NZQA is led by our strategic leadership team, which includes our Chief Executive and 5 Deputy Chief Executives.
Each member of our leadership team heads an office or a division.
On this page
Dr Grant Klinkum
Chief Executive
Grant joined NZQA in early 2014, and has held the roles of Deputy Chief Executive Strategic and Corporate Services and Deputy Chief Executive Quality Assurance.
Before taking the Chief Executive role, Grant was seconded to the Ministry of Education as Acting Deputy Secretary for Graduate Achievement, Vocations and Careers.
While working at the Tertiary Education Commission between 2007 and 2014, Grant was responsible at different times for stakeholder engagement, the Chief Executive’s office and the Tertiary Investment function.
He has also worked as Deputy Chief Executive for an Institute of Technology, and Dean of Faculty at two tertiary education organisations.
Grant has a PhD in Political Science from Victoria University of Wellington, a Master’s degree in Education Administration from Massey University and a Master of Arts from the University of Canterbury.
Grant leads the Office of the Chief Executive and oversees all offices and divisions.
Alex Bidois
Deputy Chief Executive
Alex joined NZQA in February 2007 as the Internal Audit Manager. He later became the Strategy, Planning, and Performance Manager before taking his role as Deputy Chief Executive Māori in April 2019.
Alex is of Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi and Te Arawa descent. His experience in the public sector is in education, having spent 16 years in business and financial roles with the Ministry of Education. Alex holds a Bachelor of Management Studies from the University of Waikato.
He is passionate about advancing Māori development through lifelong learning.
Alex leads the Office of the Deputy Chief Executive Māori.
Utufa’asisili Rosemary Mose
Deputy Chief Executive
Utufa’asisili is an experienced educator and leader. She led the development and implementation of Pasifika strategic plans at the Ministry of Education and Manukau Institute of Technology before joining NZQA as Chief Advisor Pasifika.
In 2023, Utufa'asisili became NZQA's first Deputy Chief Executive Pasifika. Of Samoan descent, she brings an important Pasifika voice to the Strategic Management Team.
She has extensive education and Pasifika community networks, including strong connections with regional and national Pasifika groups. In 2020, Utufa'asisili was recognised by the Government Women’s Network as one of nine Wāhine Whetū, rising women stars in the public sector.
Utufa'asisili holds a Master of Professional Studies in Education, a Postgraduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland.
Utufa'asisili leads the Office of the Deputy Chief Executive Pasifika and People.
Emily Fabling
Deputy Chief Executive
Emily is an experienced senior public service leader, who joined NZQA in August 2025. Emily has held leadership roles within or connected to the education sector for over 20 years, including as Deputy Secretary (Strategy, Planning & Governance) and Group Manager (International Education) at the Ministry of Education.
Emily’s most recent leadership role was as Deputy Secretary | Policy, Performance & Insights at Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture and Heritage, where she led arts, heritage and media policy and Crown entity monitoring of organisations as diverse as Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, the Broadcasting Standards Authority and Creative New Zealand. She has held senior roles at Immigration New Zealand, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment and Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade. Emily was also National Manager of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) programme for three years.
Emily is a proud alumna of Central Hawke’s Bay College (Waipukurau) and holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (1st Class) from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, majoring in International Relations (Political Science and Modern Languages).
Emily leads the Quality Assurance Division.
Jann Marshall
Deputy Chief Executive
Jann joined NZQA in December 2022. Her previous role was as the Ministry of Education’s Associate Deputy Secretary - Network and School Delivery.
In this role she was responsible for the teams providing support to the Ministry’s regional staff, and leading a national team responsible for delivering large complex work programmes.
Before that, Jann was the inaugural Director of Education for Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatū, leading the Ministry’s regional teams supporting early learning services, schools and kura across the rohe.
Starting her career as a secondary teacher, Jann has previously worked for NZQA in various roles, including as Manager of the Schools’ Liaison team responsible for the School Relationship Managers.
Jann holds a Master of Public Administration from Victoria University, a graduate Diploma of Teaching from Christchurch College of Education and a Diploma of Home Science from the University of Otago.
Jann leads the Assessment division.
Prashant Bakshi
Deputy Chief Executive
Prashant joined NZQA in February 2018 as Chief Customer Officer and took the role of Deputy Chief Executive, Strategic and Corporate Services in December 2024. He has worked across the public and private sectors in New Zealand, Singapore and India.
Prashant has experience leading teams across customer channels, Customer Experience (CX), data science and AI, information technology, and corporate functions including regulatory reviews and digital transformation.
Prior to NZQA, Prashant worked in various roles at the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Prashant has an MBA from Victoria University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the Singapore Institute of Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and Zoology from University of Mumbai.
Prashant leads the Strategic and Corporate Services division.
Our structure
Learn more about NZQA's different offices and divisions, and the functions they perform
Divisions and offices