Isabel
Dixon
Senior employment and governance adviser. Barrister and Solicitor. Thirty years of getting it right , so you don't have to find out the hard way.
Experience that goes all the way through
Kia ora , ko Isabel Dixon tooku ingoa.
He uri ahau noo Waikato, noo Te Tai Tokerau, anoo hoki noo Te Arawa.
The name TuuTika carries its own whakapapa. Tuu, to stand. Tika, to do things right. The double vowels are a deliberate acknowledgement of my whakapapa to Waikato, woven into the name itself. The two words are inseparable in this context, and you cannot stand with authority unless the process is right, and right process means nothing unless someone is prepared to stand behind it. That is what TuuTika means, and it is how I approach my mahi when providing advice.
Tikanga is not a framework I apply from the outside, it is the foundation I bring to every engagement. Working with integrity, being direct, taking responsibility, and ensuring that the process is as important as the outcome. For the communities, schools, kura, and organisations I work with , many of whom are Maaori , this is not incidental. Right process is not just a legal obligation. It is a reflection of values. It is whakapapa in action.
I provide practical, senior-level employment and governance advice grounded in lived experience, not theory. With over 30 years across employment relations, governance, and operational leadership, I work with state schools, boards, trusts, and organisations on complex and high-risk people, process, and governance matters , providing advice that is clear, defensible, and able to withstand scrutiny.
Understand the issue, assess the risk, and provide clear, defensible advice that can be acted on. That is what I deliver.
I work closely with principals, boards, trustees, and senior leaders across Aotearoa, advising on employment processes, governance responsibilities, and decision-making in complex or high-risk situations. This includes disciplinary and restructuring processes, investigations, and ensuring boards and committees operate within their roles, delegations, and legal obligations.
My background in senior and general management, combined with hands-on governance advisory experience, gives me a clear understanding of both the strategic and operational realities organisations face. I bring a clear line of sight between governance and management, ensuring decisions are sound, appropriate, and able to withstand scrutiny.
I was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2024, complementing a long-standing career in employment relations and HR.