Te kāhui Manukura
Executive Leadership Team
Te Kāhui Manukura (TKM) is Ara Institute of Canterbury’s executive leadership team. TKM provides strategic and operational leadership across the institute, ensuring Ara delivers high-quality education and strong outcomes for learners and communities.
Darren Mitchell — Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive
Darren Mitchell has worked at Ara for more than two decades, including 16 years on the executive leadership team. He has previously served as Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer, and twice as Acting Chief Executive. In these roles, Darren led finance, ICT, facilities, organisational performance, strategic planning and major capital works.
A Chartered Accountant Fellow with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Darren began his career at a national accounting firm, providing advisory services across a range of industries. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Otago.
Darren contributes to sector governance through roles including deputy chair of WorldSkills New Zealand, and trustee of the Ara Foundation and Ōtautahi Education Development Trust.
Deborah Young — Manukura – Te Waka Ako Kairangi | Director - Ako Excellence
Deborah Young leads Ara’s Ako Excellence division, which is responsible for teaching quality, research excellence and educational standards across the institute. The division focuses on strengthening teaching practice and quality assurance systems that drive positive outcomes for learners.
Deb has worked at Ara for nearly three decades and has held a range of senior roles in quality and leadership. She was previously an External Evaluation and Review evaluator for the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and was appointed to the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology Academic Board in 2020. She was made Chair in 2022.
Deb holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Tasmania and a National Diploma in Educational Administration from Christchurch College of Education.
Ngapua Allen-Naoupu — Manukura - Te Waka Rauhī Ahurea | Director - People and Culture
Ngapua Allen-Naoupu leads Ara’s People and Culture division, which includes human resources business partnering, staff capability, safety, health and wellbeing, communications, talent acquisition and payroll.
In her role, Ngapua oversees the formulation and implementation of people frameworks, policies, and standards, guaranteeing adherence to best practices and legal compliance across the institution.
Ngapua has extensive experience across human resources, employment relations, industrial relations and organisational development, with senior roles spanning the education, medical, retail and commercial sectors in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
Before her appointment as director of people and culture in 2025, she was a regional people and culture manager at Te Pūkenga, responsible for Canterbury and the West Coast. Before joining Te Pūkenga she operated her own people-centred consultancy.
Tilly McKay — Manukura - Te Waka Rangatōpū, Manukura - Pūtea | Director - Corporate Services, Chief Financial Officer
Tilly McKay leads Ara’s Corporate Services division, which includes finance, procurement, facilities management and the recreation, health and early learning centres.
She was appointed director of corporate services in 2025 and previously held senior finance leadership roles at Ara and Te Pūkenga, including director of finance and regional finance director. Before joining Ara, Tilly worked in finance and accounting roles at Airways New Zealand and in London, after starting her career at Ernst and Young as an auditor.
Tilly is a chartered accountant with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance from the University of Canterbury.
Hayley Devoy — Manukura - Te Waka Rautaki | Director - Strategy, Planning and Performance
Hayley Devoy leads Ara’s Strategy, Planning and Performance division, which includes marketing and recruitment, student administration services, digital, policy, privacy, complaints, business intelligence (data analytics) and the project management office. The division supports strategic planning, organisational performance and delivery across the institute.
She has more than 20 years’ experience across Aotearoa New Zealand’s tertiary education sector and has held senior leadership roles at Ara and Te Pūkenga.
Hayley was appointed Director - Strategy, Planning and Performance in 2024, following earlier roles at Ara, including Director - Organisational Insights and Compliance.
Hayley holds a Bachelor of Applied Management from CPIT, now Ara Institute of Canterbury.
Dr Michael Shone — Kaiurungi - Te Waka Toiora | Dean of Faculty - Health, Science and Sustainability
Dr Michael Shone leads Te Waka Toiora, Ara’s Faculty of Health, Science and Sustainability, which includes the portfolios of science, sustainability and early learning, health and community, and nursing.
Michael has held leadership roles at Ara for nearly a decade, including Director of Research; Scholarships and Postgraduate Studies; Director – Academic and Research; and Head of Department – Applied Sciences and Social Practice. Before joining Ara, he spent more than 20 years at Lincoln University, where he led programmes in tourism management, and sport and recreation management. During this time, he also worked within the Crown Research Institute sector as a research consultant in sustainable communities at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.
He holds a PhD in tourism, public policy and regional development, a Master of Applied Science (Hons) in tourism planning, both from Lincoln University, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Canterbury.
Peter Sauer — Kaiurungi - Te Waka Rehe | Dean of Faculty - Applied Technology
Peter Sauer leads Te Waka Rehe, Ara’s Faculty of Applied Technology, which includes the portfolios of automotive, engineering and plumbing trades, construction trades, built environments, and applied engineering and computing.
He previously served as Head of Department of Trades at Ara’s Woolston campus, where he strengthened vocational pathways across engineering, automotive and construction. Peter joined Ara in 2006, following more than a decade in the automotive industry, including roles as an advanced automotive technician and workshop supervisor at Archibald Motor Company.
Peter holds a Bachelor of Applied Management (Transformation and Change) from Ara Institute of Canterbury.
Peter Sawyer — Kaiurungi - Te Waka Aronui | Dean of Faculty - Culture and Services
Peter Sawyer leads Te Waka Aronui, Ara’s Faculty of Culture and Services, which includes the portfolios of hospitality and services, creative and media, business and English, and foundation and pathways.
Peter was appointed Dean of Faculty in 2024, following a long career in secondary education leadership. He previously served as deputy principal at Christchurch Girls’ High School | Te Kura o Hine Waiora and was acting principal in 2024.
He holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education in Leadership from the University of Canterbury and is a certified Gallup Clifton Strengths coach.