About
The Graduation Place - a social enterprise funding education (formerly Academic Dress Hire)
Graduation, academic or legal ceremonies are a big occasion and The Graduation Place (TGP) is here to ensure that your special day is perfect. We value your achievement and want you to Stand Proud in your graduation regalia.
This is your moment to shine!
As a trusted partner, leading and preferred provider of official graduation and legal attire, TGP supplies premium quality regalia for:
- universities and schools in the Auckland & Northland regions
- legal attire nationwide
- other New Zealand and overseas universities
Let us help to make your day enjoyable & stress free:
The Graduation Place offers the full graduation experience from academic & legal attire through to photo packages and merchandise. We stock a range of graduation gifts, memorabilia and korowai to make your day extra special.
- premium quality attire for hire & buy
- easy 24 hour online ordering system
- pick up or convenient courier delivery & return direct to & from your home or office
- friendly, expert team to guide you through the graduation or admission journey
A social enterprise:
At The Graduation Place, we are proud champions of wahine in education. 100% of our proceeds support the empowerment of women by funding awards and scholarships through our charity The Kate Edger Foundation.
Meet the Team
Nina Tomaszyk,
General Manager
The Kate Edger Educational Charitable Trust (KEECT) and Academic Dress Hire (ADH)
nina.tomaszyk@kateedgertrust.org.nz
Nina has been at the helm of the organisation since 2017, and her considerable experience in both
the corporate and not-for-profit worlds has given her a unique perspective on the importance of
running a social enterprise that funds and supports a charitable trust.
“With The KEECT Awards Programme funding $600,000 awards annually and being almost entirely dependent on the
proceeds of Academic Dress Hire, it is a balancing act of providing the best customer experience in the most
cost-effective way.”
Nina is passionate about education and the opportunity it provides to create better outcomes. The KEECT’s
mission to fund, encourage, advance and promote education is at the heart of every decision she makes, and
building meaningful and ongoing relationships with staff, graduates, awardees and sponsor partners is
something that Nina excels at. Her goal for 2022 is to expand the Trust’s sponsor partnership funding arm to
be able to offer even more awards in the future.
“Being able to provide valuable financial and emotional support that ensures successful educational outcomes
is my driving force. Seeing our awardees stand proudly at the Awards Ceremony having their hard work and
success acknowledged in front of their friends and whānau is what it’s all about for me. And I get that same
wonderful experience when customers come for their graduation and legal regalia. It is a real ‘moment’ for
them and whānau, sometimes it is their first real achievement.”
Dr. Katrina Ford,
Awards Coordinator
The KEECT
awards@kateedgertrust.org.nz
Katrina has a PhD in History from the University of Auckland and has worked as a lecturer at the University of Auckland and the University of Waikato. She has also worked as a researcher in the public health and social services fields.
She has been the Awards Coordinator at The KEECT for over three years and manages the extensive Awards Programme, overseeing the applications, the Selection Panels and the processing of the many awards approved by The KEECT board, totalling approximately $600,000 per year. These awards range from $2,000 to $18,000, mostly funded from the proceeds of Academic Dress Hire, but also funded from sponsored partnerships or bequests. She values the opportunity to use her knowledge to support the educational dreams of people from all walks of life.
Katrina lives in West Auckland with her two children and adopted greyhound.
Lisa Turvey,
Operations Manager
Academic Dress Hire
operations@academicdresshire.co.nz
Lisa joined ADH in November 2020 and comes with a strong customer service background alongside many years of retail management and operations experience. She managed The University of Auckland campus store for several years so is very familiar with the excitement of graduations.
Lisa is responsible for the day-to-day running of the warehouse including staffing, regalia supplies, and ensuring that all graduation and legal admission orders are completed and dispatched on time. She is also the main contact for bulk and staff orders for graduations and school prizegiving ceremonies.
Outside of work, Lisa loves spending quality time with her young family and pursuing her interest in photography. She also enjoys a good book on the rare occasions she has some time to herself!
Sarah Mcleay,
Communications and Projects Manager
The KEECT and Academic Dress Hire
comms@kateedgertrust.org.nz
Sarah is responsible for communications including website content, social media, and newsletters, as well as managing projects and events for The KEECT and ADH. She also helps out at ADH during the busy graduation periods.
Sarah has worked and volunteered across a variety of roles alongside raising 4 children, and brings a passion for the not-for-profit sector, and for assisting women in need. She particularly enjoys utilising her written communication skills to tell the stories of The KEECT award recipients.
"The positive social impact of education on socio-economic outcomes is something we see first hand while following the journeys of our awardees. I am always humbled by the courage, perseverance, and tenacity of the awardees to succeed and make their whānau and communities proud. I feel very privileged to be working for an organisation that plays a trusted and valuable role in that success".
Nina Tomaszyk
General Manager
Kate Edger Foundation &
The Graduation Place
Dr. Katrina Ford
Awards Coordinator
Kate Edger Foundation
Lisa Turvey
Operations Manager
The Graduation Place
Sarah McLeay
Communications & Projects Manager
Kate Edger Foundation &
The Graduation Place
Briar Te Rangiita
Operations Assistant
Meet the team
Nina Tomaszyk
General Manager,
Kate Edger Foundation and the Graduation Place
Nina has been at the helm of the organisation since 2017, and her considerable experience in both the corporate and not-for-profit worlds has given her a unique perspective on the importance of running a social enterprise that funds and supports a charitable trust. “With The KEF Awards Programme now funding over $600,000 awards annually and with running the Graduation Place and sponsors, it is a balancing act of providing the best customer experience in the most cost-effective way.” Nina is passionate about education and the opportunity it provides to create better outcomes. The KEFs mission to fund, encourage, advance and promote education is at the heart of every decision she makes, and building meaningful and ongoing relationships with staff, graduates, awardees and sponsor partners is something that Nina excels at. Her goal is to expand the Trust’s sponsor partnership funding arm to be able to offer even more awards in the future. “Being able to provide valuable financial and emotional support that ensures successful educational outcomes is my driving force. Seeing our awardees stand proudly at the Awards Ceremony having their hard work and success acknowledged in front of their friends and whānau is what it’s all about for me. And I get that same wonderful experience when customers come for their graduation and legal regalia. It is a real ‘moment’ for them and whānau, sometimes it is their first real achievement.”
Lisa Turvey
Operations Manager, Graduation Place
Lisa joined TGP in November 2020 and comes with a strong customer service background alongside many years of retail management and operations experience. She managed the University of Auckland campus store for several years so is very familiar with the excitement of graduations. Lisa is responsible for the day-to-day running of the warehouse including staffing, regalia supplies, and ensuring that all graduation and legal admission orders are completed and dispatched on time. She is also the main contact for bulk and staff orders for graduations and school prizegiving ceremonies. Outside of work, Lisa loves spending quality time with her young family and pursuing her interest in photography. She also enjoys a good book on the rare occasions she has some time to herself!
Daisy Farthing
Communications & Projects Manager,
Kate Edger Foundation and The Graduation Place
comms@kateedgerfoundation.org.nz Daisy has worked at The Graduation Place and Kate Edger Foundation since 2024. She is responsible for communications including website content, social media, and newsletters, as well as managing projects and events for KEF and TGP. She studied a conjoint from University of Auckland in Communications and Global Studies, with a focus on international business and has a diploma in art history from Italy. Her favourite part of working for KEF is organising the annual high school creative arts competition. Daisy has worked and volunteered across a variety of roles, and brings a passion for the not-for-profit sector, and for assisting women in need. In her free time she runs a non-for-profit theatre production company that performs 4 times a year and enjoys cooking with friends.
Briar Te Rangiita
Operations Assistant, The Graduation Place
Briar works in the warehouse as Lisa’s assistant, helping with the day to day running of the warehouse including packing the staff orders for graduations & school prizegiving. She has several years’ experience working in customer facing/retail and warehouse roles making her perfectly suited to the challenges and deadlines of graduations. She is also responsible for all legal attire orders and is onsite at all the Auckland legal admission ceremonies. Briar initially moved to Auckland from Ōtaki to study Nutrition at the University of Auckland, but after finishing her first year, decided to return to the work force and started her role with The Graduation Place (TGP) in May 2023. Working for a social enterprise that provides funding for women to attend university is something that both inspires and motivates Briar, as she understands first hand the financial pressure faced by people undertaking tertiary study. She also really enjoys being a part of the graduation experience and helping to ensure that our customers are well looked after on their special day.
Brooke Brown
Awards Coordinator,
Kate Edger Foundation
reception@graduationplace.co.nz Brooke joined The Graduation Place in July 2024 and is responsible for all customer service duties. She ensures that graduation and legal regalia orders are processed smoothly and efficiently, providing exceptional support to clients every step of the way. With her strong communication skills and attention to detail, Brooke strives to deliver a seamless experience for each customer. In her final year of studying a Bachelor of Business, Brooke applies her growing knowledge of business operations to her role, bridging her academic learning with hands-on experience. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling, hitting the gym, and spending time with friends. She looks forward to applying her skills to future career opportunities.