alumnews School of Business Alumni Newsletter University of Otago June 2O1O

Dean’s Welcome

CONTENTS Welcome to the second issue of Alumnews. I thank you for your very warm response to our first issue of Alumnews, 1. Dean’s Welcome and appreciate all the messages of support we received. I hope you enjoy 2. School News the selection of stories we have brought together for this issue. The Alumni Stories line-up reflects the talent of our graduates, in so many different arenas. You, our Alumni, are the embodiment of the School of Business, your 3. Student News achievements are our achievements and we look forward to sharing 5. Staff News many more of your stories. 7. Alumni Achievements Here at Otago we are in a time of change. The MBA curriculum has Obituary been reviewed and is being re-developed with a new option in the health management area. Our pilot internship programme launched this year and the first five students are half way through their year working in businesses around the country. Our next intake goes into training in July and will begin their placements from late in the year. We have welcomed several visiting executive speakers to the School in the first semester and always welcome graduates to return and share their worldly experience with our current students. Already this year, the students taking part in the Case competitions are leading the other Business Schools in the national league. And more than 220 students entered the NBR Audacious Business Idea competition, jointly organised by the City Council, Otago Polytechnic and the School of Business. In the next semester students are working on full business plans for the major $20,000 prize. After you leave us, we are still interested in knowing where you go and what you are doing. If I can have three minutes of your time I would be most grateful if you could complete our short Graduate Destinations Survey, further details below. Here’s to another mild winter in sunny Dunedin. professor george benwell dean, school of business

Dunedin News “The All Blacks gave The House of Pain a fitting send-off with a 42-9 win over Wales in the final test match at A vision for the future, The University of Otago The is rapidly taking shape Carisbrook on Campus Master Plan. More Information. on Dunedin’s waterfront. More Information. June 19”.

1 School News Our alumni can provide useful input into ensuring the After completing his PhD in 2003, Matthias worked as Student News relevance of what the School is teaching; input into a Research Fellow and Assistant Professor at Humboldt Internship Programme research; and support for our various other programmes, University, Germany. In 2008 he was appointed Research From Dunedin to Walt Disney World The School’s Internship Programme has struck a chord including the recently launched Internship Programme. Group Leader in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, with employers around the country. While a number of CBME, University of Algarve, Portugal. other business schools around NZ offer short (up to three Your details will remain confidential. We thank you for month) internships, the six to 14-month term for Otago your valuable input. 2008 also brought with it an impressive achievement, with Matthias being part of a team that was awarded the Erwin- interns is proving very popular. This year, our first, we This survey is open until 30 July 2010. Complete the Schrödinger Prize of the Helmholtz Society – the highest have five students who have completed their first two years survey now. of study towards a BCom, working in internships with prize awarded by the biggest scientific society in Germany (and one of the largest in Europe). Matthias’ team were In 2011, four BCom (Hons) Tourism graduates will be CRT, Ernst and Young, Escea, KPMG and the University Alumni Stories embarking on a very American adventure. Dan Gush, of Otago. From all accounts these students have dispelled awarded the prize for creating a unique ‘connection scheme’ showing for the first time how thousands of Adina Pirvu, Brooke Brodie and Briar Roberts will be any initial employer concerns that students with two years All about the people. joining fellow ‘Cast Members’ in creating magic every of study are too young - they have proved beyond doubt Catherine Taylor human proteins (the building blocks and machines of life) interact with each other. Interactions between proteins are day for their guests at the Walt Disney World Resort near that interns can be valuable, productive employees. (BCom 1983) Orlando, Florida. A Dunedin local, Catherine of great interest for understanding disease mechanisms, With approximately 15 employers already confirmed to Taylor graduated from developing new drugs and detecting disease-relevant genes. The Disney International Programs offers a once in a take on at least one intern later this year, come 2011 the Otago in 1983 with a BCom The prize jury was especially impressed that the team was lifetime opportunity to work at one of the USA’s biggest Otago Business School will have interns in a broad range in ‘Manpower Studies’ employers and the world’s leading entertainment of industries all over the country. made up of researchers from different institutions and and ‘Quantitative and disciplines, including molecular biology, biotechnology, organisation. The Walt Disney World Resort is the largest Our Internship Programme has evolved into an exciting Computer Studies’. Gaining informatics, and engineering. Just goes to show what all single-site employer in the US, with over 55,000 Cast human resource and business solution. If you are an a graduate role with the that blue-sky thinking in Dunedin can lead to! Members from all over the world at the Orlando site. employer and are considering the benefits of taking on an Reserve Bank of New Zealand, she worked her way up to Cast Members on this programme are treated like any intern, we would be delighted to hear from you. Email Personnel Manager. Since then, Catherine has compiled The Four Square Guy other employee – they are paid a wage for working in your initial enquiry to [email protected]. an impressive HR record, with employers that include Steve Anderson (MBA 1985) ‘onstage’ and ‘offstage’ roles, and live in four, off-site Mitsubishi Motors, Rudd Watts and Stone (now Minter CEO designate, Foodstuffs NZ apartment complexes exclusively for Disney internship Executive Education Update Ellison), a number of large insurance companies, Enza and In October, Otago MBA and programme participants. With a working week Executive Education is pleased Land Information New Zealand. graduate Steve Anderson typically between 30-45 hours, there will be plenty of spare to offer Alumni a discounted will take over as Managing time to explore the Walt Disney World Resort, Florida and rate on all five-day open short- In 2001 she joined the New Zealand Post banking project, Director of New Zealand’s participate in the Disney International College Program. courses. Executive Education now Kiwibank, as General Manager Human Resources, a largest retail grocery These educational programmes offer professional and specialises in providing role she still holds. A year later she and her team won the NZ organisation, Foodstuffs New leadership development courses as well networking short-course professional Region award for HR Initiative of the Year, and in Zealand. Currently CEO of opportunities. Additionally, there are other benefits that development for middle- 2003 she was named the HRINZ HR Person of the Year. Foodstuffs South Island, Steve will soon be at the helm include social activities off-site and behind the scenes senior business people from “I owe my success to the opportunities that I have been given, of a company whose brands include PAK’nSAVE, New chances to get a glimpse of what goes into creating the around New Zealand. Courses are delivered mainly in my comfort level being challenged and the ‘bar being raised’, World, Four Square, Henry’s Beer, Wine and Spirits and magic of the Walt Disney World Resort. Dunedin, however this year we are delivering the General as well as very supportive leadership placing a lot of trust in Liquourland. Management Concepts course from the University of me, including my current CEO,” says Catherine. “However, I Steve was not a typical MBA recruit. After completing The Apprentice – Irish Style Otago Centre, as well as in Dunedin. have also worked with a lot of great people, there have been an Honours degree in Geology at Otago he was drawn Damian Kearns (current BCom student) some late nights, and a lot of fun along the way too!” • Dunedin Residential Short Courses alumni rate (all to neither exploration nor academia, but instead felt that open courses): $4000+gst (includes accommodation A busy mother of two, Catherine is also co-National business was the direction in which he wanted to head. His and all meals for the week) Vice-President of the Human Resource Institute of New MBA was a hugely significant experience, and he was lucky • Auckland (General Management Concepts course only) Zealand. She uses this role to share her experiences to enough to study in a particularly strong cohort of students alumni rate: $3500+gst help other organisations and raise the overall quality of with a good balance of capabilities and a willingness to people practices. “After all, organisations are their people, collaborate for the benefit of the group. Visit our website www.otagoshortcourses.co.nz for more therefore helping the HR profession to be more successful During his leadership of Foodstuffs South Island, Steve information on courses available, or contact the Executive can only be positive for New Zealand.” Education team for more information on the above has nurtured the company’s community focus and has discounted alumni rate: Computers and Proteins? developed a number of interesting initiatives. These include [email protected] Matthias Futschik ‘Food for Thought’, a primary school nutrition education +64 3 479 6379 (PhD 2003) programme; and ‘Store Sustainability’, which included Dr Matthias Futschik has using CO2 refrigeration and the use of natural light. Damian Kearns, an Otago undergraduate marketing and Graduate Destinations Survey had an interesting journey With a record breaking turnover in the midst of a tourism student currently on exchange to University The School of Business has developed a very short over the past 10 years. After recession (2009), reinvigoration of the Four Square brand College Dublin, Ireland has won the Ernst & Young- Graduate Destination Survey. If you are a graduate of the obtaining a Masters in and the launch of Henry’s Beer, Wine and Spirits behind sponsored entrepreneurial business competition, The School we hope you will be able to help us by completing Science (Physics), Matthias him, Steve’s next big challenge is in the arena of marketing. QSOC Apprentice Competition, run by the Quinn School this 3-minute survey. wanted to orientate himself Retailers can no longer stick with traditional mediums of Business. As you may be aware the School has earned the privilege more towards biology and such as television and newspapers. With the prevalence of being one of around only 50 global institutions to have medicine. Among other of the internet, MySky and social media, Steve is looking The three-round competition saw Damian and his been awarded accreditation with both EQUIS (European reasons, he was intrigued by the idea of moving to the end strategically at the way in which Foodstuffs communicates teammate competing under the name Apollopact, and Quality Improvement System) and AACSB (Association of the world at the end of the Millennium, and in 1999 with consumers. winning rounds two and three which consisted of a case enrolled for a PhD in Information Science at Otago. study competition and “Dragons Den” competition for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business). This is a man who thinks beyond his own success, who respectively. In the final round, four teams pitched their Amongst their many criteria for awarding accreditation, As for many Otago students, Dunedin’s proximity to the invests in people and is willing to share his expertise business ideas to an all-star line up of Dragons from the both institutions focus on the relevancy of what is taught great outdoors was a highlight of his time in Dunedin. and experience with others in the organisation, with corporate, government and academic worlds. by a business school and how our alumni utilise their Matthias found himself using his time in the mountains his community, and alma mater. Next time you see the qualifications in the wider world. and rivers to clear his mind and contemplate his studies familiar image of the Four Square guy, remember he is in from a fresh perspective. good Otago-hands.

2 3 Apollopact won the grand prize of €2,500 for their business So where did it start to click for Sam? “During my time at Shelley Wrigley Staff News idea of a solar powered waste compactor which could help Otago I was exposed to loads of new people and ideas, this (BSc Massey, current Master cities deal with waste management. Apollopact is not a new helped me find the things that I am passionate about and of Entrepreneurship student, Study of ‘ecopreneurs’ wins international idea for Damian who has been working on his business plan taught me to both apply myself and think outside the box,” Otago) acclaim for the past three years while studying in Dunedin. he says. “Looking back at my time in Dunedin it’s clear Having lived in , that the greatest benefit I got from studying in Otago was Since winning the competition Damian has been Auckland, , the chance to immerse myself in a community of forward approached by Ernst & Young and Enterprise Ireland Melbourne, Scotland, London thinking people who are compelled to make a difference in to submit his business plan to their Entrepreneur of the and Dunedin, and swapping the world and aren’t afraid to act on this compulsion.” Year Competition. The Dublin Business Incubator has a biochemistry qualification also advised they have four to six investors interested in Otago once again leads the National for IT employment for investing NZ$120,000+. Business Case Competition League entrepreneurial endeavours, Shelley Wrigley knows a great Damian honed his skills in the Otago Business Case team, In late May, Round Two of the Student Development deal about the challenge of embarking on a new adventure. winning the national title in 2009 and joining the Otago Society (SDS) National League Business Case Competition team to compete in the 2010 Scotiabank International League was held at the University of Canterbury. Once After a diverse IT career around the world, Shelley recently Competition in Ontario. again Otago proved its prowess in the case competition settled in Dunedin to work and raise a family (currently domain and won. three children under six). Finding herself with a few spare Embracing the Age of Social Media Not even widespread flooding, road closures, and snow minutes in the day, Shelley embraced her entrepreneurial Dr Jodyanne Kirkwood and Dr Sara Walton (Department Sam Schuurman (BCom 2008, during their drive to could prevent the tendencies and enrolled in the Master of Entrepreneurship of Management), have been invited to present some of PGDipCom 2010, current team from attending the competition. While the other degree at Otago. the findings from their in-depth study of ecopreneurs at MCom student) university teams competed valiantly, the judges praised Seizing the chance to test out her business idea, Shelley ‘Water, Wealth & Power for the Eco-Century’, a World From his MCom, to his job, to Otago for taking the top prize by a clear margin. entered the Audacious $10,000 challenge and won a prize Leadership Conference run by the International Women’s his company, Sam Schuurman The case was on Kathmandu, which may just have given with her idea of using wireless-enabled health-monitoring Forum, in Montréal in October. is well and truly immersed in our team an extra edge, given Otago student’s penchant for tools to improve diagnostics in cardiac related illness. the world of social media. And Kathmandu puffer jackets to keep out the southern chill. Amongst the other 800-1000 attendees will be heads of he has come a long way from “Solutions which allow collection of health data at remote state, corporations and enterprise, as well as members of The win puts Otago top of the table after round two, with being a C student in 2004. locations will contribute to a significant shift in the way the diplomatic community, policy-makers, decision-takers two events still to come. The Otago team included from health care is delivered in the future,” says Shelley. “These and opinion-leaders on five continents. While he works on completing his MCom on corporate left Amelia Bell (Economics & Marketing), Emily Mason solutions allow patients more freedom and the ability to blogs, Sam is currently employed in a graduate marketing (Finance & Psychology), Mijo Wilson (Management) and Other speakers include Helen Clark, United Nations contribute to their own case management, while treatment role at IBM in . This has proved to be an Tessa Black (Marketing & Psychology). Development Programme; Matt Damon, Co-Founder providers have a diagnostic tool that easily allows for exceptional learning opportunity where his passions for and Spokesman of H20 Africa, the clean water initiative online interaction and community building are being put regular collection of health indicators over time in a cost that is part of the ‘Running the Sahara’ expedition and to great use. effective manner.” film project; Chief Justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin, PC; Guy Laliberté, Founder, Cirque du Soleil and social Sam, together with Andy Moore a fellow Otago graduate, Post-graduation, Shelley plans to use the skills she learnt entrepreneur; Alexandra Cousteau, social environmental started iThnk.com as a blog that provided high quality online in her course to build her own business. “It really is a great advocate and founder, Blue Legacy; and Irena Salina, content, however the focus of the company quickly moved in course, particularly if you are a bit of a generalist. For French filmmaker and director of the award-winning an unexpected direction. iThnk.com has delved into offering those like me who tick more of the entrepreneurial boxes documentary ‘FLOW’. social media solutions. So far this has proved to be an than management ones, the MEntr has been inspirational”. interesting adventure and with Andy’s full-time commitment The study also received acclaim at the prestigious Academy to the business further expansion is on the cards. Alumni on the Move of Management Conference in Chicago in 2009. Tony Balfour (BCom 1983), the former head of Nike Another Otago connection remains strong for Oil exploration offers potential for growth Asia-Pacific was recently appointed Icebreaker’s General Sam. Together with a small team of Otago Alumni of Dunedin Manager, Markets and as a Director of Silver Fern Farms. Sam continues to help co-ordinate the bi-annual Dunedin has the potential to TEDxDunedin events. Established last year in a Bath St NBR 24/7 Audacious Student Entrepreneurs Katherine Rich (BCom 1990) began her term as CEO of be a key hub if oil exploration café, these independently organised events aim to provide Challenge the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council last year. goes ahead on the east coast of a platform for ideas worth spreading. The NBR 24/7 Audacious $10k Business Idea Challenge New Zealand, according to Dr Kate Dear has been promoted to Trade Marketing requires students (as individuals or in teams) to prepare a James Henry (Department of Executive for the Queenstown Conference Bureau. short summary of their business idea. The 10 best entries Marketing). oh the memories! are awarded a prize to the value of $1,000 each. Tourism Auckland is being taken over by Otago Tourism In a recent BNZ Business graduates. Recent appointments include Shelley Erskine for those of you reminiscing The challenge is designed for people with good business Seminar, Dr Henry compared – Marketing Coordinator (Trade Channel), Louisa Aitken ideas, which they would like to develop and put to the test. Dunedin with two prosperous about your otago days, the – Marketing Communications Executive, Lisa de Ruiter – Everyone who enters, whether they win in the first round oil industry supply-bases – history of the university Sales Executive and Rachel Keen – Marketing Executive. or not, is encouraged to develop their ideas and enter them Stavanger in Norway and of otago unit provides some into the NBR 24/7 Audacious $40k Business Plan Challenge. Aberdeen in Scotland - and delightful memories from otago Shannon Deeks (BCom, Tourism) has recently secured With a record 227 entries in the business idea challenge, a job at TalentPoint – Talent Management Architects. found that Dunedin has almost identical attributes in alumni to which you can probably competition was tough. Two aspiring entrepreneurs One project she has been managing may be of interest to terms of layout, harbour facilities, population size and relate. read the stories here or currently studying towards a Master of Entrepreneurship Alumni interested in the tourism job market. Tourism status as tertiary education centres. Recruit, has a pool of educated or experienced candidates even contribute your own. (MEntr) each took out a prize. One of these prize winners Dunedin’s suitability is illustrated by its close proximity to looking for employment specifically within the tourism was Shelley Wrigley. a major deepwater port at Port Chalmers, the capability sector. Employers can either browse the talent pool and of handling multiple ships at Dunedin wharves, an recruit directly, or post jobs on the website. established engineering base and an airport fully capable If you are on the move keep us in touch, email of catering to oil industry transport needs. Dunedin also [email protected] has the infrastructure, recreational facilities and hospitality to be attractive for oil industry staff.

4 5 Stavanger and Aberdeen have embraced the oil industry and Dr Sara Walton (Management) PhD Pathway O-Zone Symposium become major supply bases with healthy employment and Marcus Milne (Canterbury) Barbara Chambers (Finance Dr Anna Thompson (Tourism) income levels, as well as an increased university population. and Helen Tregidga (AUT) won & Quantitative Analysis) is a addressed the O-Zone the 2009 Mary Parker Follett Senior Teaching Fellow who Symposium on the topic “From “The city has to be proactive because there are massive Award from the Accounting, has been with the School for Giotto to GPS: 1982-2010”. To benefits, and at least 3000 jobs which Dunedin could gain Auditing and Accountability six years. Barbara has recently become a member of Otago’s from this development.” Journal for their paper “Words been accepted by the University O-Zone group, researchers must Harvard Business School Workshop not actions! The ideological of Utah’s PhD Programme have received either an Early role of sustainable development in Business Administration. Career Award or the Rowheath reporting.” The annual award Barbara has been awarded full Trust Award and Carl Smith is named in memory of the tuition costs and a teaching Medal. As a group of early to esteemed researcher, Mary stipend in order to join the mid-career talented researchers Parker Follett, a pioneering David Eccles School of Business. with expertise across a wide woman in the field of management and accountability range of disciplines, this group literature who was international and interdisciplinary in Best Paper Award is well placed to comment on national and international her approach. trends and to lead innovative developments. American Marketing Association Award Paper accepted in top international journal Professor Colin Campbell- Hunt’s (Management) paper with Professor Sylvie Chetty (Massey) “A Strategic Approach Dr Richard Mitchell (Tourism) and Dr Sergio to Internationalization: A Biggeman (Marketing) attended the Microeconomics Traditional Versus a ‘Born- of Competitiveness Network Faculty Workshop at Global’ Approach”, published Harvard Business School in late 2009. The workshop in 2004 in the Journal of was an intensive introduction to the Microeconomics International Marketing, has of Competitiveness course that will be taught in the been selected as winner of the Executive Education and MBA programmes. More than 80 2009 Hans B. Thorelli Award Richard Mitchell (right) receives a best paper award from conference co-chairs Professor Rob Brodie (left) and Dr Nick academics from around the world attended the workshop, offered by the American Lewis (right). but Otago is the only business school in New Zealand Marketing Association. The Dr Richard Mitchell (Tourism) and Ms Jo van der offering the programme. Hans B. Thorelli award recognises the articles that have Associate Professor Peter Whigham and Dr Grant Linden (BCom, BTour graduate) received one of three made the most significant and long-term contribution to Dick (Information Science) have had a paper accepted best paper awards for their paper “Adding Value Through Centre for the Study of African Economies international marketing theory or practice. in the IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation Cooperation: A study of the New Zealand Food and Conference journal. The paper investigated methods to reduce the Wine Tourism Network” – presented at the 5th Academy Alvin Etang, a Research Interdisciplinary Complex Systems Analysis computational requirements of Genetic Programming (a of Wine Business Research Conference in Auckland in Fellow in the Department of Group method for discovering solutions to problems inspired February. The conference was attended by more than 80 Economics, presented a paper Dr Michael Falta (Accountancy loosely by biological evolution). “Does trust extend beyond the & Business Law) has helped business academics from 13 countries. village? Experimental trust and establish an interdisciplinary social distance in Cameroon” Complex Systems Analysis at the Centre for the Study of Group. The group was African Economies (CSAE) established late last year rugby world cup 2011 conference at the University with the support of Head of of Oxford in June. The paper, Department, Professor Roger looking for accommodation in dunedin for the rugby world cup which is co-authored with Willett, and includes colleagues 2011? rooms have been kept available especially for school of Professor David Fielding and from Information Science business alumni – contact the executive residence to book your Associate Professor Stephen and Finance & Quantitative Knowles, uses data from an economic experiment (the Analysis. Their research agenda room now. visit the executive residence website. “Trust Game”), to analyse whether people in rural is to model the seller-buyer Cameroon are more trusting of people from their own relationship in the light of ‘offer/acceptance theory’. village, than of people from a neighbouring village. If trust does not extend beyond the village, this limits the size of Department of Management Appointment KEEP IN TOUCH a potential market and reduces the scope for economic The Department of development. The findings suggest that people are more Management welcomes Dr Remember to keep your details up to date on the University of Otago Alumni and Friends website. Paula O’Kane as a Senior trusting of others in their village, but trust in people from We love to celebrate the achievements of our graduates, so if your story would be of interest to your fellow Alumni, neighbouring villages was also high. Lecturer. Paula comes to Otago from the University of please get in touch. If you aren’t willing blow your own trumpet, maybe you have a friend or colleague whose Ulster, Ireland where she was achievements we could share in the next issue of Alumnews. If so, please email any suggestions to: a lecturer in Organisational kate turnbull is an mba good for marriage? Behaviour. Her PhD in [email protected] at the 20 year reunion of the Communication explored the internship & alumni coordinator mba 13 class, 22 of the 24 students role that email and the intranet who were married whilst doing plays in the internal workplace their mba are still with the same environment. partner – an exceptionally high percentage. Mary Parker Follett Award

66 7