Thanking Julia and welcoming Josephine

Julia Slark and Josephine Davies - wahine toa

Professor Julia Slark has been the Head of School of Te Kura Tāpuhi/School of Nursing, Waipapa Taumata Rau/University of Auckland for seven years. Through her inspirational leadership she has advocated fiercely for the School, for Nursing, for our Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, and for the communities we serve in our research and education. She has been a strong supporter, and good friend, of Te Ārai. We would like to acknowledge her manaakitanga, her aroha and her rangitiratanga. She has created a culture in the School founded on care, and with a Te Tiriti partnership at the heart of everything we do. She leaves the School in a very different place to where she found it. Julia is going on a well deserved period of Research and Study Leave before returning to the School in her role as Professor of Nursing. We look forward to continuing to work alongside her.

We would also like to welcome Josephine Davies into her new role as Head of School. We are excited that Josephine is the first Māori Head of School for Nursing at Auckland University and we look forward to supporting her to achieve her aspirations.. At a beautiful Pōwhiri at Waipapa Marae on Monday we acknowledged this transition with our colleagues and Julia and Josephine’s whānau. The sun shone, a good tohu/sign for what has passed and what is yet to come.

The event was marked by strong media interest. To see a video of the day, click below: