DEBORAH GEORGE, ONZM

Deborah started her career as a secondary school teacher and has spent the past thirty years working in education in a variety of roles across commercial, government and not-for-profit organisations. Over this time she has owned businesses in both Hong Kong and New Zealand, worked for the New Zealand and Australian governments, and was one of a team of three to expand the Duffy “Books in Homes” programme nationwide. In 2017 she was invited to join the judging panel of the Prime Minister’s Excellence in Education awards which celebrate outstanding achievements across the sector.
Deborah is a Trustee and the former Chair of Teach First NZ which she co-founded in 2011. Teach First NZ is an innovative not-for-profit organisation which, in partnership with the University of Auckland, engages top graduates to teach in secondary schools serving low decile communities.
Formerly the Director of Enrolment and External Relations at Auckland Grammar School, Deborah also spent five years on the School’s Board of Trustees and three years as Director of Development. Deborah has been closely involved with the InZone project since it’s scoping in 2010 and a Trustee of the Foundation since its inception in May 2013 and as Board Chair from 2016 until February 2020. Deborah was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2022 for services to Education and Governance.