Dr David Skilling - BCom, MCom, MPP, PhD

Dr David Skilling is the founding Chief Executive of the New Zealand Institute, a think-tank that has been established to contribute new and creative thinking to the public debate on issues that matter for New Zealand's future. From the middle of 2003, David worked with a broad group of business, community, and education leaders (including former Vice-Chancellor Dr John Hood and alumnus Chris Liddell) to set up the New Zealand Institute.

Since the public launch of the New Zealand Institute in July 2004, it has undertaken work on creating an ownership society, arguing for policies that encourage personal savings and asset ownership, and has recently launched a project that looks to increase the extent of international engagement of the New Zealand economy. The institute produces high quality research and publishes discussion papers to stimulate public debate and achieve real-world impact.

David was previously a principal adviser at the New Zealand Treasury where he worked primarily on economic growth issues. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting and Finance as well as a Master of Commerce (Hons) degree in Economics from The University of Auckland. In 1994 he received the Fowlds Memorial Prize for the "most distinguished student in the Faculty of Commerce". He also holds a masters and a PhD in public policy from Harvard University.

David was a teaching Fellow at Harvard University for three years, and has also worked at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, at McKinsey & Company, and Deloitte. He has recently been appointed to the Business School's fundraising advisory board.

David received the inaugural Young Alumnus of the Year award in 2006.