The objective of governance and leadership at the Polytechnic is to ensure the organisation develops and maintains a clear strategic direction, sound academic policies and regulations, robust reporting, monitoring and control mechanisms, and engages its key stakeholders.

Council and the Executive Office all play lead roles in achieving this objective.

The Polytechnic is governed by Council, and managed by the Chief Executive.  

Open Polytechnic Council

Chairperson

Douglas Langford - Appointed after consultation with NZ Employers' Federation

Douglas was the Managing Director of the Supertex Group of Companies at the time of his appointment to Council in 1998. Elected a member of the board of ITPNZ 2009. A Life member of Employers and Manufacturers - Central he is currently Chairman of Access HomeHealth, and Chairman of Sander Apparel Ltd. He is also a Trustee of the Personal Advocacy Trust, and the Marsden and Chelsea Daycare Trusts. Third term of office finishes 31 May 2009.

Deputy Chairperson

John Meeuwsen – Ministerial Appointment

John was recently appointed CEO of the Retail Institute (an ITO) and has been Chair of the Industry Training Federation since 2004. He was CEO of Sfrito Ltd for four years and the founding CEO of Workbridge Inc. Much of John’s career has revolved around labour market issues and skill development. In recent years, however, he has focused on a number of major change management projects – setting up the Department of Corrections, restructuring at the Wellington City Council, the ACC, setting up the machinery to give effect to the Employment Relations Act, and digitising NZ’s land title records and land survey information. John graduated in economics and politics at Monash University in Melbourne. First term of office finishes 23 September 2011.

Council Members

Bill Armour - Ministerial Appointment

Bill Armour is currently General Manager Finance at Vehicle Testing New Zealand Limited. Bill has a background in Corporate Finance having held CFO roles for several organisations, including Hewlett-Packard New Zealand and Computerland New Zealand prior to his current position. He is a past National Councilor and Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants and a former Board of Trustee member at Wellington College. He is also a Member of The Institute of Directors and an Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Second term of office finishes 31 January 2012.

Nazir Awan – Elected by Academic Staff

Nazir is a Principal lecturer in Advanced Management Accounting in the School of Business. He has extensive financial management experience both in New Zealand and overseas. Prior to joining the Open Polytechnic in April 2005, Nazir worked as an independent financial management consultant. He has also held senior financial management positions in companies in New Zealand - including time as a Chief Financial Officer for NZ Post - Australia, Canada, and the UK. Nazir holds a Master of Science degree (UK), and is also a Chartered Accountant (NZ), Management Accountant (Canada), Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), and a member of the Institute of Directors. First term of office finishes 24 February 2010.

Neville Baker - Ministerial Appointment

Wellington-based Neville Baker (Te Atiawa) has devoted his life to the advancement and uplifting of Maori. He is highly respected in both the world of Maori and the public service, having held the position of Deputy Secretary of Maori Affairs from 1985-87 and Maori Trustee from 1987-90. Throughout his long career in the public service, Neville advised a number of governments on a wide range of issues concerning Maori. He is currently advising a number of organisations, including Te Puni Kokiri, Crown Forestry Rental Trust, Kohanga Reo National Trust and Department for Courts. He is a trustee of the Wellington Tenths Trust and Chairman of a number of runanga and marae organisations. Positions include: chairman Parkway College Board of Trustees 1985-1990, Aotearoa Festival Kapa Haka, Wellington 1998 and current chairman Te Atiawa Nui Tonu; former trustee Poutama Trust; current trustee Matiu-Somes Island Trust and Correspondence School Board of Trustees; former director of Maori Development Corporation; and director Wellington Rugby League Franchise. Second term of office finishes 31 July 2011.

Cliff Daly – Co-opted Member

Cliff Daly is Principal of an independent consulting company providing human resources and employment relations support for employers in the public, private and 'not-for-profit' sectors. He has had wide experience in senior management and governance roles across these sectors and has had a longstanding interest in work-based training and education. Recent clients have included several government agencies, a major elderly care provider, companies in the transport and retail sectors, the NZ Retailers Association, the NZ Medical Association and a major local authority. He was the founding President of EMA Central and a former Director of Business New Zealand. Cliff maintains an active interest in community organisations in the Wellington area. First term of office finishes 30 August 2011.

David Hutton – Ministerial Appointment

David Hutton has extensive management experience both in New Zealand and overseas. Commencing his career in the Audit Office, David then held senior positions at Government Life (now Tower), the International Monetary Fund in Washington and ACC, before eight-and-a-half years as chief executive of Public Trust. He is currently Chief Executive of the Institute of Financial Advisers and prior to that worked as an independent consultant specialising in public sector management improvement. David has a Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Commerce (Hons) from The University of Auckland, a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Policy from Victoria University of Wellington. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant. Second term of office finishes 17 August 2011.

Charlie Pedersen  - Co-opted Member

Charlie Pedersen was the National President of Federated Farmers and has extensive experience in lobbying and advocacy. Although a farmer, Charlie has a background in education and the teaching of children with special needs. He has held elected posts in many local organisations in the Manawatu. He has strong interests in improving safety on and about New Zealand farms, and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Farmsafe New Zealand. As well as the business of pastoral farming, Charlie has commercial and forestry interests, and was the founder chairman of a company that grew to be the largest privately owned agricultural consultancy in New Zealand at that time. First term of office finishes 29 April 2009.

Alison Penney - Elected by General Staff

Alison is the Academic Registrar at the Open Polytechnic, and has held a number of roles since beginning as an enrolments officer in 1991. She has also worked in administration roles, as a Programme Coordinator/Leader for the NZ Dip Bus, and as the Administration Team Leader in the School of Business. She holds a Bachelor of Business, and is a member of the Open Polytechnic's Academic Programmes Committee, Academic Board and Examinations Board, is a member of the ITS Development Group, and member of the Learner Web Steering Group. Alison is also a Ministry of Education Sector Liaison representative, and a member of the Diploma Supplement Working Group. First term of office finishes 9 April 2013.

Caroline Seelig - Chief Executive

Dr Caroline Seelig joined the Open Polytechnic as Chief Executive on 26 January 2009. Formerly Deputy Chief Executive of Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT - 2000-2009), Caroline has 16 years’ experience as a senior manager in New Zealand’s ITP sector.  At NMIT she led the institution’s strategic and investment planning, along with oversight of flexible learning, academic and portfolio development, quality management and student support.

Caroline has extensive knowledge of the ITP sector and has led or been involved in a wide range of successful collaborative initiatives and external funding bids to drive change and innovation.She coordinated the ‘Top of the South’ ITP Regional Facilitation Statement 2007-08. A Woolf Fisher Scholar in 2004, Caroline holds a PhD in Biology from University College of Swansea and a Master of Educational Administration, Massey University.

Ross Teppett – NZCTU Appointment

Ross Teppett is the national education officer for the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union. He has nearly twenty years experience in the trade union movement – working as a researcher, organiser and education officer. Ross completed a science degree (Otago) in 1980, going on to train and work as a print and radio journalist before joining the Trade Union Education Authority in 1988. He recently completed a Masters degree in adult education studying extramurally. Ross is committed to ensuring working people have maximum access to quality education and training opportunities for their employement and active community engagement. First term of office finishes 30 August 2011.

Marian Tredinnick – Student Member

From Christchurch, Marian Tredinnick works as an accountant for a manufacturing company. She has a New Zealand Diploma in Business from Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, and has completed a Bachelor of Business with The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. Marian is an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. She has served as a member on the National Committee of Accounting Technicians. Marian continues to study with the Open Polytechnic towards the Chartered Accountants qualification. Marian has a keen interest in the arts, golf, and distance learning. Third term of office finishes 23 February 2010.