Ruth leads Te Ihuwaka, ERO’s Education Evaluation Centre. Drawing on local and international research, the Centre aims to build a stronger evidence base to better support decision makers at all levels of our systems — from teachers to leaders. Ruth is passionate about ensuring all children get the education they need to thrive. Her role enables her to do that through looking at education outcomes for children, what contributes to them and identify opportunities to improve them.

Previously, Ruth has worked in education research and policy in New Zealand (including as Associate Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Education), in England (for the Department of Education) and Japan (as a Dawia Foundation Scholar). She has wide experience in broader social policy and evidence, for example as the Head of the Child Poverty in the UK.