New senior appointment for Waikato University
The University of Waikato is pleased to announce the appointment of Raymond McNickle as Head of Corporate Services, a
new senior position created to help enable the University to bring its new vision to reality.
The appointment will bolster the University’s ability to deliver on the ambitious vision of excellence, international
connectedness and distinctiveness, which was announced in May.
Mr McNickle has substantial experience at senior management level in both the private and state owned enterprise
sectors. He will take charge of the operational activities of the University including, student and academic services,
marketing, student recruitment, finance, library, information and technology services, international, and facilities
management.
Waikato University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Roy Crawford, said Mr McNickle had impressed the Appointment Committee
with his appreciation of the fundamental values and principles underlying the new vision, and the challenges the
University faced in delivering it.
“Mr McNickle’s considerable experience and success in influencing results at a large institutional level gives us
genuine confidence in his ability to help lead the strategic change process,” said Prof. Crawford.
“He is an extremely incisive person. His manner is a wonderful balance of creativity, tough-mindedness and pragmatism.”
Mr McNickle grew up in Auckland but has been based in the South Waikato since 2002 as Business Improvement Manager with
Carter Holt Harvey Pulp and Paper. He has been particularly successful at identifying and creating new, sustainable
business opportunities.
“I have a passionate commitment to education and see it as the key to opening up opportunities for people” said Mr
McNickle who in addition to a BCom degree from Auckland, has completed the Advanced Management Programme at Macquarie
University.
‘I believe that the operations of the corporate services team of the University should be a demonstration of our
know-how,” said Mr McNickle. “We have many people who are world-leaders in their field of expertise and the way in which
the University conducts its business should reflect that level of excellence.”
Previously Mr McNickle has been a trustee of the South Waikato Economic Development Trust. He places a great deal of
emphasis on contributing to and engaging with the community. “I bring a ‘stakeholders first’ philosophy with me into
this new role, something which I see as central to Waikato’s new vision”, he said.
Mr McNickle is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Upper Atiamuri Primary School, which is attended by his two
children, Shaun and Stacey.