LAIDLAW COLLEGE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Pastor of LifeChurch
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair
- Chairman of Te Rūnanga
- Representative, Co - Chair
Bradford Haami is the current chair of Te Rūnanga o te Wānanga Amorangi - The Māori Council for Laidlaw College - and sits on the governing board of the college. He is a lecturer in biculturalism at Laidlaw College and holds a Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Theology.
Brad is an accomplished Māori author, journalist and lecturer with added experience in film and television media. He has produced exploratory works on mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), Māori history and more recently Māori biography. He self-published True Red; The Life of an ex-Mongrel Mob Gang Leader (2004), the story of Tūhoe Isaac and the radical shift in his life from a gang leader to a Christian. He also self-published Ka Mau Te Wehi: Taking Haka To The World, the biography of Māori performing arts doyens Bub and Nen Wehi, which won the 2013 Ngā Kupu Ora Best Māori Biography of the Year Award. In 2016 he published The River of the Waters of Life: A Biography of Ike Samuels, a Māori missionary to Papua New Guinea. His most recent works are: Urban Māori: The Second Great Migration (Oratia Media, 2018) and Bringing Culture Into Care
Job Titles:
- CEO of the Christian Schools Trust
An accomplished author, journalist and lecturer, Brad has written award-winning Māori biographies, has extensive experience in film and media, and has worked as Māori curator for the Natural History exhibition at Te Papa. Brad is widely involved in Māori Christian leadership networks and attends an AOG church. In 2020, Brad commenced fulltime work at Laidlaw as Pou Amorangi/Māori Director. [more]
Chris is the CEO of The Christian Schools Trust in Christchurch, a proprietor trust for four State integrated Christian schools and two Christian early learning centres. He has previously worked as a Chartered Accountant, a Regional Manager for World Vison New Zealand and he was Campus Director for the Laidlaw College Christchurch campus for eight years. He is married to Belinda and they have three adult children. He has been part of his local fellowship, Life Church, for over 30 years.
Roshan took up his role as National Principal/CEO of Laidlaw College in February 2017.
Roshan holds degrees in History from the Universities of Canterbury and Oxford. His doctoral research at Oxford focused on how intergenerational groups of Evangelical entrepreneurs in the eighteenth and nineteenth century British world shaped society and culture, most prominently in the work of the Clapham Sect. His research interests include how the Gospel has motivated social and cultural reform, with particular emphases on evangelicalism and the history of religious reform, the origins of philanthropy and humanitarianism, and intersections of theology and political economic thought.
Prior to Laidlaw, he helped found and then led the Compass Foundation until 2011 (now part of the Venn Foundation), working to help young adults ‘know the Gospel; know the culture; translate'. Compass's mission involved running residential conferences on Biblical theology and leadership around Australasia, cultivating networks of young Christian leaders, and developing resources for these growing networks. Prior to Compass, Roshan was the first manager of Maxim Institute's internship programme. He is a co-author of popular books, The Insect and the Buffalo: how the story of the Bible changes everything and The Hare and the Tortoise: learning to pace ourselves in a world gone mad, and is a regular speaker in churches and at Christian events.
Born in India (his parents and grandparents served as missionaries), he was raised in Christchurch, where he met and married Lottie. They have three young children.
Roshan has been National Principal/CEO of Laidlaw College since 2017. An historian, whose research focuses on the history of philanthropy, humanitarianism and social reform, he has a background in non-profit leadership. Roshan and his family live in Henderson. [more]
Job Titles:
- Senior Coach / Lecturer, Centre for Church Leadership School of Theology
- Senior Coach for the Centre for Church Leadership
Graeme Flett is a senior coach for the Centre for Church Leadership and lecturer within the School of Theology at Laidlaw College. He specialises in ministry formation and pastoral/practical theology. Graeme is committed to the advancement of Church leadership coupled with missional innovation. This is embodied in his role as the convenor of the Engage Breakfast groups- a monthly cycle of theological reflective spaces where practitioners gather and discuss "gospel and culture" challenges.
Graeme serves out of a deep commitment to the Church of Aotearoa. This extends to practitioners and students alike who are either preparing for Christian leadership or are honing their ministry and leadership capacities. Graeme presses the point that the best theology is done when pastors, church leaders and students proactively integrate theological learning with their practice. This conviction comes out of his own experience as a pastor of 17 years and the need for emerging Church leaders to imagine and act out of a robust theological framework. Graeme believes that such an understanding is grounded in Scripture and a life attuned to a lively embodiment of Christian faith. This underpins Graeme's desire and joy in helping church leaders, pastors and students deepen their calling and vocation.
Graeme's PhD focuses on media ecology and the influence of new media on congregational life, specifically looking at Christian identity and embodied practices. He has published on topics relating to embodiment and new media as well as visual technologies and congregational life.
Graeme is married to Linda who works as a part-time registered Chaplin at Waitakere Hospital. He has three married daughters and four grandchildren. He is also an ordained pastor of the Elim Churches of NZ. Currently, he and Linda lead a monthly interdenominational service at Waitakere Hospital.
His interests are in church leadership, organisational culture, media ecology and identity formation. Outside of these academic pursuits, Graeme is a keen woodworker, craftsman and an enthusiastic artisan of all things made of wood.
Judith Malcolm is a barrister and rangatahi youth advocate on the North Shore. Her legal career began as a clerk at the NZ Law Commission and has taken her into commercial litigation at Buddle Finlay and criminal litigation at the Mangere Community Law Centre. Judith helped set up and runs a transition home in Bolivia for teenagers leaving orphanage care, and attends Northgate Baptist Church.
Job Titles:
- Staff Representative
- Miriam Jessie Fisher Location Lead & Lecturer - Education, Ōtautahi / Christchurch School of Social Practice - Education
Miriam has been studying with Laidlaw for some time but joined us on staff in 2019 as the inaugural staff member in Christchurch for our Teaching programme. She lectures into Inclusive Education and The Arts. Miriam is currently working on her Master of Theology, with Laidlaw.
As an educator, Miriam's interests include how non-Māori speakers can be encouraged to speak Te Reo Māori and engage with Te Ao Māori and integrate that into their classroom learning. She is interested in how children acquire theology and how the big topics can be taught well in Christian Educational institutions. As well as classroom teaching, Miriam has done a lot of teaching and professional development in the Arts and is an advocate for how the Arts can transform and enhance creativity and classroom practices. Theologically, Miriam is interested in how Creative practice can be formative and transformative and the ways in which the Church can engage with the Arts in its mission in the world.
Miriam has worked as an educator in Aotearoa/NZ, England and Australia, teaching across all year levels from NE-year 8 as a classroom practitioner or specialist teacher. She has led and written programmes for schools and churches as well as creating professional development for teachers.
She has written two books for children and families. ‘Adventing: A journey to Christmas' and ‘God's Great Story: Your Great Story.'She is currently working with a number of dual language speakers to create eBooks for the second book.
Miriam has also worked as a professional actress and MC and enjoys speaking engagements and designing creative liturgies and services for the local Church. At her local church Miriam helps with signing worship for the deaf community and teaching/preaching. She has designed a course for adults around the intersection of faith and creativity. Miriam runs retreats and quiet days for people to engage spiritually. She has a passion to serve the Church (universal) and invite believers into a wider, more wonder-filled and theologically sound journey of faith.
Miriam is a joyful extrovert who loves reading, purchasing books, sewing, stitching, writing and being around people. She has been married for 20 years to Michael and they have two wonderful sons.
Miriam is the staff representative on the Laidlaw. She has been studying with Laidlaw for some time but joined us on staff in 2019 as the inaugural staff member in Christchurch for our Teaching programme. She lectures into Inclusive Education and The Arts. Miriam is currently working on her Master of Theology, with Laidlaw. [more]
Job Titles:
- Ness Johnson School Manager ( Theology ) Centre for Church Leadership Operations Lead
- School Manager ( Theology ) Centre for Church Leadership Operations Lead
Ness is the School of Theology Manager and the Centre for Church Leadership Operations Lead. Her dual role is to ensure the smooth running of the School of Theology for students and lecturers in conjunction with the Head of School and, similarly, the smooth running of operations for the Centre alongside the Centre Director.
Ness has worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years, mostly in large scale Event & Project Management, for NZ organisations such as Youth for Christ, World Vision and Parenting Place. Whether it be Leadership Conferences or Parent-child adventure camps, International tours or Relationship retreats, Ness' first love is to deliver with excellence while creating a great experience for all involved.
Ness has lived in a few places but now calls Mangere Bridge home. She is a proud Aunty to four nephews and a niece and attends Valley Road Church in Mt Eden. Ness loves to spend her downtime with family and close friends preferably at the beach.
Jessica is Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Humanities, at the University of Otago, and brings strong governance and strategic leadership experience to Laidlaw. Jessica also sits on the boards of Presbyterian Support Otago and the Wilberforce Foundation. Her research interests lie in equity and trusts, the law of restitution and the law of contract. Jessica and her family attend a Presbyterian church in Dunedin.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Theology at the University of Otago
Murray is Professor of Theology at the University of Otago, and is a highly regarded scholar and academic leader, with research interests in the work of Søren Kierkegaard, Theology and Architecture, Christian Pacifism, Biblical Hermeneutics, Christian Doctrine, and the development of Christian faith amongst Maori.
Clint took up his role as Director of Laidlaw's Centre for Church Leadership (CfCL) in 2022. He is responsible for developing and fulfilling the strategic direction of CfCL to bless, love, and serve the Church of Aotearoa. This involves leading the CfCL team to develop coaching programmes, resources, workshops, and consultancy services. As a passionate advocate for the health of church leaders and the churches they serve, Clint appreciates networking with leaders of local churches, church networks, and denominations, with a responsive awareness to the wider ecosystem of the church in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Clint holds degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv) where his studies focused primarily on missional theology before continuing doctoral work at Asbury Theological Seminary (DMin). Clint's doctoral research, anchored in biblical wisdom, explored the exercise of intuitive wisdom among ministry leaders in New Zealand and identified ways in which intuitive wisdom capabilities might be developed.
Clint is an ordained minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Aotearoa-New Zealand and has served as the Lead Pastor of The Well Church (Christchurch) since its inception in 2012. Clint is married to Jamie and they have two daughters. Together, Clint & Jamie have served in ministry for 20 years - they are passionate about seeing people encounter Jesus personally and being released into the unique Kingdom calling on their lives. Clint loves to travel and experience different cultures, is an avid runner, and loves music - playing, listening, and watching.
Karen joined the Centre for Church Leadership (CfCL) as a Senior Coach/Lecturer in 2022. This role involves training and resourcing leaders and skilled specialists as coaches and developing and delivering resources and workshops. Karen also teaches into the Theology programmes at both undergrad and postgrad levels and engages in her own research.
Her research Masters (Victoria University Wellington) integrated theological, sociological, and practical perspectives on conflict and its transformative potential in congregations. Training at the Centre for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia, USA, further resources her work in conflict and reconciliation.
Karen's Doctorate in Leadership and Spiritual Formation (George Fox University, Oregon) examined a Church in crisis and a story of vocation under pressure. Drawing on the 6th Century Rule of Benedict, contemporary adaptive leadership, and ancient Polynesian wayfinders, it maps a training pathway for Christian leaders who are resilient and adaptive in the face of change.
Maja is responsible for overseeing our growing relationships with partner churches, crafting and delivering a formational experience for our undergraduate theology students, supervising postgraduate research, and contributing to the leadership team of the School of Theology. Her research interests include the theology of the body, theological anthropology, disability theology, and eschatology. She is exploring what the Christian tradition can offer to critique and inform modern cultural ideologies about human flourishing and the body.
Maja is a pastor in the Equippers Church network and she is passionate about equipping people for life in Jesus Christ. She is married to Dave and they have four daughters from preschool to high school age. Maja loves to spend her downtime in the garden, with a good book, or in the kitchen baking with one of her girls. She blogs on the topics of spiritual formation, parenting, and pastoral theology at www.somewhitespace.blog
Thomas is the student representative on the Laidlaw NGC in 2023. He is currently in his final year of the Bachelor of Theology. When not studying, Thomas works part time as a gardener and fellowships at Lincoln Road Bible Chapel.