About us

Our research draws on robust New Zealand and international evidence and we seek out insights from a range of schools and education services. We want to understand the performance of the education system, identify challenges, and share evidence-based good practice.

Find out more about our current work

We carry out independent, in-depth research of different aspects of New Zealand's education system.

We work to understand and report on system performance, evaluate initiatives, promote good practice, identify emerging challenges and opportunities, make recommendations and share evidence-based information.

We produce a range of resources, including research reports, good practice guides, sector insights and practical frameworks relevant to three education settings:

Our Team

ERO’s team of education experts are based across New Zealand and work closely with schools and ECE services every day. Our Evidence and Insights are led by:

Tim Fowler

Acting Chief Executive and Chief Review Officer

Tim has been seconded to us from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), where he has been Chief Executive since April 2013. Prior to TEC, Tim was Deputy Chief Executive, Quality Assurance at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

Tim has held international and management positions in Australia and New Zealand in both the private and university sectors after starting his career in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Deborah Platts-Fowler

Acting Deputy Chief Executive Evaluation and Policy

Deborah leads ERO’s Education Evaluation Centre | Te Ihuwaka, delivering independent national research and evaluation to strengthen decision‑making and improve outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand’s education system. She is an experienced research and evaluation leader with a career spanning senior roles in government, higher education, and applied research in New Zealand and internationally. Deborah brings deep expertise in leading large, mixed‑methods programmes that generate decision‑ready insights to inform policy and system improvement

Deborah has worked across policy, delivery and community contexts, supporting informed decision‑making in complex and sensitive systems. She leads multidisciplinary teams to ensure evidence is robust, timely and focused on what will make the biggest difference for learners and the education system.

She is passionate about using evidence to make a real difference for children and young people, their families and communities, bringing together rigorous methods, ethical practice and a strong focus on impact to support meaningful change.