He kaiako, he mātanga hāpai, he kaiārahi rautaki hoki a Te Ahunui i roto i te ao mātauranga. I kuraina katoatia ia ki te reo Māori, mai i te kōhanga reo, ā puta noa tōna ihu i te whare wānanga. He ika a Whiro a Te Ahunui i Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau (Bachelor of Education: Huarahi Maori Specialisation) me Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (Te Panekiretanga o te Reo). Kua whai raihana hoki ia ki te whakawhiti reo, ki te whakamāori, ki te whakapākehā anō hoki (Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori).

Donovan is a te reo Māori teacher, a consultant, and a strategic leader in Māori-medium education. His education was through the medium of te reo Māori, from kōhanga reo, through to university. Donovan is an alumnus of The University of Auckland (Bachelor of Education: Huarahi Māori Specialisation) and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (Te Panekiretanga o te Reo). He is also a licensed interpreter and translator of the Māori language (Māori Language Commission).