Tertiary Education Commissioners appointed
Appointments to the Tertiary Education Commission were announced today.
The Commission, which was established on 1 January 2003, is responsible for implementing the Tertiary Education Strategy
and invests $2.2 billion annually in tertiary education and research, industry training, training opportunities
programmes and community education.
Appointments have been made to the Commission’s 8-member board to replace its chair, Dr Andrew West, who has recently
taken up a new position as Chief Executive of AgResearch and Dr Ian Smith who is moving to Sydney to head up the
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
Minister responsible for the Tertiary Education Commission Steve Maharey said Cabinet has confirmed deputy chairperson
Kaye Turner as the Acting Chairperson and has appointed current board member Shona Butterfield as Acting Deputy
Chairperson. Professor Graeme Fraser has been appointed as a new member of the board.
“The Tertiary Education Commission is charged with implementing the government’s tertiary education reform programme.
Its priority task is to provide leadership to the post-school education sector so they can better meet the knowledge,
skill and research needs of business and society.
“Commissioners are looking forward to a busy year on the back of the release of the peformance-based research fund
assessment. Key pieces of work include the forthcoming release of a discussion document on ways to encourage greater
differentiation amongst the different types of tertiary education organisations, and intiatives to promote quality
tertiary teaching.
“Professor Graeme Fraser will bring his considerable governance and management expertise of the university sector to the
Commission’s board. He recently retired as Massey University’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic) after a a long and
distinguished academic career. He currently chairs the board of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the Health
Research Council and has previously served on university and polytechnic sector quality assurance committees.
“A decision about a permanent chairperson for the Commission will be made later this year,” Steve Maharey said.