Whitireia names Don Campbell as its new CEO

31 May 2006

Whitireia names Don Campbell as its new CEO

Whitireia Community Polytechnic has appointed Don Campbell, Chief Executive of Tai Poutini Polytechnic, in Greymouth, as its new Chief Executive.

Don Campbell takes over from Deirdre Dale, who resigned in December after nine years in the top job at Whitireia.

Mr Campbell’s appointment was announced today (Wednesday May 31) by Whitireia Council Chair Dennis Sharman.

“Don Campbell brings a wealth of expertise to Whitireia Community Polytechnic,” Mr Sharman says. “He has a proven track record of sound financial management and strong student growth at Tai Poutini and has demonstrated the ability to establish strategic partnerships with the local community.”

Mr Campbell, 55, was chosen from among 48 applicants. He is expected to start at Whitireia in early September.

“Don has a comprehensive knowledge of the tertiary sector at a national and local level and his strategic understanding of the key issues was a significant factor in the Council appointing him to the position,” Mr Sharman says.

“The tertiary sector will continue to undergo major change over the next few years. Don’s appointment at Whitireia will ensure that we are well positioned to provide an excellent vocational education for our students and to continue to make a significant contribution to the communities that we serve.”

At Whitireia, Mr Campbell takes responsibility for a polytechnic that has experienced rapid growth. It has more than 500 staff and 7185 kiwi and international students at campuses in Porirua, Kapiti, Wellington and Auckland.

Before being appointed Chief Executive of Tai Poutini Polytechnic in 2000, Mr Campbell was Director of Corporate Services at Northland Polytechnic responsible for finances, and various services including marketing, the library, information systems and others.

Mr Campbell says, “Whitireia is an excellent polytechnic. Like Tai Poutini Polytechnic, it is well connected to its community, has highly committed staff, and has also been very successful over the last several years. It will be a huge challenge and honour to lead it as CEO.

“There are significant challenges for the ITP sector as a whole at present, including flat enrolments and a new funding system due in 2008, which will require careful guidance and leadership,” he says.
“I also look forward to working with staff to develop a world-class centre of excellence in one of the many strengths of Whitireia.”

Mr Campbell has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Otago University, a Diploma of Teaching from Auckland Teachers College, and a Masters degree with first-class honours in Human Resource Management from Massey University. His research interests are in organisation culture. In 1999, Don was invested as a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management.

Originally from Dunedin, Mr Campbell was in Northland for 22 years and has lived on the West Coast for six years. He is married with three children – two daughters and a son – as well as two grandchildren, who live in Titahi Bay. His wife, Liz, is a professional counsellor working in child and adolescent mental health in Greymouth.

ENDS

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