Our Team

Jessica has been with the International Department at Kerikeri High School for the past 12years; most of you will know her by email and some of you have met her on your travels to New Zealand. In her role as Director of International, Jessica has travelled to Latin America, Europe and Thailand, representing Kerikeri High School at Education New Zealand Agent Workshops and Fairs, ICEF events and visited many of you in your offices.

Jessica brings to her role the firsthand experience of being a parent of Kerikeri High School students as her three children have all graduated Kerikeri High School. Jessica has lived in Kerikeri for 28 years and is very much part of the local community. 

She previously worked in Business and Operations Management. Her previous roles included managing a riding school where she discovered her affinity with teenagers. Jessica enjoys travelling and travelled extensively as a younger person doing her “O.E.” (Overseas Experience). 

“Working in the International Department is my dream job; I really enjoy looking after the International Students and encouraging them to make the very best of what Kerikeri High School and our community has to offer”.

Helen and her husband lived in Kerikeri for many years before they moved to Christchurch in 2014. It was there that Helen first began working with International Students. In 2022 they moved back to the beautiful Bay of Islands, and Helen started working at Kerikeri High School that same year.

Helen brings a vast amount of experience and knowledge learnt while working as a Homestay Manager in different high schools around Christchurch. Her family have hosted many International Students in the past, and she has a good understanding of what it takes to be a successful host family. Her adult son has international ‘brothers’ around the world. 

“My focus is to be a strong support for both the International Students and the host families. I see the homestay experience as an important part of the student’s success while they are at Kerikeri High School. It is always good see the host family and the student getting on well together and making lifelong friends.”

Conny has worked as Administration Support (including International) at Kerikeri High School for the past ten years and re-started with the International Department in July 2022. 

Conny is originally from Germany and settled with her husband on a farm just outside Kerikeri in 2000. They have three children who all attended Kerikeri High School and are now at university.

In her spare time Conny enjoys gardening, hiking, and travelling. Having previously worked in the travel industry she has travelled extensively all around the world. 

“I really enjoy looking after and getting to know all our International Students, it feels like the world is coming to me now. I get to learn about the countries our students are from, and I can watch them experience the ‘Kiwi lifestyle’ and watch them grow as a person”.

Agnes is originally from The Netherlands and grew up there before she decided to leave in 2010 to go see the world. 

She has worked and travelled onboard Super Yachts for 5 Years as a Stewardess, before deciding to move to New Zealand with her husband. Agnes and her family have lived in Auckland for about 8 years, where she worked at another High School.

They decided to move up to Kerikeri to get away from all the hustle and bustle and traffic that’s in Auckland. Agnes and her husband have two young children and absolutely love living in the Far North. They enjoy all the outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, snorkelling, surfing, swimming and going to the beach.

“In the office here, we try to be ‘the home away from home’ for our International Students. Someone to talk to, laugh with and tell us their stories. With all the different nationalities we have at Kerikeri High School, it’s feels like being in a really big and warm Family.”

Bronwyn joined the International team in 2022. She has a long association with Kerikeri, having spent many enjoyable holidays visiting family here before moving permanently North with her husband, eight years ago. She has always admired Kerikeri High School having had nieces and nephews enjoy successful schooling here.

Bronwyn has taught English in a variety of schools, including in Auckland and Northland. She has also been Head of English Language departments in large International schools in Shanghai and Taipei. Seeing her two sons thrive while living and going to school in different cultures, she is a firm believer in the value of experiencing International education. Bronwyn enjoys seeing our International young people flourish as they create lifelong friendships and share memorable experiences during their stay at Kerikeri High School.

Bronwyn is on leave for Term 1, 2025.