Celebrating Rural Women’s Day: Andrea Leslie’s Journey of Education and Impact
15 October 2025
This Rural Women’s Day, we turn the spotlight on Primary ITO executive director, Andrea Leslie.
Andrea reflects on thirty-four years in vocational education and eight and a half years at Primary ITO, as she prepares to step aside at the end of 2025 to rest, spend time with family, and contemplate her next endeavours.
After three decades working in vocational education, Andrea is just as passionate today about the role that education plays in bringing out the best in people.
“Education allows people to shine and gives them opportunities they’ve never had before,” she says. “To me, education is key to a successful, happy life.”
As the youngest of four children, Andrea grew up in Pleasant Point, South Canterbury. Her father was a teacher and her mother a nurse, who went on to become school librarian and later in life, a landscape designer with a plant nursery.
After gaining a bachelor’s degree and diploma in kindergarten teaching at Canterbury University, Andrea spent a year teaching in Greymouth before being offered an opportunity to tutor nanny students for a private training provider – her first foray into the world of vocational education.
She went on to teach early childhood education, psychology and sociology through private training providers, by correspondence and within the polytech system. At one point Andrea bought a pig farm with her father, working on the farm while continuing to study and tutor.
After marrying her husband Warren in the mid-1990s, they ran his family’s sheep and beef farm in South Canterbury and had three children of their own. Wanting to gain more knowledge and credibility on and off farm, Andrea studied for her master's degree, focusing on the red meat industry. Over the years Andrea worked on and off farm, combining work and study with various governance roles, including a term as a Timaru District Councilor.
She worked at Aoraki Polytechnic (now Ara Institute of Canterbury) for seven years, including as portfolio manager for primary industries for two years, before starting her own education business.
Andrea on a tour of a fishing vessel in 2022
In 2017 Andrea joined Primary ITO as national manager for meat and fibre, overseeing key relationships in the sector and working with employers to identify training opportunities.
“That role brought together my love of education and the primary sector, with my knowledge of the red meat sector. I knew the sector well and really wanted to make a difference.”
In 2019 Andrea took on a role overseeing the education and delivery teams, and she and Warren sold the farm. In 2022, she was appointed executive director of Primary ITO. At the time Andrea maintained a governance role on the Ara (Polytech) board, giving her insight into the wider vocational education sector and government-led changes to the system.
During her time as executive director, Andrea navigated Primary ITO’s transition into Te Pūkenga (The New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology), before a change of government and policy lead to the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga and the establishment of the new Industry Skills Boards (ISBs). Primary ITO will transition into the Food and Fibre ISB on 1 January 2026.
These significant changes, along with ensuring that Primary ITO continues to meet on-going performance and financial targets required by government, have kept Andrea on her toes over the past three years.
Coincidentally during that time, Primary ITO has had an all-female executive leadership team.
Andrea (far right) with the team at the 2025 Ahuwhenua Awards
Andrea is proud of the role that Primary ITO plays in supporting learners and employers on farms and in workplaces across New Zealand.
“Nothing beats seeing someone graduate … like hearing the story of a fifty-six-year-old grandad who got his certificate in meat processing. His grandchildren see that and know they can achieve too. Seeing the magic that happens in the workplace is amazing.
“Then there’s the Ahuwhenua Awards and what our training does for Māori learners across the country. It has been incredibly exciting to see so many Primary ITO learners – past and present – winning various industry awards. Others have gone on to start their own successful businesses. They are our future industry leaders.
“I have also loved seeing my colleagues’ shine; stepping up and thriving in their roles. I’m proud that we’ve developed some fantastic initiatives with new programmes, products and ways of working.
Andrea with 2025 Ahuwhenua Awards finalist Puhirere Tau
Andrea acknowledges that on-going changes to the system are affecting people’s desire to stay engaged.
“My dream for vocational education in the primary sector is for a genuinely industry-led, collaborative, financially sustainable, and politically bi-partisan system based on the true capability needs of our sectors. One that aligns with the skill and knowledge needs of New Zealanders, that will protect our borders and markets.
“The voice of industry is more important than ever. New opportunities are opening up to shape the future of vocational education, and those in power are listening to what industry needs.”
Reflecting on Rural Women’s Day, Andrea believes that rural women add significant value to a rural partnership.
“Many think ‘I’m just the farmer’s wife/partner’ as they care for the homestead, raise a family, look after the books and employment aspects, perform various tasks on-farm (often as full time farmers themselves), and run community initiatives. They are like the oil that makes the machine work, they are gold for our rural communities.”
For Andrea, family comes first. Almost ten years ago she and Warren lost their middle child Kate, in a freak car accident.
Andrea will finish up in her role as executive director at Primary ITO in December. Experienced executive team member Ginny Vincent will step up to oversee the organisation as Operational Lead from 1 January 2026.