has demonstrated outstanding knowledge of curriculum design and assessment for understanding. She skilfully guided our staff through the development of a rich, coherent curriculum that genuinely reflects our vision and values, while ensuring it meets the diverse needs of our learners. Her ability to clarify complex ideas, ask the right questions, and draw out staff insights has helped build genuine ownership and collective capability within our team.

Kate’s contribution has extended well beyond curriculum development. She has facilitated workshops, mentored individual staff, and provided invaluable guidance and support to me as principal. Her wisdom, calm presence, and practical advice have strengthened our leadership and organisational systems, ensuring that the positive changes we are making are sustainable and embedded.

Kate is an outstanding facilitator and mentor. She is highly organised, deeply reflective, and brings both warmth and professionalism to every interaction. She has a unique ability to empower others, build trust, and inspire confidence in what is possible.

I have no hesitation in recommending Kate Brown for any role or project that involves educational leadership, curriculum design, facilitation, or strategic development. She would be an asset to any school or organisation fortunate enough to work with her.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss Kate’s work further.

Colin Hammond

Tumuaki / Principal
Okains Bay School
1163 Okains Bay Road,
Banks Peninsula

 
Working with Kate over three years was transformative for our school. Her deep knowledge of concept-based curriculum, combined with a genuine understanding of how to support staff through change, helped embed lasting, meaningful shifts in our teaching and learning.

Our curriculum is now more connected, culturally responsive, and future-focused, grounded in the needs of our learners and our unique local context. Beyond the technical expertise, Kate is a genuine pleasure to work with.  She is warm, insightful, and deeply respectful of the knowledge already within a school. Kate builds trust, and with that trust comes real change.

Tracey Smith

Principal,
Oromahoe School,
New Zealand

Oaklands School began working with Kate Brown from EduKateNZ Consultancy Ltd in September 2022. We needed support with developing our local curriculum and embedding inquiry based learning practices. Over the next two years Kate supported us with the following: 

• Writing our local curriculum and creating a visual representation of it that aligns with our cultural narrative
• Leading professional development with staff to define what learning through inquiry would look like in our school context and creating documentation to support this.
• Working with the leadership team to develop an Oaklands inquiry process and unit plan, making connections to our cultural narrative.
• Building teachers knowledge of teaching through inquiry including how to set up and use wonder walls, choosing questions to provoke thinking, building a bank of strategies and skills to develop thinking and defining what happens at each stage of the inquiry process.
• Working with our leadership team to develop a bank of resources, particularly in Science. 

Kate is an amazing listener and was able to tailor support to our specific needs. Her professional development sessions were engaging and she ensured that all staff have hands on experiences and come away with practical strategies they can implement immediately.

She is highly collaborative and knows how to get the best out of people. I would not hesitate to work with her again or to recommend her to other schools.

Caroline Martin

Acting Principal, Oaklands | Te Kura o Ōwaka

Working through the DiSC Profile and leadership strengths with Kate allowed our Senior Leadership Team to reflect on our own leadership styles as well as gain a better understanding of the other leadership styles within our team. It reinforced things we already knew we had but it also introduced us to new styles which we learnt more about.

The one-on-one sessions with Kate to discuss our predominant leadership styles were very worthwhile. As is coming together as a Senior Leadership Team at the end to discuss how our leadership styles can complement each other as a team. I found this process an effective way to reflect on one’s leadership practice and also to identify potential shortcomings which can be attached to our areas of strengths.

Brett Cooper

Tumuaki/Principal
Te Oraka Shirley Intermediate Christchurch

Having Kate come in and discuss the results of our DISC profiling was incredibly beneficial for our senior leadership team. It gave us a fresh perspective on each other's ways of thinking and helped us understand that there are many different ways to lead. This knowledge has truly strengthened our team. It confirmed what we already suspected: our strengths complement each other. What one person is weaker in is another's strength. The session also reinforced to me that you don't need a domineering personality to be an effective leader.

Tamara Drew

Learning Support Coordinator
Te Oraka Shirley Intermediate Christchurch

Using the DiSC profiler helped me gain an understanding around my strengths and weaknesses. It did highlight some surprises, and these were beneficial to understanding how I relate and work with my team. I particularly took notice of the ‘consider using the communication approach’. As I move through interacting with co-workers, I use this as a starting point of structuring a conversation. I was also pleased to see that we as a Senior Leadership team can support each other through our strengths.

Peter Richmond

Deputy Principal
Te Oraka Shirley Intermediate Christchurch

"I have had the distinct privilege to work with Kate Brown as my business coach.

Kate is a highly skilled and effective coach who has been trained and certified to the best standards in the world at the Conscious Coaching Academy in the United Kingdom.

During my time with Kate, my life changed in many ways. Her line of questioning continually created new awareness in every session that led me towards my goals and objectives. Kate’s style is so genuine, authentic and caring. I instantly felt safe, resourceful and empowered to make the changes I needed to move forward on many fronts in my life.

She challenged my thinking. Her powerful insight and incredible listening skill provided the space for me to grow and become a better version of myself.

It has been said that Coaching is 1% what you know and 99% who you are. In Kate’s case, this cannot be more true. One situation in particular comes to mind where she skillfully crafted key questions that altered my thinking and helped me move past a difficult issue within an important relationship. She helped me come up with the solution by her intuitive line of inquiry throughout the process.

Kate is a master coach. More importantly, Kate is an outstanding individual and I would highly recommend her to anyone."

Winston Pain

British Columbia, Canada