Council
Our governing body is the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Council. The functions, duties and powers of the Council are prescribed in the Education and Training Act 2020, sections 280, 281 and 283.
The Council is chaired by the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Chancellor.
Our Constitution
The Council is made up of 12 members:
- Four members appointed by the relevant Minister of the Crown.
- The Vice-Chancellor of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University.
- One permanent member of the academic staff who is appointed following an election by the permanent members of that group of staff.
- One permanent member of the general staff who is appointed following an election by the permanent members of that group of staff.
- One member who is appointed following an election by ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University students.
- One member who is appointed after consultation with Te ¸é¨±²Ô²¹²Ô²µ²¹ o ±·²µ¨¡¾± Tahu.
- Three members who are appointed by the Council, at least one of whom shall be alumni of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University.
Functions and Duties of the Council
According to Section 280 of the Education and Training Act 2020, the functions of Council are:
- To appoint a chief executive in accordance with the Public Service Act 2020, and to monitor and evaluate the chief executive¡¯s performance.
- To prepare and submit a proposed plan if the institution is seeking funding under a funding mechanism that provides for funding via plans.
- If the institution has a plan:
- To ensure that the institution is managed in accordance with that plan; and
- To determine policies to implement that plan.
- To determine, subject to the Public Service Act 2020, the policies of the institution in relation to the management of its affairs.
- To undertake planning relating to the institution¡¯s long-term strategic direction.
Section 281 of the Education and Training Act 2020 provides that it is the duty of the Council in performing its functions and exercising its powers, to:
- Strive to ensure that the institution attains the highest standards of excellence in education, training and research.?
- Acknowledge the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- Encourage the greatest possible participation by the communities served by the institution, so as to maximise the educational potential of all members of those communities with particular emphasis on groups in those communities that are under-represented among the students of the institution.
- Ensure that the institution does not discriminate unfairly against any person.?
- Ensure that the institution operates in a financially responsible manner that ensures the efficient use of resources and maintains the institution¡¯s long-term viability.
- Ensure that proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest and the well-being of students attending the institution are maintained.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University¡¯s Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities begin with mana whenua. We acknowledge the special relationship and responsibilities our University have to ±·²µ¨¡¾± Te Ruahikihiki and Te Taumutu ¸é¨±²Ô²¹²Ô²µ²¹ which are embedded in our He T¨±tohinga Whakam¨¡tau, Charter of Understanding.
The University seeks to engage and provide opportunities for mana whenua to provide cultural guidance, advice and strategic direction on areas of importance to mana whenua. Further, the University sees its role to support the research and academic needs identified by mana whenua as a means of positively contributing to their aspirations and goals wherever possible.
Representation by ±·²µ¨¡¾± Tahu is embedded on the University Council and also through Ahumairaki which oversees the M¨¡ori development aspirations of the institution on behalf of Council. Regular strategic hui with mana whenua are undertaken throughout the year as well as during campus celebrations led by Te Manutaki, the Office of M¨¡ori and Pasifika Development.
Committees reporting to Council
The purpose of the Academic Board is to:
- Monitor, develop, and implement academic policy
- Advise Council, through the Vice Chancellor, on matters relating to programmes of study including the establishment and disestablishment of academic programmes at the University, including the revision or amendment of any programme, course, or general regulations
- Monitor programme and course quality
- Maintain programme schedules
- Recommend to Council, the award of degrees, diplomas and other University qualifications.
- Monitor and report to Council on the quantity and quality of research and teaching at the University.
Ahumairaki oversees the M¨¡ori development aspirations of the institution on behalf of Council and in line with the university¡¯s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, Section 281(b) of the Education and Training Act 2020, the Tertiary Education Strategy and the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University strategic documentation.
The purpose of the Council Appeals Committee is to hear and determine:
- Applications for leave to appeal.
- An application for the review of the amount or extent of a penalty imposed pursuant to the Student Discipline Regulations and/or the imposition of that penalty.
- Any matter referred under clause 18.7 or clause 25.4 of the Student Discipline Regulations.
The purpose of the Appointment and Remuneration Committee is to:
- Oversee the employment interface between the Council and the Vice-Chancellor.
- Oversee the appointment and removal of directors to the board of any ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University wholly-owned subsidiary and/or associated board.
- Oversee the appointment and performance of Council-appointed Council members.
- Recommend remuneration charges for Council members, Council Committee members and members of subsidiary company boards.
The purpose of the Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee is to oversee:
- effective identification and management of strategic risks, both financial and non-financial
- reliable management and financial reporting and relevant internal control systems
- the insurance renewal programme
- internal audit and external audit functions
- reporting of performance metrics for the university and its functions
- health and safety
- preparation of the University¡¯s annual report
- the University¡¯s compliance with laws and regulations.
- reporting and monitoring on campus development plans, business-as-usual capital activities, and major capital projects.
The purpose of the Awards Committee is to advise the Council on the awarding of:
- Higher doctorates honoris causa
- The Bledisloe Medal
- The ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ Alumni International Medal
- The Ng¨¡ti Moki Trophy for M¨¡ori Leadership
- The ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Global Science Medal
- The Chancellor¡¯s Medal
- The ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Medal.
The Committee may also advise the Council on the revocation of these awards.
The aim of the Humans Ethics Committee is:
- To ensure that all ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University research involving human participants meets established ethical standards, including requirements specified by funding agencies such as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; Health Research Council and Lottery Health Research.
- To educate ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University staff on the needs and requirements for ethically-sound research and teaching practices.
- To ensure ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University maintains high ethical standards of research.
- To minimise any risk of liability faced by the university or its members by research projects involving human subjects.
The purpose of the Farms Committee is to the Council of:
- The strategic research, teaching and learning opportunities associated with the university¡¯s substantial asset portfolio of farms and alignment with the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University strategy.
- To monitor the implementation of the Farms Plan at a governance level.
Council Meeting Dates
Council meetings are held in the Whare Auahu Meeting Room (018) on the ground floor of the Waimarie building at ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University campus.
Date | Time |
27 February 2024 | 9.00-1.00pm |
26 March 2024 | 9.00-1.00pm |
30 April 2024 | 9.00-1.00pm |
28 May 2024 | 9.00-1.00pm |
30 July 2024 | 9.00-1.00pm |
27 August 2024 | 9.00-1.00pm |
29 October 2024 | 9.00-1.00pm |
26 November 2024 | 9.00-1.00pm |
17 December 2024 | TBC |
Council Agendas and Minutes
The Council papers for each session are available from the public session of each Council meeting
Members of Council
Council member | Brief biography |
Bruce Gemmell ¨C ChancellorBBS (Massey), CA First joined20 August 2013 Current Term12 July 2023 ¨C 11 July 2027
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Bruce Gemmell joined the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Council in August 2013 and became Pro-Chancellor in May 2018. He has also been a member of the University of Canterbury Council. A chartered accountant and former senior partner at international accounting firm EY, Bruce now works as a professional director, holding positions with Planz Consultants Limited, Orion New Zealand Limited, the Highlanders rugby franchise, Miramar Consolidated Limited, Central Plains Water Limited and ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ Agritech Limited. He owns and operates a private finance company. He is also board advisor to Ticket Direct, and ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ Agritech Limited. Bruce was appointed Chancellor of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University in January 2019. |
Puamiria Parata-Goodall - Pro-Chancellor BA (Cant), Bachelor of M¨¡ori Performing Arts from Te Whare W¨¡nanga o Awanuiarangi. Current Term 1 March 2024 - 28 February 2027
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Puamiria Parata-Goodall is a distinguished member of the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Council, first joining in 2015. After stepping down in 2023 to take up other governance roles, she was reappointed to the Council in 2024 and confirmed as Pro- Chancellor. Her extensive governance experience includes roles on the Canterbury Museum Trust Board, the Arts Council of New Zealand, Te Pae K¨rako ±·²µ¨¡¾± Tahu Archives and Whakapapa Advisory Committee, the ±·²µ¨¡¾± Tahu Fund, the Christchurch Public Arts Advisory Group, and Te Taumutu ¸é¨±²Ô²¹²Ô²µ²¹. She has also served on the governance boards of The Arts Centre of Christchurch, Te Matatini, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, and the Waitaha Cultural Council. Her passion lies in cultural legacy, focusing on building, strengthening, and growing cultural identity, confidence, and competence. A proud descendant of ±·²µ¨¡¾± Tahu, Ng¨¡ti M¨¡moe, Waitaha, and Ng¨¡ti Kahungunu, Puamiria is dedicated to working with her various hap¨± to nurture initiatives that strengthen hap¨± and iwi identity and m¨¡tauranga. |
James Parsons - Council Member (Alumnus)Dip Farm Mgmnt (Linc) Current Term1 March 2023 ¨C 28 February 2027 |
James Parsons has extensive agribusiness and rural sector leadership experience. His Northland family business, Hard Hill Country Genetics, breeds and provides sheep and Angus beef genetics to clients throughout New Zealand. As an experienced director James chairs Wools of New Zealand and is a director for OSPRI ¨C charged with managing NAIT, the national cattle and deer traceability system, and TB Free a national disease and pest management programme. He is a former chair of Beef+Lamb New Zealand and the New Zealand Meat Board. And a board member of AgFirst Northland where he also provides farm systems advice to farm businesses. James has held directorships in economic development, the veterinary and electricity sectors. His governance skills are complemented by strong ability in strategic and stakeholder management, government and media relations, and he brings practical farmer perspectives to governance decisions. James¡¯ career is underpinned by a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, awarded in 2008, and academic success at ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University where he was the Gold Medallist (1999) and awarded the Diploma in Farm Management with Distinction. |
Professor Grant Edwards BAgrSci (Hons) (ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥) DPhil (Oxford) Vice-Chancellor Current Term 1 January 2022 ¨C 31 December 2026
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Coming from a farming background in Northland, Professor Edwards completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences with Hons from ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University in 1990. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in 1991 and through this scholarship, he completed a DPhil in behavioural ecology at Oxford University in 1994.
He then held research and teaching positions at AgResearch and Imperial College London, before returning to ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University in 2005, first as a senior lecturer in pasture science, before moving to the position of Professor of Dairy Production in 2009. He was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 2019 to 2021 and began his appointment as Vice-Chancellor in 2022. Professor Edwards¡¯ research interests are in the profitability and environmental performance of dairy farming systems. At ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University, he has been instrumental in the activation of a farm portfolio to support a continuum of activities from component research through to farm systems and demonstration. |
David Jensen - Ministerial Appointment BAgr, Dip Agri Sc
Current Term 8 September 2021 ¨C 7 September 2025 |
David resides in the Bay of Plenty and owns and operates dairy, kiwifruit, forestry and avocado businesses around the Tauranga district. David is graduate of Massey University with a Agri Degree as well as a Post-Grad Diploma in farm management. Prior to going farming David with a dairy farm Consultant in Canterbury and the Waikato. He has a wide governance background in the primary sector having held roles with Farmlands, Livestock Improvement, Satara, Eastpack Co-op, Figured, and chairs a wide range of MyFarm Limited Partnerships. David is Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors. |
Janice Fredric - Ministerial appointmentBCom (Cant), MBA (Dist) (Massey), CA, CFInstD Current Term8 September 2021 ¨C 7 September 2025 |
Janice Fredric was appointed as a University Council member in 2017 by the Minister and currently chairs the Audit and Risk Committee and the Capital Asset Committee. She is currently Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Aviation Security Service, a director of NIWA, Mainpower NZ Limited and Unity Credit Union, an independent member of the Timaru District Council Audit and Risk Committee, and a trustee of the NZ Shipwreck Welfare Trust.
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Gabrielle Thompson - Ministerial appointmentBVSc (Massey) Current Term18 June 2024 ¨C 17 June 2028 |
Graduating from Massey University with a veterinary degree in 2000, Gabrielle developed her own companion animal clinic in 2004. |
Dr Marjan van den Belt - Ministerial appointmentMsc (Eramus), Grad Cert (Maryland), PhD (Maryland) Current Term18 June 2024 ¨C 17 June 2028 |
Dr Marjan van den Belt has a life-long passion for ecological sustainability, social and cultural fairness and innovative economic solutions. |
Elizabeth (Liz) Hill-Taiaroa - Te ¸é¨±²Ô²¹²Ô²µ²¹ o ±·²µ¨¡¾± Tahu appointment BA degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (UC) He Papa Tikanga, He Tikanga Whakaaro, and Te Reo M¨¡ori qualifications from Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
Current Term16 March 2023 ¨C 15 March 2027 |
Ko Nuku Mania t¨ku maunga Ko Rakaia t¨ku awa Ko Uruao t¨ku waka Ko ±·²µ¨¡¾± Tahu t¨ku iwi Ko ±·²µ¨¡¾± te Ruahikihiki raua Ngai T¨±¨¡huriri ¨ku hap¨± Ko Ng¨¡ti Moki t¨ku marae No Taumutu ahau Ko Teihoka raua Brown ¨ku wh¨¡nau ingoa Ko Liz Hill-Taiaroa ahau Liz Hill-Taiaroa was appointed the representative of Te Runanga o ±·²µ¨¡¾± Tahu on the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Council by the unanimous decision of Te Runanga o ±·²µ¨¡¾± Tahu, Te K¨¡hui Kahukura. Liz brings strong educational and Te Ao M¨¡ori perspectives to the Council through secondary school teaching in Canterbury, with senior and leadership positions at Kaiapoi High School and St Andrew¡¯s College, over the years 2006-2022. Liz actively participates in Te Taumutu ¸é¨±²Ô²¹²Ô²µ²¹, living the experience of Tikanga M¨¡ori and her whakapapa roots in the takiw¨¡ within which ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University stands. Liz is the Kaihaut¨±- General Manager of K¨ia te M¨¡tauraka, a jointly owned r¨±nanga company delivering on Te Rautaki M¨¡tauranga- the ±·²µ¨¡¾± Tahu Education Strategy- and working with schools and leadership teams to build relevant resources to support developments in the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum. K¨ia te M¨¡tauraka supports mana whenua within the takiw¨¡ of the seven stakeholders in their educational aspirations and enables ECE, primary and secondary schools to access culturally relevant source material. Liz is Oranga Portfolio leader for Te Taumutu ¸é¨±²Ô²¹²Ô²µ²¹, engaging in hauora initiatives across health, education, justice and futures. Liz is also in her second term as Secretary on the Te Taumutu ¸é¨±²Ô²¹²Ô²µ²¹ Executive and has worked within this team to drive structural change to meet the evolving needs of wh¨¡nui within the takiw¨¡. Her governance and management experience includes over twenty years in roles as board member, treasurer and secretary (current) of Te Taumutu Runanga; University of Canterbury Ngai Tahu advisory panel member; University of Canterbury TEC panel Ngai Tahu representative; St Albans Community Pre-school Board Chair; Hornby High School Board of Trustees, Te Taumutu Runanga representative; and St Andrew¡¯s College ISEA Representative and Secretary. |
Professor Derrick Moot - Academic Staff appointmentB.AG.Sci (Hons) (Canterbury), PhD (ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥) Current Term29 May 2022 - 28 May 2026 |
Professor Derrick Moot has previously served as the staff representative on the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Alumni Association executive. He is a graduate of the University and was appointed as a lecturer in 1995. He is a National Tertiary Teaching Award winner (2004) and was appointed a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science in 2015. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his services to the sheep and beef industry including the Ray Brougham Award from the New Zealand Grassland Trust in 2016. Professor Moot takes an evidence based approach to his teaching of diploma, degree and postgraduate students and has a strong rural extension presence, particularly among sheep and beef farmers. He leads the Dryland Pastures Research programme which has been creating farm systems that are resilient to climate change for over 25 years. Its work has instrumental in the transformation of rain-fed farms across New Zealand, Australia and South America. It was awarded the NZIAHS significant achievement award for services to sheep and beef farmers in 2021. Professor Moot has published more than 300 peer reviewed science papers, supervised more than 100 postgraduate students and managed more than 20 externally funded research projects. His current research includes a farmlet comparison of conventional and regenerative grazing practices, assessment of pasture systems for the ¡°Hill Country Futures programme¡± and development on the AgYields database of crop and pasture yields hosted by ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University. |
Michelle Ash - General Staff appointmentNZIM Diploma in Management Current Term28 March 2023 ¨C 22 March 2027 |
Michelle Ash joined ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University in 2000 and is presently the Head of the Career Centre. She works closely with students, graduates and staff, fostering strong relationships with industry partners to ensure ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University¡¯s students and graduates leverage their employability to successfully transition into employment and further study. In addition to this position, she holds leadership and governance roles on the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Campus Service Council, and University Careers & Employability New Zealand, and is a longstanding member and Strategy & Governance Lead for the NZUni Talent Consortium. |
Demetrio Cooper - Student appointmentBA Environmental Management Current Term1 December 2023 ¨C 30 November 2024
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Demetrio is the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Students' Association President for 2024.
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Nathaniel Heslop
Council Secretary, Strategy Governance Officer
Email: nathaniel.heslop@lincoln.ac.nz
Contact Nathaniel regarding Council and committee meetings, papers, or other governance-related inquiries.
Contact the Council Secretary
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