Massey Professor elected President of leading mathematics education research group

Professor Hunter, from the Institute of Education, will take up the role in early 2027. The appointment is a significant milestone for her as she first attended a MERGA conference more than 20 years ago as a primary school teacher.

MERGA is a mathematics education research organisation in Australasia, with more than 200 members. It holds an annual conference and supports research through its two journals, Mathematics Education Research Journal and Mathematics Teacher Education and Development.

Professor Hunter says the organisation and its members had played an important role in her development as a mathematics education researcher as she transitioned into academia.

"It is a great honour to be elected as President of MERGA. I’m excited to now have the opportunity to serve the organisation and its members.”

Professor Hunter’s role as President will be to lead the organisation and represent researchers in the field, while strengthening relationships with international mathematics education organisations, policy-makers and mathematics subject associations in Australia.

An important part of the role will be ensuring research is shared beyond academia and reaches the teachers and their classrooms.

MERGA has grown from its origins as an Australian mathematics education research organisation to become a leading voice for mathematics education research across Australasia, including New Zealand and Singapore, and increasingly across the wider Asia-Pacific region.

“As a Cook Islands New Zealander, I’m particularly interested in broadening the organisation's focus across the Pacific and Asia,” Dr Hunter says.

“I’m also excited at the prospect of continuing to widen the focus of MERGA to include and serve mathematics education in neighbouring countries in the Pacific and Asian regions.”

Her priorities as President will include raising MERGA's profile in Australia, New Zealand and internationally, while strengthening the organisation's role in influencing education policy.

"The mathematics education research community in the region has a lot to offer and our research should be used to shape policy and practices in the classroom."

The role also connected strongly with her research at Massey, particularly work addressing equitable participation and outcomes for students in mathematics through compulsory schooling and for those pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics focused careers.

Professor Hunter is a Rutherford Discovery Fellow and Pacific Academy of Science Fellow. Her research focuses on mathematics education, culturally sustaining pedagogy and the experiences of diverse learners.