Chancellor Trish Oakley brings years of governance experience to her new role, along with sound institutional knowledge and a willingness to engage in healthy debate. “It's really important to test your thinking and not believe that you've got all the answers. You might be Chancellor, but you are only one of twelve around the table.”
The University welcomed Trish Oakley into the role of Chancellor this month. Laura Hewson talks to Trish about her connections to Otago, what she sees as being key for the role and why she plans to never stop learning.
Trish Oakley may have been the first in her family to go to university but the environment for learning was always there, she says.
“Books were a big thing in our house and my parents really emphasised the importance of education and a respect and love for learning. Education happens in a lot of ways, but it starts in the family.”
Her parents showed her first-hand the importance of continuous learning, she says.
They both completed study as adults – her father spending two years doing correspondence school and her mother attending adult education classes because she’d had to leave school early and enter the workforce.
“At the time I probably didn't realise what that was like for them, but when I reflect on it, that's an environment that speaks of the need to continuously invest in yourself and learn.
“And when I think about my kids, that's flowed to them. We've always emphasised learning, but not just in the traditional sense in terms of schooling. For example, from a young age I took them to the supermarket and taught them financial literacy through thinking about cost and value. We’ve also been fortunate that we’ve been able to make travel a feature of their education, using it to support their learning about other cultures and broaden their world views.”
Trish’s son is now in his third year at Otago and her daughter plans to study here too, alongside enjoying an overseas exchange.
Trish and her husband Roger also attended Otago. Trish graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing from Otago in 1995 and Roger, who is a Civil Engineer, completed a diploma for graduates in regional and resource planning.
It wasn’t a given that Trish would go to university, she says.
“My older brother and sister were both bankers, so my family experience was that you left school and worked.”
Trish initially thought about following her older siblings into banking and had started looking for jobs in the seventh form when a potential employer set her on a new trajectory.
“He said ‘I could give you the job, but I'm not going to. You should go to university’. So, I came to Otago and it changed my life completely.”
“I tend to think about Otago as growing great adults. You don't just come here to get your degree, you come here to mature."
Trish credits her experiences as a student for helping shape her into a well-rounded, outward-looking person.
“I tend to think about Otago as growing great adults. You don't just come here to get your degree, you come here to mature.
“It gives you a broader perspective, which is really important. If you're wanting to progress in a career, you've got to have an expansive view.”
As well as a love of learning, Trish’s parents also instilled a strong work ethic in their children. Trish worked in various jobs throughout University, including in a supermarket, as a bank teller and in the perfume department of Arthur Barnett.
“That was necessary because I had to be resourceful.
“And while other people planned their OE after graduation, I started working. I think I literally finished University on the Friday and started work at the bank on the Monday. I was on my way.”
After graduating, Trish worked in various banking roles, moving from being a teller to a relationship banker, then part of a pilot program in mobile banking. She next became a branch manager before becoming regional support executive.
“These roles provided a great grounding before I moved over to Forsyth Barr where I’ve headed up Marketing and Product Development, including leading their KiwiSaver scheme.”
Trish has also participated in and chaired industry committees and, more recently as an executive, she’s initiated a range of learning initiatives for staff across the firm.
In 2018 Trish received a phone call about a vacancy on the University of Otago Council.
“They said, ‘This is the call you don't want’. But actually, it turned out to be one of the best calls of my life.
“Education changed the direction I was heading in, and I felt a strong sense of duty to give back. I've also made my life – and my family's life – here in Dunedin, and the University is an important part of this community. Those are compelling reasons for saying yes.”
In 2022 Trish became Pro-Chancellor and this month she becomes Otago’s 21st Chancellor.
Her years on Council and as Pro-Chancellor have helped pave the way for a solid and smooth transition, she says.
“Your experience layers up year after year to help grow your understanding of the institution.”
Trish has many years of experience in governance. She took up her first role in 2007 at the Fortune Theatre and joined the Institute of Directors in 2012. She has been a trustee, then Chair of Tourism Dunedin, Director of Dunedin International Airport, an independent member of Olveston Theomin Gallery Management Committee, Trustee of the Royal New Zealand Ballet and Director of Foundation Studies briefly, amongst other governance roles.
She is now a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and has chaired and continues to serve on their local committee as well as being Vice President on their National Council and a Director on their board. She’s also a member of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission.
“I've spent my working life in financial services where you're exposed to a lot of people and that coupled with working across different sectors with a range of governors provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect.
“I see things around a table and I ask myself if that’s something I want to add into my governance toolkit or something I'll leave behind. You learn a lot by observing and then reflecting. In the end, it has to come back to your own personal values.”
One of the most important things that’s enabled Trish to step up is the way former Chancellor Stephen Higgs approached working with her as Pro-Chancellor and the way he supported her growth and understanding, she says.
Trish credits the support of former Chancellor Stephen Higgs for helping her step up from Pro-Chancellor, and describes their time working together as a "memorable partnership".
“This has been a memorable partnership from my perspective. He’s a terrific person to work with and I'm grateful to him.”
Trish also appreciated his willingness to debate issues with her, which is an approach she plans to continue with new Pro-Chancellor Brendan Boyle.
“It's really important to test your thinking and not believe that you've got all the answers. You might be Chancellor, but you are only one of twelve around the table. I read widely and come well prepared to a discussion, but my key role is to create an environment that supports effective decision making.
“We don't want to all come in, nod and agree. It’s important we bring our own thinking to the table and the ideas and learnings that come from our experiences elsewhere.”
Recognising the changes in Council and building on Stephen’s leadership, Trish is focused on a “high performance culture where as governors, we respect and understand each other’s skills and experiences and how that shapes views shared around the Council table”.
“I'm surrounded by great people and we’re a team focused on making good decisions and lifting our own practice by learning, as well as self-reflection.
“I’d also like to acknowledge everyone’s hard work as we seek to return to surplus. This has been a challenging period for Otago, and continued cost pressures – alongside funding challenges – will mean that we continue to focus on financial stability as a Council.”
Pae Tata – the University’s strategic plan until 2030 – is important as it provides direction and clarity for navigating current and future challenges.
“We can’t stand still as the world changes around us. Pae Tata builds on our strengths and provides direction for our ongoing sustainability. It recognises the changing context in which we operate, and it acknowledges our commitment to our Te Tiriti journey.
“As Council we are guardians of this strategy and are very aware of the responsibility that entails.”
"Supporting our people to achieve their best recognises the importance of a place where both staff and students flourish, enabling learners to achieve their potential and staff to have fulfilling and rewarding careers.”
As well as her Chancellor role, Trish sits across a number of University committees.
“I particularly enjoy the intellectual aspect and the diversity of thinking that’s involved in being on Council. I love strategy and thinking about how things are changing. I enjoy meeting and working with the range of people involved and understanding their perspectives. It’s an incredible privilege.
“And while Otago is a big, complex, intellectually challenging institution – that's talking about it as a thing – the lifeblood of it is our students, the people who teach them, those who enable the environment around them and the research we undertake. Supporting our people to achieve their best recognises the importance of a place where both staff and students flourish, enabling learners to achieve their potential and staff to have fulfilling and rewarding careers.”
Stakeholder engagement is also an interest area for Trish, which includes reflecting on Otago’s relationships with alumni and the wider community.
“Otago is critical to our region and our work is of national and international significance. How we tell our story matters.”
Working with new Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson is something she’s looking forward to.
“What’s evident to me is that we share some common values and aligned interest areas. We’re both aware of the task ahead of us and have respect for our respective roles.
“Critically, neither of us are going to die wondering what the other is thinking. That’s a healthy basis for the Chancellor/Vice Chancellor relationship.”
Grant believes Trish’s appointment to the role of Chancellor is a decision that will prove to be highly positive for the University in the years to come.
“Trish brings an enormous amount of governance experience to the role, as well as an almost endless supply of energy and an unwavering belief in the value of an Otago education,” he says.
“I’ve only had the privilege of working with Trish for a short period but I’m confident her transition to Chancellor will be smooth.”
While Trish has all the experience and tools needed for the Chancellor role, she has no plans to stop learning anytime soon.
“It's really important that as Council we're continuing to make sure that we’re building knowledge and applying best practice in terms of our processes and decision making. For example, sustainability is an area of personal focus for me, and I’ve recently upskilled in Climate Governance. I’m also fascinated by technology and what AI means for us.
“There are many contemporary issues challenging governors today, so continued learning and fresh thinking is required as we tackle the papers, make decisions and discharge our duties.
“This is not a task to take lightly.”
New Pro-Chancellor bringing passion for Otago to role
Brendan Boyle
Brendan Boyle is the University’s new Pro-Chancellor, officially stepping into the role earlier this month.
Brendan, who joined the University Council in late 2022, has extensive public sector management and governance expertise and has held several leading roles in key government agencies, including Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development and of the Department of Internal Affairs.
He is also a member of the University Council's Capital Development Committee and the People and Culture Committee.
“I enjoy the challenge of the complexity of the organisation and the fact that people really care about Otago and they’re open with their views,” Brendan says.
“I’ve been growing my governance experience since I finished my executive career at the end of 2018. I bring that perspective, coupled with a passion for the University of Otago and the role it can play.”
Otago has been an important part of Brendan’s life for 40 years. He graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Laws and many of his family also attended the University, including his wife Louise, their three children, many nieces and nephews and “siblings and cousins galore”.
There are a lot of things that combine to make Otago special, he says.
“There’s the on-campus life – the first experience of being away from home mixed with a wonderful academic environment and the chance to meet people from all over New Zealand and the world. History and tradition mixed with facing today’s problems and preparing people to grapple with tomorrow’s issues. It really is a place of many firsts.
“It’s a privilege being able to give back and I get so much out of it too, through ongoing learning.”
New Chancellor Trish Oakley is looking forward to working with Brendan in their new roles, she says.
“Brendan brings significant practical experience working at scale in the public sector. Coupled with that is a strategic mind-set, a performance focus and real-world connection to Otago through both his own and his children’s experiences.
“I enjoy the perspective he brings to the Council table and appreciate being able to test and challenge my own thinking against his. I look forward to working with him as we consider our strengths in teaching and research alongside working through contemporary governance challenges, all while keeping students and staff central in our decision making.”
Brendan sees the role of Pro-Chancellor as being first and foremost to support Trish in her role as Chancellor and Grant Robertson as Vice-Chancellor, he says.
“Trish is great to work with. She’s extremely professional, well organised and a very contemporary leader. She has tremendous passion for the University and is totally dedicated to its success.”
“I have also known Grant through his time as Minister of Finance in my previous roles and greatly respect his experience and commitment to the University.”
Brendan is also keen to add his own voice and experience to Council to help drive a strong focus on performance and pride in the University.
“I’ve always been interested in the opportunity and impact of new and emerging technology and want to help the University get to grips with the challenge of a modern learning environment.
“I’m also really interested in the culture and people dynamic. Culture will always trump strategy, but it’s incumbent on us to get both right.”
Outside of Council, Brendan enjoys a range of governance and consulting roles and being with his family.
“I’m also an absolute rugby tragic and have remained a lifelong Otago rugby supporter through all seasons.
“We now split our time between Wellington and Central Otago, and it’s been fabulous spending more time in the South again.”
Other appointments
Ross Jackson
The University officially welcomes Ross Jackson to Council. Ross is Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee, as well as being a member of the Audit and Risk Committee and Capital Development Committee.
Outside of the University he is a partner at McCulloch and Partners, Chartered Accountants with offices in Invercargill, Queenstown and Te Anau.
He is chairman of Platinum Villas in Queenstown and holds a number of private company directorships and board advisory roles.
Ross is also the independent chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Invercargill City Council and has a long involvement with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (now Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand), including serving as president of the organisation in 2011.
Allan Dawson
Allan Dawson has been named the new independent Chair of the Capital Development Committee.
Allan is a proud alumnus of Otago and has two children currently enrolled at the University.
He’s a seasoned director with extensive governance experience. He currently serves as Chair for several globally focused technology companies, including Arlo Software Ltd (EdTech), Connexionz Ltd (a publicly listed transit system provider), and OnFarm Solutions Ltd (AgriTech).
He also sits on the board of a prominent investor in the New Zealand tech sector and serves as Deputy Chair of the Electricity Authority.
Allan is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Institute of Directors.