2009 B. J. Ross

A portrait of B. J. Ross (1957-61 BAgrSc, MAgrSc (Hons), CNZN), the Bledsloe Medallist, 2009. Lincoln University’s Emeritus Professor of Agricultural Economics, Bruce Jerome Ross, has made his contribution to New Zealand at many levels. He was the first Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University and was the guiding force, along with board chairman Sir Allan Wright, in mounting a strenuous campaign of public and alumni support for Lincoln College to be granted autonomous university status. Such status was granted from 1990, so Bruce was also the last Principal of Lincoln College. Professor Ross resigned from Lincoln University in 1996 to become Director-General of Agriculture. He retired from that position in 2001. In 2002 he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and in 2007 he was made a Distinguished Fellow of the New Zealand Association of Economists.