Zara heads up Laidlaw’s Youth Work programmes as the Youth Work Lead. She is also a Professional Teaching Fellow who teaches Laidlaw’s youth and young adult practical theology papers. She is passionate about equipping any and all who work frontline with young people - specifically how classroom concepts, models and theories play out in practice. She loves to teach through stories, research, and cultural observation and critique. She aspires to model and teach loyal leadership shaped by steady character, self-development and proactive wellbeing. Zara spent two years based at the Henderson campus and now lives in her hometown Ōtautahi with her young whānau and teaches from the Christchurch campus. 

A busy working mum of two young girls, Zara juggles her roles as Vicar’s wife, failing domestic goddess and distracted parishioner at St Aidan’s Bryndwr Anglican Church. She loves animals, dabbles in plant propagation, enjoys a coffee she didn’t make herself, and food with a view. By night, she is a polymer clay artist and makes funky earrings for all occasions (especially church). @vicars.wife 

Qualifications & Awards

• BSocServ - Bachelor of Social Services, Otago Polytechnic, 2021. 

• DipMin - Diploma of Ministry, Vision College, 2011. 

• CertTeReoMāori - Certificate of Te reo Māori (Te Pōkaitahi Reo), Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, 2019. 

• CertYthWk - Certificate of Youth Work, Careerforce, 2016. 

• CertTh - Certificate of Theology, Australian College of Ministries, 2010.