Ian McKinnon - BCom, DipEd
Ian graduated from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Commerce in economics, and later completed a postgraduate Diploma of Education at The University of Auckland. Now Pro Chancellor of Victoria University and a Wellington City Councillor, he has a record of educational leadership and public service that spans 35 years.
Ian began his teaching career at King's College, and also taught at Eton College in the United Kingdom. He was headmaster of Wanganui Collegiate School from 1980 to 1988 and Scots College from 1992 to 2002. During this time, he served on a number of government committees on education, including two committees on the curriculum and the ERO Advisory Council. He was president of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools from 1998 to 2000 and served on the executive of the Independent Schools Council.
Since 2002, Ian has practised as an education consultant providing services to state, integrated and independent schools in a number of areas. Last year, he was appointed Chairman of the Correspondence School and until its merger with Victoria University was Chairman of the Council of the Wellington College of Education.
In addition to being a Trustee of the New Zealand Educational Scholarship Trust (NZEST), Ian is a member of one of the scholarship selection panels administered by the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee. He is Chairman of the He Papa Pounamu Foundation for community support and for a number of years has served on the Committee of the Waitangi (now Link) Foundation for United Kingdom - New Zealand relations as its Chairman in London and Wellington.
In 1990, Ian was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal and in 1991 he was appointed a Companion of the Queens Service Order (QSO) for services to New Zealand in the United Kingdom. He was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1992 and is a Justice of the Peace.
Ian is widely respected by his colleagues for his lifetime commitment to excellence in both the classroom and in the area of extra curricular activities, for his ability to inspire and motivate students of all abilities, and for his willingness to lend his considerable talents to educational and community good. He is married to Jenny, and they have two adult children.
Ian received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005.
