Bronwyn Yates has resigned as Te Tumuaki Literacy Aotearoa.

Bronwyn has worked in the community education and voluntary sector, primarily in the area of adult literacy, for over 30 years as a tutor, literacy coordinator and national trainer and manager.

In 1991 Bronwyn was appointed Te Apiha Kaiwhakahaere o Te Motu of Te Whiri Kaupapa Ako, the Māori development arm of the Adult Reading and Learning Assistance Federation – ARLA – (now Literacy Aotearoa) in a joint CEO position. In 1992 she became the organisation’s Te Tumuaki. Literacy Aotearoa provides support to literacy providers throughout New Zealand.

Bronwyn was a key driver in the restructuring process from ARLA Federation to Literacy Aotearoa inc. The model is based on tino rangātiratanga and is guided by the principles of manaaki tangata which are fundamental to dealing with issues of Māori/Tauiwi relationships and the differing frameworks within the literacy field.

Her passion for literacy is aligned with her passion to restore
wellbeing on a range of levels. She views literacy within the
context of accessing and utilising information and knowledge to
create change and restore social justice.

In September 2004, Bronwyn was invited by the Tertiary Education Commission to be a speaker at the International Adult Learners’ Week Conference in Cape Town.

Bronwyn has epitomised service to the ACE Sector. She was a member of the Adult Education and Community Learning Working Party, a member of the TEC ACE Professional Development Working Party, a Board member of the National Resource Centre for Adult Education and Community Learning and a Board member of ACE Aotearoa. She has been a member of the ACE Professional Development Steering Group; one of the founding members of the group which established the Hui Fono to provide professional development opportunities for Māori and Pasifika in ACE; a foundation member of the ACE Sector Strategic Alliance; a member of the ACE Outcomes Working Group; and the chair of the ACE Sector Reference Group.

In the international arena, Bronwyn has contributed to the development of priorities for Adult Education and provided a voice for ACE as a member of the New Zealand delegation at CONFINTEA VI.

In 2017 Bronwyn was awarded ACE Aotearoa Tangata Whenua Member of the Year.

Analiese Robertson, the Director of ACE Aotearoa, says that Bronwyn has long been a strong advocate for ACE policy. She has contributed to the development of professional capability tools such as Quality Assurance, Teaching Standards and the Learner Outcomes tool. She will be greatly missed.

In 2002, Bronwyn was recognised in the New Year’s Honours and awarded a QSM for services to literacy and the community.