Cognition Consulting set to ignite the spark of education both locally and abroad
NEW ZEALAND - Tuesday, August 15, 2006 - Cognition Consulting, an exciting new entity focused largely on international educational projects, was launched recenlty in Wellington, New Zealand. The new business will seek to leverage the success enjoyed by its parent shareholder, Multi Serve Education Trust, which since its inception in 1989 has become New Zealand's leading independent educational services provider and exporter.
Des Hammond, Chief Executive of Multi Serve and Chairman of Cognition Consulting, says the launch of Cognition Consulting represents a defining moment for New Zealand educational consulting.
The work conducted by Cognition Consulting will be incredibly important and challenging, given that education is one of the most powerful tools available to improve the long term quality of life for children and young people both here and abroad, he says.
Cognition Consulting will strive to support the development or reform of education systems to achieve improved learning outcomes for students in areas such as Qatar and surrounding Gulf States, where Multi Serve already has a high profile, and in new markets such as South East Asia, Australia, South America, North America and eventually Eastern Europe, he adds.
This will be achieved through the provision of a range of services, including evaluation and applied research, policy advice and implementation programmes, executive recruitment and financial planning. The Executive Directors of Cognition Consulting are, Terry Bates, Lynne Bjarnesen, Ian Cordes, Carolyn MacDonell, Jo Mullins, Mary Sinclair and John Tait. Each is a leader in their own field and collectively they possess an unrivalled breadth and depth of international experience.
In recent years Multi Serves income from offshore operations has grown both absolutely and as a percentage of our total earnings. Last year, for example, over 60 percent of our $16 million turnover was generated overseas, primarily in the Middle East and South East Asia, says Des Hammond.
Although Cognition Consulting will operate with its roots firmly in New Zealand, it will focus clearly on further developing an international profile and presence. The parent Trusts unique status ensures our foreign exchange earnings are repatriated to New Zealand to support the school sector. Cognition Consulting presents us with the potential to ignite the spark of educational reform throughout the world, he adds.
-Ends-
About Cognition Consulting:
Cognition Consulting provides a diverse array of educational services to meet individual client needs in markets around the world. Its parent shareholder, Multi Serve Education Trust, has been in operation since 1989 and functions as a Charitable Trust. It is New Zealand's largest independent supplier of consulting services to the education community, including the New Zealand Ministry of Education, educational institutions and Government Ministries offshore. Cognition's diverse array of consulting services assist Governments or private operators to undertake significant educational reform projects and improve educational outcomes.
For further information, please contact:
Kelly Bennett,
TBWA/PR,
+64 9 366 6266 or
+64 21 380 035
kelly.bennett@tbwawhybin.co.nz
Aisha Ahmed,
TBWA/PR,
+64 9 366 6266 or
+64 21 400 576
aisha.ahmed@tbwawhybin.co.nz
© Press Release 2006
