22 November 2012 New senior management appointments

Lincoln University’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr Andrew West, today announced his new senior management team.

“In selecting this team I chose to emphasise academic quality, scholarship, a positive experience for our students, the vibrancy of research, our relationships with the many communities in which we work, commercial business development and enabling corporate services, along with appointing a balance of individual personalities.

“Correspondingly, I am pleased to announce five dynamic and professional senior managers with complementary skills and experience. Working as a tight knit team along with all the staff, students and alumni of Lincoln University, as well as with our clients, this team will enhance the reputation of New Zealand’s specialist, land-based university such that it is increasingly respected across the world as an exceptional place to share, discover and learn” said Dr West.

The new senior managers are:

• Assistant Vice-Chancellor Academic Programmes and Student Experience - Professor Sheelagh Matear
• Assistant Vice-Chancellor Scholarship and Research - Dr Stefanie Rixecker
• Assistant Vice-Chancellor Communities - Professor Hirini Matunga
• Assistant Vice-Chancellor Business Development - Mr Jeremy Baker
• Group Manager Corporate Services - Mr Murray Dickson

Professor Matear, Professor Matunga, and Dr Rixecker have previously held positions at Lincoln University.

Mr Jeremy Baker has a background in business and tertiary education. Most recently he was Chief Executive of the public service Industry Training Organisation, Learning State. His other roles have included: Executive Director of the NZ Industry Training Federation; Manager of Employment and Skills Policy in the Department of Labour; the adviser on Education and Training at BusinessNZ; and a senior adviser to the Tertiary Education Advisory Commission. He is currently Deputy Chairperson of the New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit and Chairperson of the Victoria University Book Centre Ltd.

Mr Murray Dickson is presently Group Manager, Corporate Services of the Canterbury District Health Board, a role he has held since 2003. Previously he was the Group Manager, Legal for Fonterra and held merger and acquisition and legal roles in its progenitor, the NZ Dairy Board. He has also worked as a solicitor at Kensington Swan and before that as a Merchant Banker. Mr Dickson will join Lincoln University mid-January.