Alongside his wife, Nikeeta, Darius owns and operates the multi-award winning Chrysalis Group of Early Learning Centres based in Auckland and Tauranga. Since they founded the Group in 2011, they have won several prestigious awards, including “ECC/Telecom Innovation” award for their patented invention – “Roots & Shoots”, “Gold NZ Commercial Building” award, “Preferred ECE provider” award to several multi-national companies, and “Best Emerging Business” award.

Nikeeta and Darius have also founded the “Gaia (Earth) Education Principle™”, which has been widely published at education conferences in Europe, Sweden, Australia, Asia and USA and by the Ministry of Education in NZ. This is an all encompassing philosophy, principle and practice of “Earth inspired environments, buildings, values, teaching, curriculum & outcomes for children”. This philosophy is now being put into practice with the opening of their latest early learning centre, the Gaia (Earth) Preschool in Manurewa.

Teaching has been in the family for generations. Respectively, both Nikeeta’s and Darius’ grandparents and parents were teachers. In fact, Darius’ father is still teaching for the love of it in South Auckland (for over 45 years in the same school!). Prior to embarking on a career in early childhood education, Darius was a Professor of Engineering, Director of Research Institutes and held various other private/public Governance roles in NZ.