JASE WILLIAMS

Jase Williams (Ngāti Tamaterā) is a TEDx Speaker, Keynote Speaker who has spoken at events internationally and all over
New Zealand.

He is one of the leading voices in Trauma Informed Practice in Education and has shared his knowledge through an equity focused, compassionate, relational neuroscience, and an indigenous te ao Māori lens with hundreds of ECE, Schools and Support Agencies and thousands of educators.

Jase is a certified trainer in the Neurosequential Model in Education (NME) facilitated by Dr. Bruce Perry, regarded as one of the world's leading experts in childhood trauma.

He has 20+ years experience working as an educator, and is the former Principal of Henry Hill School, Napier - winners of the most recent Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards - Wellbeing category.

Keynote Speaking
Jase is a TEDx Speaker and has delivered keynote presentations at various conferences across New Zealand and also internationally.
He delivers engaging and powerful keynotes that are relatable, vulnerable, and authentic as he shares his own lived experience, relational neuroscience, and an indigenous lens.

Here are some keynote presentation topics that he has delivered recently:

Trauma Makes The Invisible, Visible
Parenting With Unconditional Love
Implementing a Trauma Informed Approach - The Henry Hill School Journey

Professional Development Training
A recent Education Review Office (ERO) 'Behaviour In Classrooms' report identified that educators are struggling to manage the ever increasing challenging behaviour they are faced with on a daily basis. The Ministry of Education has invested millions of dollars into programmes and initiatives and yet these appear to have made little difference.

So what’s the answer?

Professional Development Training in Relational Neuroscience, facilitated by someone who has actually 'walked the talk'. Jase has the knowledge, practical application experience, and has worked alongside thousands of educators to become better Relational Neuroscience and Trauma Informed educators.

Jase seamlessly fuses Te Ao Māori and the Mind-Body-Heart-Soul connection and incorporates his lived experience, and over 20 years experience as an educator / 10 years as a school principal, to explain Relational Neuroscience.

Training Options

1/2 or Full Day Training Session Workshops suitable for schools, ECE, RTLB, and other support agencies

Keynote Speaking Presentations to open Conferences, Kāhui Ako Staff Only Days, School Staff Only Days, etc
Whole Staff Professional Development Training Sessions
Community / Parent Evenings

Testimonials & Feedback

Jacinda Ardern - Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
'I want to congratulate you for winning the Excellence in Wellbeing Education Award in this year's Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards. This is an amazing achievement, and you should be proud of what your team have accomplished for your ākonga.
Your story is such an inspiration and I look forward to hearing more stories of success about your ākonga and schooling community in years to come.'

Nathan Wallis - Neuroscience Educator
'I’m always being asked for examples of where the research I talk about is put into practice.
Principal Jason Williams is a pioneering, passionate and positive leader. The (Henry Hill) school's tranquility garden is named Te Āhuru Mōwai (Peaceful Paradise) but this really describes the whole school! Although recently devastated by floods, the resilience developed in a trauma informed and research based curriculum has shone through, with lots of vibrant, intelligent and articulate young people showing me proudly through their environment.
And true to form - what happens when a school focuses more on wellbeing than academic advancement?? When they did last have National Standards they were amongst the best in the region! It’s not wellbeing INSTEAD of academics, it’s understanding wellbeing is the birthplace of academics!'

Matt Brown - She is not your rehab / InnerBoy
‘Today I got to sit, feel, regulate, cry and regulate some more through your keynote presentation the correlation of my own childhood trauma and my behavioural patterns backed up with science!’

Chris Patten - RTLB Manager - Hauraki RTLB Cluster
Jase is currently working across a number of our Kahui Ako in the Hauraki RTLB cluster. It is great to see a number of these schools now going on their own trauma informed journeys not only as individual schools but as Kahui Ako. Jase brings "realness" to drilling down to what trauma informed practice is all about from his own experience as a Principal and now as a PLD facilitator who understands schools. We have had Jase run a session for RTLB and he is great at challenging different perspectives and bringing everything back to the needs of the children. I would recommend Jase in a heartbeat in terms of how he can relate to all walks of life, he brings his own vulnerability which absolutely resonates with any audience.

Rachel Ward-McCarten - Principal - Te Kura Waenga o Wēteri / Wesley Intermediate
Working with Jase has been an invaluable experience for our school. His relaxed and friendly approach created an environment where we felt empowered to explore and implement new ideas with confidence. His deep passion for neuroscience and trauma-informed practices is evident in every interaction. What sets him apart is his profound knowledge of relational neuroscience, paired with an ability to offer tailored support that met our unique needs. His guidance never feels like a 'one-size-fits-all' solution but rather a thoughtful approach that fits perfectly with our school’s context. We are grateful for his expertise and the positive impact he has had on our school.

Feedback from Professional Development Training Session attendees:
‘Was easily the best PD I’ve been involved in right across the education sector.’’

‘Was cup filling and reminded me of the reasons why I chose to teach. I needed that and I will be better for it.’

‘It was so insightful and inspiring and confronting. Thank you for your honesty and transparency.’

‘ I walked out feeling grateful for you. Finally someone who understood and could relate to us.’

‘ You are inspirational! You know it and you’re living it and I love and appreciate your willingness to share.’

Unconditional with Jase Williams Podcast on Spotify
Click on the Spotify icon below to link to some of the guests Jase has had on his podcast ...

Instagram
Jase posts lots of content (memes, video reels and his own thoughts and musings) on his Instagram account: traumainformednz - on a daily basis related to trauma informed practice and awareness, relational neuroscience, equity, compassion. Follow to keep in the loop

Quotes / Thoughts
Here are a handful of Jase's favourite quotes from his Instagram ...

Connections
I've learned from and alongside some of the world's leading experts in this space... Gabor Maté, Bessel van der Kolk, Stephen Porges, Ruth Lanius, Rachel Yehuda, Dan Siegel, Deb Dana, Richard Schwartz, Marlee Liss, Matt Brown, Lynda Knight, Nathan Wallis, Richie Hardcore, Kathryn Berkett

Recommended Books

Recommended Links

Regulatory Brain & Body Breaks with Sam Johnstone - Deputy Principal - Henry Hill School

InnerBoy by Matt Brown - 30 minutes for 30 days for FREE as you're guided through your own innerBoy journey step by step.

Trauma Informed Educators NZ Facebook page

I've Got Questions Podcast by Kathryn Berkett & Pio Terei

Recommended Schools & ECE Centres To Visit

Henry Hill School Trauma Informed Journey

As Principal of Henry Hill School (2012-2023) Jase created and led the school in a Trauma Informed Approach that was revolutionary at the time. In 2021 the school were awarded The Prime Minister's Education Excellence Award for Wellbeing and also recognised by Dr. Bruce Perry, the world's leading expert in childhood trauma. Over a 3 year period they were visited by thousands of educators interested and keen to learn more about the approach.

Click on the image below to link to the article featured in the Education Gazette - Trauma-informed kaupapa provides strength through ongoing challenges (2023)