Ms Sherryll Wilson, of Christchurch, MNZM for services to early childhood education
Sherryll Wilson is Chief Executive of the Canterbury Westland Kindergarten Association, trading as Kidsfirst Kindergartens, the South Island’s largest not-for-profit early childhood education provider. She has balanced a strong social responsibility to families and communities with the need to grow, develop and remain viable and relevant. She led the organisation through the Christchurch earthquakes, the Pike River Mine disaster, the Christchurch mosques terrorist attack, and the COVID-19 lockdowns, making herself available at all hours and providing personal support to staff and families. She is a long-time employer representative for the Kindergarten Teachers Collective Agreement. She represents Kidsfirst, New Zealand Kindergartens and the ECE sector on numerous organisations, working groups, panels, governance groups and committees throughout New Zealand. Ms Wilson is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.