Show Notes
From a dairy farm to leading New Zealand's schools - Dale Bailey, Chief Executive of Springboard Trust, shares his leadership mindset, self leadership journey, and education strategy in this leadership interview about personal growth, professional development, and teaching in NZ.“Whatever you want to do, it requires great leadership to really accelerate the change.”
In this conversation, Dale shares how his journey through teaching, the Education Review Office, Careers New Zealand, and Te Papa shaped his view of leadership and the education system as a whole. He reflects on the power of public education, the importance of strategic leadership in schools, and why supporting principals can have ripple effects far beyond the classroom.
Throughout the episode, Dale returns to the values that guide him: integrity, social justice, honest connection, and a deep belief that education can lift lives.
About Dale Bailey
Dale Bailey is the Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive of Te Uru Amokura | Springboard Trust, an organisation dedicated to strengthening leadership capability across Aotearoa New Zealand’s education system. Through its programmes, Springboard Trust supports principals and school leaders to build the strategic thinking, leadership capability, and confidence needed to create meaningful change in schools and communities.
Dale began his career as a teacher of geography and social studies in Palmerston North before joining the Education Review Office (ERO), where he served as a Review Officer and later Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern. He later worked as Counties-Manukau Regional Manager and Northern Manager at Careers New Zealand, where he led the redevelopment of careers education and support for schools.
More recently, Dale served as Director of Collections Research and Learning at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, leading initiatives connecting research, culture, and education. Across these roles, Dale has maintained a strong focus on improving outcomes for young New Zealanders through high quality education and lifelong learning.
In recognition of his contributions to education, Dale was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2025 New Year Honours.
In this episode Dale talks about:
• Why leadership accelerates change • How public education shaped his path • Pairing business mentors with principals • Running a charity with 11 staff and 500 volunteers • The $5.70 return on every dollar invested • His values: integrity, justice, and love • Why "what" unites us matters more
Timestamps:
(0:00) Why great leadership accelerates change in education (1:18) Growing up on a dairy farm in rural New Zealand (3:17) The impact of great teachers and public education (7:28) Childhood in rural New Zealand and family influence (8:42) Choosing teaching and studying at university (10:37) First teaching role in Palmerston North (14:33) Moving from classroom teaching to system leadership (16:19) Careers New Zealand and improving careers education (19:12) Leadership at Te Papa and public learning (23:59) How Springboard Trust develops school leaders (27:38) Funding education leadership and running a charity (40:24) Dale’s leadership values and future goalsLearn more about
Dale and his work
• Springboard Trust: https://www.springboardtrust.org.nz/ • LinkedIn: / dalebaileynz
Learn more about Azoora and her work
• LinkedIn: / azooraali • Website: https://www.accountingandtax.co.nz/
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