Diane Ruwhiu
Lecturer
Management
When Diane Ruwhiu left school the last thing on her mind was university - "I just didn't think university was for me."
Now more than a decade later, she's a management lecturer at the University of Otago's School of Business and is completing a PhD.
It's a long way from her initial career in the Royal New Zealand Airforce where she worked in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
"When I left school I didn't want to study. But through working for the Airforce I had the opportunity to take a few business papers, which I ended up doing really well in. I then went on to complete a Certificate in Business Studies and thought, 'hold on, may be I am cut out for university after all'," she says.
So in 1995 Diane moved to Dunedin to study a Bachelor of Commerce at Otago. After completing an Honours year, Diane moved on to a Diploma for Graduates (focused on Tourism) and a Master of Commerce. As a mature student, she was impressed by the level of support available.
She was then offered a lecturing position which she jumped at and began teaching operations and supply chain management.
Three years ago Diane, of Ngā Puhi descent, embarked on a PhD looking at the role of social, cultural and economic capital in Māori business practice.
"Māori business in New Zealand is on the cusp of becoming bigger and better, and it's amazing to be part of the shift. It's showing through in our student population as well. Over the past decade I've noticed more and more strong Māori minds coming to Otago, which is a huge benefit to the Māori business economy and New Zealand," she says.
"Otago University is a fantastic place to study. There is such a strong student cultural experience in Dunedin, and as an Otago graduate you're part of a big family network which comes from the shared experiences of studying here."