My School Election
About us
My School Election is owned by EducationPlus Auckland Limited,a Registered NZ Limited Company (3666031).
About 15 years ago, a Returning Officer decided there had to be an easier way to run an election than licking envelopes and manually counting votes. But would anyone design an app with school-based returning officers in mind?
Today, Bernardine is New Zealand’s foremost expert on running school board elections. She works with a team of over 150 Returning Officers and support staff to give schools options over how to manage a successful election.
“Why keep expertise to yourself? I believe in local control over destiny,” she said. “The Returning Officer plays a central role in community participation in education.”
Managing Director
Bernardine Vester
Bernardine is the former Chief Executive of the City of Manukau Education Trust and a New Zealand Eisenhower Fellow.
A former teacher and union leader, she has served on school boards since 1989. She was a founding trustee of Ako Matatupu: Teach First New Zealand, currently chairs Sistema Aotearoa, a South Auckland charitable trust for orchestral music, serves on Te Tuhi’s Contemporary Art Foundation board, and is a Justice of the Peace. She works as an education consultant with principals and school boards and is an NZSTA contracted provider. She has been a Returning Officer for board elections since 2013.
Director
Allan Vester
Allan is the former secondary principal of Edgewater College, served for a number of years on the Principals’ Council, including as Chair.
He has been a member of the Transition Board for the Teaching Council and served on several Ministry of Education working groups, including most recently chairing the Equity Funding reference group. He is a board member for HealthCarePlus NZ (formerly the EBS), is a Rotarian, Justice of the Peace, and coaches school rowing.