Introduction
Mentors. Scholars. Practitioners.
At Parvis School of Economics and Music, our faculty are not merely teachers; they are active contributors to their respective fields. From the concert halls of Europe to the financial trading floors of Asia, our staff bring a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom at Inverlochy Place. We pride ourselves on a low student-to-faculty ratio, ensuring that every scholar receives mentorship that is both rigorous and personal.
Department of Economics & Finance
Dr. Percival Thorne
Head of Department | Senior Lecturer in Macroeconomics
Profile: Dr. Thorne represents the “old guard” of economic thought. Educated at the London School of Economics (LSE) before moving to New Zealand in the early 2000s, he specialises in monetary policy and historical economic cycles. His teaching style is Socratic, demanding and traditional. He is known for his scepticism of cryptocurrency and his staunch defence of Keynesian principles. Dr. Thorne acts as the primary liaison between Parvis and the Wellington bureaucratic sector.
Academic Background:
- PhD in Economic History, London School of Economics (UK).
- MCom (Hons), University of Melbourne.
Selected Publications:
- Thorne, P. (2021). ‘The Inflationary Ghost: Lessons from the 1970s for the Post-Covid Economy’. NZ Journal of Economic Strategy. DOI: 10.1080/nzjes.2021.4492
- Thorne, P. & Wu, J. (2019). ‘Fiscal Drag in Small Open Economies: A Comparative Study’. Pacific Economic Review, 24(3), pp. 301-318.
Ms. Yuna Kim
Lecturer in Econometrics & Behavioural Finance
Profile: A rising star in the field of quantitative analysis, Ms. Kim bridges the gap between psychology and market data. Before joining Parvis, she worked as a Data Strategist for a major Australian bank. Her classes are heavily lab-based, using R and Python to model housing market trends in Wellington. She is currently completing her PhD part-time at Victoria University of Wellington.
Academic Background:
- MSc in Statistics, Yonsei University (South Korea).
- BCom/BSc (Double Major), University of Auckland.
Selected Publications:
- Kim, Y. (2023). ‘The FOMO Index: Quantifying Irrational Exuberance in Wellington’s Property Market’. Australasian Journal of Behavioural Finance. Ref: 882-991-A.
- Kim, Y. (2022). ‘Algorithmic Bias in Credit Scoring Models’. Proceedings of the NZ Data Ethics Conference.
Mr. Hamish McDuff
Senior Fellow (Industry Liaison) | Strategic Finance
Profile: Mr. McDuff does not hold a doctorate, but holds twenty years of experience in investment banking across London and Singapore. He teaches the practical “Strategic Finance” modules for the BCom programme. His pragmatism balances Dr. Thorne’s theory. He is responsible for the internship placement programme with local firms like Xero and TradeMe.
Academic Background:
- MBA, INSEAD (France/Singapore).
- BCom, University of Otago.
School of Sonic Arts & Performance
Dr. Elara Vance
Director of Music | Cello & Chamber Music
Profile: Dr. Vance is a former associate principal cellist with a European touring orchestra. She returned to New Zealand to focus on education. Her philosophy centres on “physical intelligence”—the connection between the musician’s body and the sound produced. She leads the elite performance stream and conducts the Parvis Chamber Orchestra. (Note: Dr. Vance is currently on partial sabbatical for Term 3, 2025, to record a solo cycle of Bach Suites).
Academic Background:
- DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts), Juilliard School (USA).
- MMus, Royal College of Music (London).
Selected Publications & Recordings:
- Vance, E. (2020). ‘Resonance and Resin: The Physics of Bow Speed’. International Journal of Music Education. DOI: 10.1177/ijme.2020.8821
- Album: ‘Solitude: Unaccompanied Cello Works from NZ Composers’ (2022). Parvis Records.
Mr. Tane Heke
Lecturer in Sonic Arts & Audio Engineering
Profile: Bridging the gap between traditional Māori instrumentation (Taonga Pūoro) and modern synthesis, Mr. Heke teaches the Sound Engineering modules. He ensures students are proficient in ProTools and Logic Pro, but also understand the cultural anthropology of sound. He previously worked as a sound designer for Weta Workshop.
Academic Background:
- Master of Design (Sound), Massey University.
- DipTchg (Secondary), Wellington College of Education.
Selected Works:
- Heke, T. (2024). ‘Whakapapa of Sound: Digital Preservation of Indigenous Frequencies’. Journal of Sonic Heritage.
- Sound Design Credit: ‘The Last Horizon’ (Feature Film, 2021).
Department of Computer Science & AI
Prof. Julian Sterling
Chair of Computational Logic | AI Ethics
Profile: Professor Sterling brings a philosophical edge to the Computer Science department. Originally from the UK, his research focuses on the “Black Box” problem in Artificial Intelligence. He insists that all CS students study formal logic and ethics. He is known for his eccentric lecture style and his refusal to use PowerPoint.
Academic Background:
- DPhil in Computer Science, University of Oxford.
- MA in Philosophy, University of Cambridge.
Selected Publications:
- Sterling, J. (2023). ‘The Moral Algorithm: Can We Code Conscience?’. Tech & Society Review, 12(4). DOI: 10.1007/tsr.2023.004
- Sterling, J. & Ng, A. (2019). ‘Recursive Neural Networks in Baroque Music Generation’. IEEE Transactions on Arts and Media.
Dr. Sarah O’Connell
Senior Lecturer | Software Architecture
Profile: Dr. O’Connell is the pragmatic counterpart to Professor Sterling. With a background in cybersecurity and full-stack development, she leads the “Coding for Innovation” undergraduate track. She is a strong advocate for women in STEM and runs the weekly “Parvis Hackathon”.
Academic Background:
- PhD in Software Engineering, University of Canterbury.
- BSc (Hons), University of Washington (USA).
Selected Publications:
- O’Connell, S. (2022). ‘Zero Trust Architecture in Small-Scale Educational Networks’. NZ Journal of Computing.
- O’Connell, S. (2021). ‘Python as a Second Language: Pedagogy for Non-STEM Majors’. Education in Code, Vol 7.
Visual Arts & Creative Design (High School & Pre-U)
Mr. Marco Rossi
Head of Visual Arts | Design Thinking
Profile: Mr. Rossi is a multidisciplinary artist originally from Milan. He teaches the Senior College Art & Design curriculum (Years 11–13). His approach combines classical renaissance drawing techniques with modern 3D rendering (Blender). He is known for his “messy classroom” policy, believing that order stifles creativity.
Academic Background:
- MFA (Master of Fine Arts), Politecnico di Milano (Italy).
- Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary), Victoria University of Wellington.
Exhibitions:
- Rossi, M. (2023). ‘Structural Decay’. Solo Exhibition, City Gallery Wellington.
- Rossi, M. (2019). ‘Digital Fresco’. Group Exhibition, Venice Biennale Architecture Side-Event.
Mrs. Liang Wei
Teacher of Design & Visual Communication (DVC)
Profile: Mrs. Wei specialises in spatial design and architectural drawing. She prepares students specifically for entry into Architecture schools. Her classes are rigorous, focusing on orthographic projection and CAD mastery. She is a registered teacher in New Zealand.
Academic Background:
- Bachelor of Architectural Studies, University of Auckland.
- DipTchg (Secondary), Auckland University of Technology.
Mathematics & Data Science (Postgraduate)
Dr. Beatrice Sharp
Reader in Pure Mathematics
Profile: Dr. Sharp is a pure mathematician with a focus on Number Theory and Cryptography. She leads the postgraduate seminars. Her intellect is formidable, and she is known for her dry wit. She encourages students to find the “aesthetic beauty” in proofs.
Academic Background:
- PhD in Mathematics, Australian National University.
- BSc (Hons), University of Otago.
Selected Publications:
- Sharp, B. (2022). ‘Prime Distribution in Non-Euclidean Fields’. Annals of NZ Mathematics. DOI: 10.2298/anzm.2022.112
- Sharp, B. (2018). ‘Elliptic Curves and Data Encryption Standards’. Journal of Cryptographic Research.
Mr. Ravi Patel
Lecturer in Data Science & Statistics
Profile: Mr. Patel focuses on the application of statistics to real-world problems. He works closely with the Economics department on predictive modelling. He is currently leading a student research project on traffic flow optimisation in the Wellington CBD.
Academic Background:
- MSc in Data Science, University of Edinburgh.
- BSc in Statistics, University of Mumbai.
Physics & Engineering Foundations (Secondary)
Mr. Arthur Penhaligon
Teacher of Physics | STEM Coordinator
Profile: Mr. Penhaligon is a veteran educator with over 30 years of teaching experience. He specialises in Mechanics and Thermodynamics for NCEA Level 3 and Scholarship Physics. He is famous among students for his “Friday Rocketry” sessions held at a local park.
Academic Background:
- BSc in Physics, University of Canterbury.
- Diploma of Education, Christchurch College of Education.
Recognition:
- Recipient of the Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize (Nominee 2019).
Ms. Chloe Dube
Teacher of Science & Chemistry
Profile: A younger member of the faculty, Ms. Dube brings energy and modern pedagogical techniques to the science department. She specialises in Materials Science and often collaborates with the Art department on projects involving material properties in sculpture.
Academic Background:
- MSc in Chemistry, University of Cape Town.
- Graduate Diploma in Teaching (NZ).