Matt O’Dowda – Education Consultant

• Matt O’Dowda brings over 18 years of leadership experience across New Zealand, the UK, and the UAE. He supports schools, principals, and boards to lift achievement, strengthen systems, and create environments where learners and staff thrive. Matt’s approach is practical, relational, and grounded in evidence-based practice, cultural awareness, and a commitment to ensuring every child succeeds. Whether a school needs leadership coaching, improvement planning, or guidance through complex decisions, Matt partners with communities to achieve meaningful, lasting impact.

Principal Support / Professional Growth Cycles

• Matt specialises in supporting principals to grow their leadership capability through practical, evidence-based professional growth cycles. His approach focuses on clarity, reflection, and action—helping leaders identify what matters most, build on their strengths, and develop systems that uplift teaching, learning, and wellbeing. Through coaching, observation, and collaborative inquiry, Matt ensures principals gain the tools, confidence, and support needed to lead thriving, future-focused schools.

School Improvement Partner

• As a School Improvement Partner (SIP), Matt works alongside principals, boards, and leadership teams to accelerate progress and strengthen whole-school performance. Using proven frameworks and deep sector experience, he helps schools analyse their current reality, set purposeful direction, and implement sustainable improvement strategies. His role centres on partnership—bringing an external lens, strong challenge, and constructive support designed to raise achievement, enhance wellbeing, and ensure every learner can succeed.

Principal / Staff Appointments

• Matt provides expert support for boards and schools navigating principal and staff appointments. From crafting job profiles and advertisements to designing interview processes and participating on appointment panels, he ensures each step is fair, robust, culturally grounded, and aligned with the school’s strategic priorities. Schools benefit from clear guidance, strong recruitment systems, and the confidence that they are selecting the right leaders and staff for their community.

Leadership Team Development

• Matt works with senior and middle leaders to build clarity of purpose, strengthen relational trust, and develop the skills required to lead high-quality teaching and learning. Through workshops, coaching, and tailored development programmes, he helps leadership teams refine their roles, improve collaboration, and grow their capability to lead improvement across the school. The result is a leadership team that is aligned, empowered, and impactful.

• Te Wero (The Challenge) is Innov8 Group's programme designed to strengthen the social and emotional skills of tamariki who are at risk of disengagement from school.  Our kaupapa is to provide safe, structured, and empowering experiences that help young people develop resilience, confidence, and connection. The programme runs 1 or 2 days per week for 8 weeks of a term.

We offer range of training for professionals and community working with tamariki and rangatahi. Upskilling helps to improve the quality of services that are delivered.

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The PARTH training is for kaimahi and rangatahi to to improve interaction with rangatahi. This programme includes access to resources.

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De-escalation training equips people (frontline staff, healthcare, retail, etc.) with skills to manage conflict, diffuse tense situations, and stay safe using verbal, non-verbal, and psychological techniques to prevent escalation before it becomes physical

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Our Ready2Rent workshops prepare whānau for the housing rental market and processes.