Meet the Learning team

Jessica-Maraea Mako-Andersen, Kaupapa Māori Learning Specialist

(Ngā iwi o Mōkai Pātea, Ngāti Porou)

A nurturer at her core, Jessica-Maraea is passionate about guiding the learning of others in any way she can. Her background includes kohanga reo, puna reo and ECE teaching, youthwork and group facilitation in schools and kura, and most recently a stint at the Ministry of Education.

Her varied work history means she has learned different ways of approaching education that helps her to be adaptable with any audience, pēpi mai, taiohi mai, rangatahi mai. Her interests are kapa haka (performing and tutoring), anything taiāo and hauora related, and of course all things te ao Māori.

Laura Jones, Learning Specialist

Laura has worked in the museum education sector for over eight years. Engaging audiences and deepening narratives using art and objects is her passion.

Previously, Laura has taught in schools in Cambridge, London, Barcelona, and Wellington, where her interest in art and object-based learning began.

She has a degree in English and Art History, and Postgraduate qualifications in both Education and Museum and Heritage Studies.

Laura loves to help people develop personal connections with art and discover the power of objects to explore critical ideas and narratives. She is passionate about helping teachers and museum professionals engage with museums in creative ways to open up the museum space for challenging conversations.

Leroy de Thierry, Kaupapa Māori Learning Specialist

(Waikato-Tainui, Taranaki)

Leroy de Thierry. Photo by Te Papa

Leroy has worked at Te Papa Tongarewa for six years, including four as an educator in the Learning Team. Originally from Nelson, he supported rangatahi in tertiary education, kura, and the wider community. Leroy is passionate about helping learners connect with the kōrero and taonga that Te Papa cares for, inspiring appreciation and curiosity of our history. 

Leroy has interests in Matariki and the maramataka. He has developed and delivered a number of programmes and resources within these kaupapa to support all learners to recognise a Māori division of time and to grow a deeper connection and responsibility to our environment.

Martin Langdon, Learning Specialist: ECE and Whānau

(Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Hikairo, Kāi Tahu)

Martin is an educator who has worked in the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) sector for over 14 years, 7 of those years at Te Papa Tongarewa in the education team where he brings a wealth of creativity and innovation to the museum education sector and has developed educational resources for whānau and school audiences.

Martin has successfully developed and delivered learning programmes across a range of important kaupapa and has a strong interest in toi, te taiao/ pūtaiao and mātauranga Māori. Martin is a student centred educator who has empowered learners across all levels to develop a love and appreciation of the rich kōrero and taonga cared for at Te Papa in order to enrich their learning pathways.

Mel Thompson, Online Course Lead

Mel is an experienced researcher, holds an Honours degree in molecular biotechnology, and has a strong interest in communication and education.

These interests have intersected with her background in science in a variety of ways. She has advised on an educational children’s science show in New Zealand, and has been volunteering in the drug harm minimisation space as an educator and communicator for several years.

She is now working within the Te Papa Learning team in the creation and facilitation of online courses, sharing Te Papa’s collections and stories (and Aotearoa’s rich natural, social and cultural history) with a local and international community of learners. 

Robyn White, Learning Coordinator

Robyn spent almost 10 years working in HR before deciding ‘yeah, nah’ and swivelling back into business support and coordination.

She now gets to spend her days engaging her passion for learning and creativity while supporting the talented learning specialists here at Te Papa Tongarewa.

Contact us

Contact the Learning Innovation team at learning@tepapa.govt.nz, or follow the team on Twitter and Facebook.