UCOL strengthens community links

UCOL strengthens community links

Helen Craig has joined Whanganui UCOL as Director of Community Relations, a role established as a result of the Joint Taskforce with Wanganui District Council last year. The role is in response to community working party recommendations to strengthen links with the community and to follow-up on recommendations from the Taskforce.

Helen is well known to many people in Whanganui, as a District Councillor, arts community advocate with a long association in Artists Open Studios and Wanganui Festival of Glass and her work with Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust. Helen is also a member of Wanganui Rotary and Whanganui Chamber of Commerce and publishes the Awa Event Guide.

UCOL Chief Executive Paul McElroy said the Community Relations role and Helen’s appointment offers a strong connection between the community and UCOL and he expects ideas will flow in both directions.

“Helen has already met with a number of groups and is signaling there are plenty of opportunities and partnerships to develop. We are very keen to show our commitment to the community and play our part in providing tertiary education that meets local needs and government priorities” said Mr McElroy.

Helen studied with Whanganui UCOL, completing her Fine Arts Degree in 2009, and is a familiar face on campus. “It’s wonderful to know so many of the tutors and staff on Campus and has meant I can hit the ground running. UCOL is investing a huge amount of energy and funding into the campus and working closely with the Council to ensure a vibrant future for our District and I’m very pleased to be part of that process.”

The Director Community Relations role is part time until the end of the year. Helen replaces Jo Hayes who fulfilled this role until she took up a position in Parliament earlier this year.
ENDS

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