The ITENZ National Conference 2025, held in the stunning surrounds of Queenstown, delivered more than just professional development. Here is a brief ITENZ National Conference 2025 recap: It sparked bold conversations about the future of vocational education in New Zealand. With a theme centred on leading and learning in complex and changing environments, this year’s event couldn’t have been timelier.
Over two days, private training providers (PTEs), education leaders, and sector experts gathered to unpack the evolving challenges of compliance, funding, technology, and equity. PeoplePartners was proud to take part, both as a Turbo Pitch presenter and as a strategic partner committed to helping providers scale smarter.
Here’s what stood out.
Leading and Learning in a Changing Environment
It’s no secret that the vocational sector is navigating turbulence. From AI-driven disruptions to international policy shifts, leaders are being asked to do more with less, and do it faster. The role of PTEs is becoming increasingly critical, not only in delivering education but also in bridging gaps in skills shortages and workforce readiness.
The 2025 conference addressed these pressures head-on. Topics ranged from learner equity and trauma-informed teaching, to micro-credentials and international education markets in India, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. These sessions weren’t just buzzword bingo. They offered practical strategies and case studies that attendees could immediately apply in their own organisations.
Events like ITENZ remind us that leadership in education isn’t just about keeping pace. It’s about building organisations that thrive through uncertainty. The connections made here will continue to spark momentum in the months ahead.
Turbo Pitch Spotlight: Anthony Rice on Scaling Without Sacrifices
One of the most talked-about sessions in the exhibitor area was the Turbo Pitch delivered by Anthony Rice, Chief Growth Officer and Co-Founder of PeoplePartners. With clarity and energy, Anthony posed a provocative question to attendees:
“What if your admin team was costing you growth . and your leaders were trapped in the wrong work?”
In just five minutes, Anthony turned heads with his straight-talking breakdown of how PeoplePartners helps education providers increase gross profit margins by up to 600%, cut labour costs by 70%, and free their leadership teams to focus on high-impact tasks.
Attendees were especially engaged when he shared examples of PTEs that had transformed their operations by re-engineering their workforce and outsourcing non-core tasks. The presentation wasn’t just theoretical. It was grounded in results . and sparked real interest from providers who are feeling stretched thin.
(For a real-world example of how this reform works, read our Workforce Re‑Engineering: Case Study where roles were redefined and costs dropped dramatically.)
Reclaiming Your Leadership Zone
One of the most resonant ideas from Anthony’s presentation was the concept of the “strength and passion zone” – the idea that educators and executives should only be spending time where they create the most value.
But that’s not the reality for most providers.
Too often, leaders are buried in operational tasks, student admin, or compliance prep . work that is important, but not where their genius lies. This misalignment isn’t just a morale issue. It’s a strategic risk. When senior leaders are tied up in manual processes, innovation stalls, and strategic projects fall by the wayside.
PeoplePartners’ approach helps leaders step back into their zone of genius by offloading tasks that don’t require their level of expertise. The result? More energy for growth, stronger staff retention, and a renewed sense of purpose at the top.
(To learn which roles you can safely outsource first, check out our guide Top Roles to Outsource for Team Efficiency).
A Smarter Way to Structure Your Workforce
The PeoplePartners model shared at ITENZ starts with a simple (but powerful) shift: strip roles down to tasks, and match each task to its true value. This is the foundation of Workforce Re-Engineering.
By clearly separating $6–50/hour tasks from $100–500/hour tasks, organisations can align their resources more strategically. For example, administrative coordination, student onboarding, or QA processes can be handled by trained offshore professionals, freeing up local teams to focus on compliance strategy, pedagogy, and partner engagement.
This isn’t about replacing staff. it’s about elevating them. Offshore team members don’t dilute your mission; they amplify it by giving your onshore team the space to think bigger. And for PTEs, this model is especially powerful, because it was designed with education providers in mind, not retrofitted from a different industry.
(For a deeper exploration of strategic workforce planning that gives competitive advantage, see Strategic Workforce Planning for Competitive Advantage).
Embedded Global Talent, Not “Bench” Staff
Many attendees asked the same question: “But how do we know your people will get us?”
Our answer is simple: You stay in control.
Unlike traditional outsourcing models, PeoplePartners recruits global talent who are embedded directly into your organisation. These team members sit inside your org chart, attend your team meetings, follow your processes, and live your values.
There are no bench teams, no shared resources, and no off-the-shelf placements. This model works because it’s based on relationship, not just resourcing. And it’s supported by a transparent salary model and a 90-Day Replacement Guarantee, so you can hire with confidence.
From instructional designers to student support officers, the PeoplePartners approach delivers alignment, not just output.
(See how embracing a full workforce partnership rather than just ‘outsource for cost’ sets culture, alignment and long‑term success in Full Workforce Partner: A Smarter Offshoring Approach).
Why Now Matters
As we heard throughout the conference, the future of vocational education is global, hybrid, and fast-moving. New opportunities are opening in international student markets, and AI is changing the way we deliver and assess learning. Micro-credentials and learner-centred pathways are here to stay.
But these changes also bring new demands on staff, systems, and leadership time.
Without the right workforce structure, PTEs risk falling behind, or burning out their best people in the process. That’s why Workforce Re-Engineering isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a competitive advantage. Providers that redesign how work gets done will move faster, retain better talent, and serve learners more effectively.
(If you’re wondering how to scale efficiently without sacrificing culture, this is explained in How to Scale a Business Efficiently with Workforce Re‑Engineering).
The Questions PTE Leaders Asked Most
After our Turbo Pitch and throughout the event, three questions came up again and again:
1. “How fast can we re-engineer our structure?”
You can begin a discovery session this week. Many clients start seeing measurable impact within 60–90 days, with clarity and efficiency showing up in the first few weeks.
2. “Can we hire someone just for student support or LMS uploads?”
Absolutely. We help you design roles that solve your bottlenecks, not someone else’s template. Whether you need part-time, full-time, or project-based support, we tailor staffing to what matters most.
3. “How do I keep control while outsourcing?”
With PeoplePartners, you always stay in control. Staffing that reflects your structure, aligns with your values, and works on your terms. We just make it sustainable. And we do it with:
- • Zero Upfront Cost
- • No Lock-In Contract
- • 90-Day Replacement Guarantee
Contact Us to Scale Smarter
The ITENZ 2025 Conference reminded us all: education providers are nation builders. But scaling that impact shouldn’t mean sacrificing your time, profit, or energy.
If you’re ready to re-engineer your workforce and scale your PTE without burning out your best people, we’re here to help.
Contact us and let’s talk about how you can gain back time, margins, and momentum.
