JASE WILLIAMS

Jase Williams (Ngāti Tamaterā) is a dynamic TEDx and keynote speaker, educator, and thought leader whose voice resonates across Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. With over 25 years of experience in education, Jase is widely regarded as the leading authority in Aotearoa on compassionate, equity-centered, and relational neuroscience practice. His work is deeply rooted in trauma-informed approaches and is uniquely shaped by an Indigenous worldview—Te Ao Māori—that honors whakapapa, wairua, and connection.

Jase’s career has been defined by his ability to bridge the latest understandings in relational neuroscience with the richness of tikanga Māori and kaupapa Māori frameworks. This fusion creates a powerful, culturally sustaining model of education and wellbeing that not only informs theory but transforms practice. His mahi has touched every corner of the education sector—working alongside hundreds of Kōhanga Reo, early childhood education centres, Kura Kaupapa Māori, mainstream and specialist schools, and wraparound support agencies. In doing so, Jase has inspired and empowered thousands of educators, leaders, whānau, and young people with a message grounded in aroha, equity, and mana-enhancing connections.

From 2012 to 2022, Jase served as Principal of Henry Hill School in Napier, where he led a bold and nationally recognized trauma-informed transformation. Under his visionary leadership, the school became a beacon of hope and healing, culminating in the prestigious 2021 Prime Minister's Education Excellence Award for Wellbeing. The groundbreaking work at Henry Hill not only captured national attention but also earned the admiration of global experts.

Today, Jase continues to be a driving force for change in education and community wellbeing. He facilitates professional development for educators, leads whānau and community hui on hauora and parenting, and advocates for systemic change that uplifts tamariki and rangatahi through compassion, understanding, and cultural strength. Whether speaking on a stage, working within communities, or supporting leaders in their own journeys, Jase brings deep knowledge, authenticity, and a relentless commitment to equity and healing.

At the heart of Jase’s message is a belief in the power of relationship, reconnection, and restoration—an unwavering vision for an Aotearoa where all people, especially our mokopuna, are seen, heard, know, valued, and loved unconditionally.

Keynote Speaking
Jase is a TEDx speaker and sought-after keynote presenter, having spoken at conferences throughout New Zealand and internationally.

His presentations are powerful, engaging, and deeply authentic—rooted in his own lived experiences and enriched by relational neuroscience, all shared through an Indigenous lens. Jase connects with audiences through vulnerability and storytelling, leaving a lasting impact that is both relatable and transformative.

Professional Development Sessions
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?
The answer lies in Professional Development in Relational Neuroscience—delivered by someone who has truly walked the talk.
Jase brings a unique and powerful blend of deep theoretical knowledge, extensive practical experience, and genuine connection to his work. With over 25 years in education, including 10 years as a school principal, Jase has worked alongside thousands of educators, guiding them to become more compassionate, culturally responsive, and equity-centered practitioners.

What sets Jase apart is not just his expertise, but the way he integrates it. He weaves together the science of Relational Neuroscience with Te Ao Māori perspectives, grounding it in a holistic view of the mind-body-heart-soul connection.

His approach is not only informed by research, but also by his lived experience and cultural wisdom—making the learning real, relatable, and transformative.

Whether you're a teacher, school leader, or education professional, Jase offers more than just professional development—he offers a paradigm shift toward relationships, connection, and healing at the heart of education.

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 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: jasewilliams.nz - on a daily basis.

Connections
Jase has learned from and alongside some of the world's leading experts in this space... Gabor Maté, Bessel van der Kolk,
Stephen Porges, Dan Siegel, Dr. Ross Greene