Davina Hunt

Davina joined NZCER in July 2023 and is working on a range of primary science assessment projects and evaluation of professional development programmes for teachers and school leaders. She is also involved in NZCERs administrative role in the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) and sits on the review panel of the Otago Participatory Science Platform. 

Davina’s research interests include: 

• Science and climate change education 
• Environmental education for sustainability 
• Place-based and community-engaged learning 
• Experiential learning and systems thinking. 
• Inclusive teaching practices  
• Professional learning and development 

Davina has experience across the education sector from early childhood to tertiary and adult education; as Director of a PLD provider, and Co-Director of her own consultancy, PLD facilitator, classroom teacher, outside the classroom educator, resource developer, researcher and project manager. She has held roles on strategic and technical advisory groups and governance boards. 

Prior to this, Davina was a conservation ecologist, during which time she developed her passion for systems thinking and experiential learning. 

Qualifications:  

• Master of Teaching and Learning (Distinction) 
• Grad. Dip. Arts (Education, Distinction) 
• Postgrad. Dip. Science (Wildlife Management, Distinction) 
• BSc (Zoology)  

Research projects that I’m currently leading: 

• Evaluation of Balanced Scorecard approaches by Springboard Trust 
• Evaluation Methodology for Networks of Expertise