E3’s Approach
Enabled, Empowered, Embedded
My approach is grounded in understanding, respect, academic rigour, and manaakitanga. I don't believe in quick fixes and simplistic solutions to complex problems. In my 20 years as an educational and organisational developer, I've never encountered a 'standard' situation that could be solved with mythical 'best practice’. If it were that easy, we would have done it already. Each issue in contextualised and unique, and requires a bespoke, tailor-made solution.
I also don't believe in a consulting model where I tell you what to do, or how to do it. I work from a consultative, peer model, where the client brings their knowledge, I bring mine, and together we create a solution that is fit-for-purpose for your particular context. In this peer model, we create something that neither one of us could have done on our own, for the benefit of the organisation. The first whakataukī illustrates this approach: “With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive”.
Meaningful change often does not require big overhauls. Attempts at what I refer to as 'big splash' projects all too often turn into 'big thud' projects as momentum stalls, and implementation on the ground fails to materialise. More often than not, it is a series of small changes, implemented over time, well-supported and well-integrated into business-as-usual, that make the big changes. In my practice, I take an evolutionary, rather than a revolutionary approach. Ultimately, changes need to be self-led and self-sustained, so that they don’t rely on externals. The goal of good developer and consultant is to make themselves no longer needed. The second whakataukī illustrates this: Adorn the bird with feathers, so it may fly.
For a more in-depth discussion on how I approach in particular educational development, you can read my 2025 peer-reviewed opinion piece in the Journal of Learning Development in Higher education, available here.
“Mā te huruhuru, ka rere te manu ”
“Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourouka ora ai te iwi ”
About Erik
I grew up in the beautiful medieval city of Deventer, the Netherlands, with its landscape dominated by the beautiful IJssel River and the magnificent 15th century Lebuïnus church tower.
I studied astronomy at the University of Groningen, obtaining my master's degree and subsequently a teaching licence in physics. After graduating, I worked for a few years as a staff scientist at TNO Institute for Applied Physics I worked on the calibration of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument, which was launched in 2004 on NASA's EOS Aura satellite.
In 2003, I found a way to combine my love of astronomy and education. I moved to the University of Arizona in Tucson, USA, to pursue a PhD in astronomy education. I became intrigued with the pedagogical and psychological reasoning behind why people teach in the way that they do, and how masters of a craft become teachers of the craft. This became a driving question in my academic career. I obtained my PhD in Teaching & Teacher Education, with a minor in Educational Psychology in 2009.
I moved to Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand to take up a lectureship in educational development at the University of Canterbury. My research focused on how people teach and learn in higher education. A large part of the role was supporting other lecturers, programmes, and faculties on teaching and learning. Being the university’s sole educational developer between 2012 and 2021, I gained deep knowledge and skills in all areas of the university's academic processes. While at the University of Canterbury, I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership, and a Postgraduate Diploma Science in Industrial and Organisational Psychology.
My work in development and my leadership in the area have been recognised internationally. I am a Senior Fellow of AdvanceHE, a Fellow of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, and a Senior Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association. I'm currently the only person in Aotearoa New Zealand recognised by all three of these professional organisations simultaneously. In 2020, I received the HERDSA-TERNZ Research Medal for my contributions to research and service in higher education in Aotearoa New Zealand.
I left the University of Canterbury as an Associate Professor of Academic Development in 2025 to found E3 Consulting and pursue other avenues to make an impact for people and organisations.
In my free time, I am an avid practitioner of the Japanese martial arts, and most evenings you can find me in either the shotokan karate or aikido dojo.
Deventer skyline.
Photo credit: Nicoline Hoekstra
Christchurch Cathedral, 2009.