Unitec Announces Ministerial Council Appointments

Unitec announces ministerial appointments to new council

Unitec Institute of Technology has welcomed the four ministerial appointments to the make up of its new council confirmed by Tertiary Education Minister Stephen Joyce yesterday.

The changes to council come with the introduction of the Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Act, which requires new polytechnic councils to be established by 1 May 2010.

Unitec Chief Executive Rick Ede said the institute was very pleased with the calibre of the ministerial appointments which including three reappointments.

They include Ted van Arkel who remains as Chair and will be joined by current council members Kaye Turner and Anne Blackburn. Ms Turner is the new Deputy Chair and will also serve as Chair of Manukau Institute of Technology’s Council which reflects the move to align geographically related council appointments. The fourth ministerial appointment is Aroha Hudson.

Dr Ede says the ministerial appointments will now enable the current Unitec Council to confirm its remaining four appointments, due to be announced shortly.

Unitec’s four ministerial appointments are:

Ted van Arkel (Chair) Ted van Arkel has been re-appointed to the Unitec Council. Mr van Arkel is a director of several public and private companies including being the Chair of Restaurant Brands NZ and Charlies Group Limited. Mr van Arkel is also a director of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and President of Youthtown Inc. He was the Managing Director of Progressive Enterprises Limited before he retired in 2004.

Kaye Turner (Deputy Chair) Kaye Turner has been re-appointed to both Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec Councils. She is appointed as Chair of MIT and Deputy Chair of Unitec. Ms Turner is the acting Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission and Chair of Career Services. Her previous roles include Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Waikato.

Anne Blackburn Anne Blackburn has been re-appointed to the Unitec Council. Ms Blackburn has a professional background in banking following earlier careers in journalism and diplomacy. She is a director of a number of businesses in the infrastructure, finance, investment and research sectors. She also holds governance positions in various arts, education and not-for-profit organisations.

Aroha Hudson Aroha Hudson is Chief Executive of HealthWest Primary Health Organisation. She is a chartered accountant and her governance experience has centred on the health sector including membership of the Health Research Council and serving as Chair of the Council’s Maori Health Committee. She has been a director of several Auckland region PHO’s, the National Heart Foundation and Waitemata District Health Board. She is company secretary for the Otakanini Topu Incorporation, a Maori forestry and farming venture. ENDS

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