The New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology Establishment Board (the Establishment Board) is today announcing directors for the boards of subsidiary Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs), effective from 1 April 2020.
The following people have agreed to serve as directors on the board of UCOL from 1 April 2020:
Steve Maharey – Chair
Verne Atmore (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu)
Mark Cleaver
Katarina Hina (Ngā Wairiki, Ngāti Apa, Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi, Ngāti Porou)
Lorraine Stephenson (Rangitane, Ngāti Kahungunu)
Linda Stewart
“The appointment of this Board of Directors is a significant step forward in the journey towards a cohesive, sustainable vocational education system,” says Establishment Board Chair Barry Jordan.
“In making these appointments we have balanced the need to ensure continuity of operation with sound local and regional relationships. We are delighted with the diversity of thought within each board, alongside the complementary skills and experience that will drive positive outcomes for their respective communities.”
The Education (Vocational Education and Training Reform) Amendment Act requires that the initial board for each subsidiary ITP comprise at least four and no more than eight directors, of which at least half must reside within the region that the subsidiary primarily serves.
UCOL Board Chair Steve Maharey says, “The future of the regions and of New Zealand will rest on the skills of its people. UCOL has an impressive history of producing outstanding graduates who have gone on to make a significant contribution the economy.
In what is a new era for vocational education, I am looking forward to working even more closely with industry, iwi, and other regional institutions to ensure New Zealand has the people it needs to build a prosperous and vibrant future.”
To further drive the shift from competition to operating as one regionally accessible network of provision, the Establishment Board has decided that one NZIST Council member will be a director on each subsidiary ITP board. Each board may also receive a ‘cross-Board appointee’. These names will be confirmed in April.
The Establishment Board based its approach to the appointment of directors on the Treasury framework used to appoint directors to the boards of Crown companies. More than 370 expressions of interest were received over the Christmas and New Year period.
All appointments to subsidiary boards are subject to ratification and approval by the NZIST Council on 1 April 2020. Members of this Council will be confirmed by the Minister of Education, Hon Chris Hipkins, before the end of March.
Steve Maharey – Chair
Steve is a Director with a wide range of organisations including Pharmac, Education New Zealand, the Ministry of Health and WellingtonNZ.
He was the Vice-Chancellor of Massey University based in Palmerston North, Wellington, and Albany, Auckland between 2008-2016. From 1990 until 2008 he was the Member of Parliament for Palmerston North and was a Senior Cabinet Minister holding a wide range of portfolios including Education, Employment and Research, Science and Technology, between 1999 and 2008.
Earlier in his career he was a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and a Junior Lecturer in Business Studies. He served as a Palmerston North City Councillor between 1986 and 1989. He was awarded the Companion of New Zealand Medal (CNZM) in 2008.
Verne Atmore
Verne (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu) has over 20 years of senior executive management experience in private sector companies and is currently VP Livestock Management Solutions for Datamars SA. Prior to joining Datamars, Verne held roles as General Manager NZ for Tru-Test Group, Group Marketing Manager-Gallagher Group, General Manager Sales AsiaPac-Gallagher Security Management and CEO Farmworks Precision Farming Systems.
Verne has been a former UCOL Council member and Chair of Audit and Risk and also served as a Director for Datamars Subsidiary company, AgTrac Services Ltd. She is married with 3 children, is a graduate of Lincoln University and resides in rural Manawatū.
Mark Cleaver
Mark has lived in the Manawatū region for the past 23 years. He spent nine years with Massey University as Director of the Research Office and head of Business Development and Commercialisation and is currently CEO of Massey Ventures Ltd, a commercialisation and venture investment business.
Mark has a particular interest in research and innovation and has helped establish many new technology-based companies including co-founding his own business, Aero Sports Protection Ltd. Mark is a director for a range of commercial companies, sporting organisations and charitable trusts with 20+ years of experience in Governance.
Katarina Hina
Katarina (Ngā Wairiki, Ngāti Apa, Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi, Ngāti Porou) has worked in tertiary education and Iwi education development for over 20 years and has lived in Whanganui since 1996. She was recently appointed Strategic Lead of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki – Ngāti Apa, taking responsibility for growing and maintaining the social sector services in Marton.
Katarina has represented her Iwi on various tertiary institution boards and committees and has extensive experience in tertiary infrastructure development, quality assurance and curriculum development, ascertaining strategic and operational priorities and cultural competencies.
Lorraine Stephenson
Not yet available.
Linda Stewart
As Chief Executive of the Central Economic Development Agency, Linda leads a team focused on delivering economic prosperity for the Manawatū through investment attraction, business expansion and retention, building and growing a sustainable talent and skills pool, and profiling the region to attract people, business and investment.
With a background in business development, project management and recruitment for organisations such as Mars Inc., Virgin Australia, Massey University, Lincoln University and Primary ITO, Linda has strong commercial and specific education sector experience and knowledge.
Linda currently serves on the Board of Economic Development New Zealand and is passionate about the development of New Zealand for the benefit and prosperity of all.