New Chief Executive Appointed to WelTec and Whitireia

Press Release 10 March 2015

New Chief Executive Appointed to the Wellington Institute of Technology and Whitireia New Zealand

A new Chief Executive has been appointed for the Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) and Whitireia New Zealand. The Chair of the Combined Council of WelTec and Whitireia Hon Roger Sowry, today announced the appointment of Mr Chris Gosling to the position of Chief Executive of both polytechnics.

“The appointment of a single Chief Executive for both of these highly successful institutions marks an important new step in the strategic partnership between Whitireia and WelTec,” Mr Sowry said.

“The partnership was established in 2012 to improve student choices in the Wellington region, by providing a more co-ordinated provision of high quality vocational education and training, improved engagement with industry and improved organisational efficiency. A single Chief Executive will strengthen these initiatives, enhancing the collaboration between the two organisations while retaining the distinctive culture of each institution.”

Mr Gosling is currently a Deputy Chief Executive of Whitireia New Zealand. Mr Sowry said the Council was delighted to be able to appoint a new chief executive with extensive experience in vocational education and a good understanding of both WelTec and Whitireia.

“Chris has been involved in implementing the strategic partnership, working closely with staff from WelTec and Whitireia, virtually since its inception,” Mr Sowry said.

Prior to starting at Whitireia, Mr Gosling worked in the Middle East for five years on a project that established a new polytechnic. His earlier experience includes eight years in senior roles at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. He is a Chartered Accountant with membership of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

“This appointment is an incredibly exciting opportunity to lead two institutions already national leaders in educational performance to even greater success,” Mr Gosling said.

“The partnership of WelTec and Whitireia provides a platform for improving access to quality vocational education and training across the whole Wellington region. The combined scale of the two institutions also means we can improve operational efficiency to free up greater resources that will benefit students through improved teaching and learning and support services.

“Vocational training faces many challenges in the coming years, responding to the higher expectations of students, employers and government. Rapid developments in technology are changing many aspects of teaching and learning. The Whitireia-WelTec partnership provides a solid foundation from which to tackle these challenges and deliver even greater value to students and employers,” Mr Gosling concluded.

Mr Sowry paid tribute to the current Chief Executives Dr Linda Sissons and Mr Don Campbell saying both had made outstanding contributions which was reflected in the national success and stature of both polytechnics.

ENDS
BACKGROUND
WelTec and Whitireia provide education and training to over 17,000 students from campuses across the Wellington region including Wellington city, Petone, Porirua and Kāpiti, as well as campuses in Auckland. Programmes delivered range from foundation programmes to Masters Degrees in an enormous range of disciplines.

WelTec and Whitireia are partners in The Choice Protocol, a strategic partnership providing students across the Wellington region with educational opportunities.

Information about The Choice Protocol can be found at http://www.thechoiceprotocol.ac.nz/

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