Nina Hood

Nina Hood
MNZM
EducationCourtauld Institute of Art (BA), New York University (MA), University of Auckland (GradDipEd), University of Oxford (MSc, DPhil)
OccupationBusiness woman
Known forFounder of The Education Hub; Co-founder of The Teachers’ Institute
ParentSir John Hood
RelativesDorothy Winstone (grandmother)

Nina Hood is a New Zealand business woman. She founded The Education Hub, and co-founded The Teachers’ Institute.

Education

Hood attended St Cuthbert's College, Auckland, where she was the director for the student company Zenith. The company won the 2001 Young Enterprise Scheme Supreme Award as they invented, manufactured, marketed, and sold a word game similar to Scrabble called Take Two.[1]

She completed a bachelor's degree in art history, criticism and conservation at the Courtauld Institute of Art (2004–2007), followed by a master's in art history from New York University (2007–2009). She received a graduate diploma in secondary teaching from the University of Auckland (2009).[2]

Hood later completed a Master of Science in education (Learning and Technology, 2011–2012) and a doctor of philosophy (DPhil) in education (2012–2015) at the University of Oxford.[2]

Career

Hood began her career in 2011 at Mount Roskill Grammar School, where she taught classics and social studies for a year.[3]

From 2015 to 2023, Hood was a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland.[4]

In 2017, she founded The Education Hub, a non-profit that connects educators with accessible, research-based resources. Later in 2025, she also co-founded The Teachers’ Institute, a school-based teacher education program, where she has been serving as an academic director since.[5]

Between 2020 and 2021, she served as editor of ACCESS: Contemporary Issues in Education, overseeing its re-launch.[6][7]

Hood has worked with the Ministry of Education on curriculum reform, teacher education, and the design of charter schools (Kura Hourua).[8]

Since 2024, Hood has been a research fellow at Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures.[3]

Hood is also a media commentator on education in New Zealand, especially on literacy policy, NCEA standards and reforms, and curriculum design. She has appeared on platforms such as RNZ, The Platform, and Newstalk ZB.[9][10][11]

In 2025, Hood was selected in the Humanitarian category of the University of Auckland's "40 Under 40" awards.[12]

Personal life

Nina Hood is partnered with Marek Tesar, dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. They have two sons.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Student company wins enterprise award". The New Zealand Herald. 2001-12-12.
  2. 1 2 "Dr Nina Hood – Koi Tū Centre for Informed Futures".
  3. 1 2 "Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures – Our People". Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures. University of Auckland. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  4. ↑ Howley-Rouse, Amanda (7 March 2023). "Living the science of learning research". THE EDUCATION HUB.
  5. ↑ "The Teachers' Institute, Level 2, textile building, 117-125 St George's Bay Road, Parnell (2026)". www.schoolandcollegelistings.com.
  6. ↑ "Access History". PESA Agora.
  7. ↑ "Editorial – Access Vol. 41". PESA Agora.
  8. ↑ "Charter School Kura Hourua Establishment Board" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Nina Hood – RNZ". RNZ.
  10. ↑ "Dr Nina Hood on shaping the future of education in NZ". The Platform.
  11. ↑ "Education Hub founder isn't sure current NCEA system is leading to ideal outcome". Newstalk ZB.
  12. ↑ "Nina Hood – 40 Under 40 (Humanitarian)". 40 Under 40 Alumni Profiles. University of Auckland. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  13. ↑ Hood, Nina; Tesar, Marek (2021). "Teaching in the Age of Covid-19—1 Year Later". Postdigital Science and Education. 3 (3): 819–835. doi:10.1007/s42438-021-00243-7. PMC 8353069.