Leading New Zealand’s largest tertiary education institution

Murray Strong
Chair

Murray Strong is an independent director and Chair, and a member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand.

Mr Strong has governance and senior management experience across many sectors including tertiary education.

He was the IST Establishment Unit Executive Director, where he was closely involved with all workstreams, key stakeholders and the future direction.

He is chair of the Centre of Digital Excellence in Dunedin.

Tania Hodges
JP

Tania Hodges JP (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Hauā, Tuwharetoa, Maniapoto, Kahungunu) is Managing Director of Digital Indigenous.Com Ltd, providing advice on governance and leadership, strategic development, change management, Māori and Iwi relationships, and community development.

Ms Hodges has an MBA and qualifications in social science, business research and Te Reo Māori to complement her Registered Psychiatric Nursing qualification.

Maryann Geddes

Maryann Geddes is the Group Manager Risk & Compliance at Skyline Enterprises, based in Queenstown. She has worked for Skyline since 1994 and is a board member of ServiceIQ.

Other governance roles have included RNZRSA, the Tourism Industry Association, the Otago Southland Employers Association, the Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation and the Hospitality Standards Institute.

Kathy Grant

Kathy Grant is a former Associate in the Dunedin legal practice of Gallaway Cook Allan.

Mrs Grant has been a Ministerial appointee and Chair of the Otago Polytechnic Council since 2010. She was previously a member of the University of Otago Council and council Chair of the Dunedin College of Education.

In 2015, the Minister of Health appointed Mrs Grant as Commissioner of Southern District Health Board following the disestablishment of the DHB.

Kim Ngārimu
Deputy Chair

Kim Ngārimu (Te Aitanga ā Mate, Ngāti Porou) is a director of Tāua Limited, a consultancy specialising in public policy and management advice.

Earlier in her career, Ms Ngārimu held a range of senior public sector roles in Wellington.

She is a member of the Medical Council of New Zealand and the Waitangi Tribunal, Chair of Tairāwhiti District Health Board, and a council-appointed member of the Eastern Institute of Technology. She was Deputy Chair of the IST Establishment Board.

Sam Huggard

Sam Huggard is the former National Secretary of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions 2014–2019, where he led the union movements work on just transitions. He is now a Strategic Researcher with E tū, which represents >50,000 workers.

Mr Huggard is an experienced not-for-profit sector leader, with 20 years’ service across trade unions, the community sector and students’ associations. His governance experience includes government, not-for-profit, academic and industry advisory bodies.

Peter Winder

Peter Winder is a Director of of McGredy Winder & Co.

He has been a Ministerial appointee and Chair of Manukau Institute of Technology since 2013 and is a Member of the Advisory Committee to the Commissioner at Unitec.

Mr Winder was Chief Executive of Auckland Regional Council (2005–2010) and of Local Government New Zealand (2001–2003).

He was Crown Manager of the Kaipara District Council and is a member of the State Services Commission Risk and Audit Committee.

John Brockies

John Brockies is an experienced independent director with a professional background in executive roles in large New Zealand companies such as Siemens and Transfield. His governance experience includes Naylor Love, the Waiāri Project Advisory Board for Tauranga City Council, the Resolve Group Ltd, and BRANZ.

Mr Brockies was a Ministerial appointee to the Commissioner's Advisory Panel for Unitec and was an independent member of the RoVE Programme Board.

Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop

Tagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop CNZM is Emeritus Professor at Auckland University of Technology. Tagaloatele has contributed to significant government and NGO policy affecting the Pacific community. She has served as the National President of PACIFICA Inc, and was appointed as a Commissioner in 2017 to oversee Samoa’s national inquiry into family violence. Her CNZM was awarded in 2015 for services to education and the Pacific community.