Michael Parker

Chief Executive Officer - Presbyterian Support South Canterbury

Bachelor of Applied Management (2013)

Master of Professional Practice (Business Management) (2015)

Whilst holding down the demanding position of Chief Executive Officer for Presbyterian Support South Canterbury, Michael undertook and successfully achieved his Bachelor of Applied Management via Capable NZ in 2013. Michael also graduated with a Master of Professional Practice (Business Management) in 2016.

Michael is responsible for several major achievements at Presbyterian Support South Canterbury including growth in income of 130 per cent, introduction of the Eden alternative care philosophy, and establishment of a dedicated earthquake response team.

Michael is an Associate Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management, Australian College of Health Service Managers and New Zealand Institute of Health Managers.

Alexa Forbes

Queenstown Lakes District Councillor

Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Practice (2012)

Alexa Forbes focused her year-long graduate study and research on the creation of Shaping our Future, a future development plan used to consider events, economic development, conservation, energy and food resilience. Since graduating with the Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Practice in 2012, Alexa has already put her research into action through her position as a Queenstown Lakes District Councillor. The Shaping our Future process has become a key mechanism to sort complex issues in the Queenstown Lakes district.

Elaine Gray

National Midwifery Advisor for Continuing Education: New Zealand College of Midwives

Master of Midwifery (Merit) (2011)

Elaine Gray is an experienced practising midwife who studied with Otago Polytechnic to obtain a Master in Midwifery degree, graduating in 2011.

Elaine is a midwifery advisor at the New Zealand College of Midwives and is responsible for the College’s continuing education programme for midwives. Elaine also facilitates national events such as the NZCOM educator’s day and the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Forum to encourage midwives to engage in scholarly activity.

Elaine is a strong supporter of Otago Polytechnic’s Midwifery Programme and a member of the Midwifery Permanent External Advisory Committee for Otago Polytechnic.

Ryan Keogh

Project Manager - Naylor Love Construction

Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4) (2007)

Diploma in Construction Management (2014)

Ryan Keogh graduated from Otago Polytechnic in 2007 with his first qualification: the Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4). 

After graduating Ryan gained employment with Naylor Love construction as a carpentry apprentice. In the second year of his apprenticeship he entered the Nationwide Master Builders Apprentice Challenge which he was successful in winning for that year.

Ryan is now a Project Manager at Naylor Love and was recently responsible for the $11million redevelopment of Invercargill Prison.

Ryan has also completed the National Diplomas in Quantity Surveying and Construction Management and is currently enrolled in Massey University’s Bachelor of Construction.

Graham Batts

Former Managing Director - Scott Technology

New Zealand Certificate in Engineering 

Former Otago Polytechnic tutor, Graham Batts, started his career in 1956 undertaking a five-year apprenticeship with J & A. P. Scott (later Scott Technology) and studying evening classes at the King Edward Technical College.

In 1965 he was awarded a scholarship to Britain to study hydraulics and pneumatics and worked for the makers of the Concorde supersonic aircraft. Through the mid-1960’s to mid-1970’s Graham was a tutor part-time at Otago Polytechnic.

Since 1969 Graham was the managing director of Scott Technology until his retirement in 2000. Graham continued as Director of Scott Technology after this time and in February 2016 he completed 60 years of service for the company.

Lynn Taylor

Artist and Art Judge

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Printmaking) (1998)

Master of Fine Arts (Distinction) (2003)

Lynn Taylor graduated with her first Otago Polytechnic qualification in 1998 before re-enrolling to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree which she was awarded with distinction in 2003. Lynn is an internationally-recognised practising printmaker and multimedia artist who lives in Dunedin.

Lynn is the winner of several awards including the Creative New Zealand Grant for Woosuk Residency in Korea in 2003, The Asia 2000 Grant, the Caselburg Residency in 2012 and the Scientific Excellence Award in the Luminescence Photography Competition in 2015.

Lynn also tutored artists at Otago Polytechnic for a number of years and won an Otago Polytechnic Excellence in Teaching Award in 2001.

Frequently giving back to the community, Lynn has been an Association of Book Crafts judge, Open Arts judge at the Otago Peninsula Exhibition and has served on the Cleveland Arts Centre Board, University of Otago Fellowship Advisory Board and Caselberg Trust Foundation Board.

READ MORE ABOUT LYNN HERE >

Andrea McLeod

Deloitte Touche - New Zealand Young Executive of the Year Award 2002

Bachelor of Midwifery (1996)

Andrea McLeod was a busy mother of four with a music degree who decided to change paths and pursue midwifery as a career. She graduated from Otago Polytechnic in 1996 and worked as a lead maternity care practitioner for several years.

Andrea also gained qualifications in Public Health and Business and became New Zealand’s Young Business Person of the Year.

Andrea then moved into management roles for NGO’s, working as Chief Operating Officer at Plunket’s National Office before moving to Australia to take up the position of Executive General Manager of Community Services at the Royal District Nursing Service of Australia.

Richard Emerson

Founder - Emerson's Brewery

New Zealand Certificate in Science (1988)

Richard Emerson graduated with the New Zealand Certificate in Science from Otago Polytechnic in 1988, before establishing Emerson’s Brewery in 1992.

Richard was a visionary driving force in the setting up of the Brewers’ Guild in 2006 and was the first president of the organisation. Richard was also the first recipient of an Honorary Fellowship, the Guild’s highest accolade in 2014.

Emerson’s Brewery continues to grow from strength to strength and Dunedin will soon be home to a new multi-million dollar custom-built Emerson’s brewery site.

Richard has had a long association with the School of Hospitality at Otago Polytechnic and helped with the first International Food Design Conference and Studio held here in 2014.

Ron Anderson

Co-founder and Managing Director - Arrow International

New Zealand Certificate in Building (1967)

Ron Anderson went straight from high school to study for a New Zealand Certificate in Engineering in 1967, the year after the Polytechnic opened.

After graduating in 1971, he worked for Fletcher Building, becoming a senior manager before co-founding Arrow International in 1984. The company now employs more than 400 people, including Otago Polytechnic graduates.

Arrow International has managed the completion of 3,000 projects throughout Australasia including airport terminals, hospitals, post-earthquake construction in Christchurch and the preservation of historic huts in the Antarctic.

Away from work, Ron immerses himself in outdoor recreation as a keen hunter, angler and multi-sports competitor. He has completed the gruelling Coast to Coast and Southern Traverse endurance events multiple times.