Barry has a long association with the Polytechnic and its changes over the years. His first association was for secondary school education in its last years as Christchurch Technical College, then for trade examinations and carrying on to tertiary and an NZCE in Production Engineering. In the mid 90’s he updated with a Diploma in Business Studies. He has enjoyed a long career in manufacturing and has worked in the Glass, Metals and Plastic Industries, and was the NZ Operations Manager for an international plastics company for many years.
In the community he has been involved with the coaching of swimming and surf life saving,and has served on the British New Zealand Trade Council, and the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce Board.
Jenn Bestwick
Jenn Bestwick was previously CPIT Council Deputy Chair, was appointed CPIT Council Chair in February 2010, and re-appointed Chair by the Minister for Tertiary Education for a three year term from May 2010. Jenn’s professional career has been largely in strategy and business development. Following a number of years in the health sector Jenn led the strategic consulting practice for KPMG in Auckland for a number of years working extensively in the public and private sectors. Following a move to Christchurch, Jenn spent a number of years working with Ngāi Tahu where she was more recently General Manager, Strategy and Planning for Ngāi Tahu Holdings Group, the commercial arm of the iwi’s operations. Jenn is currently working with Environment Canterbury where she is Programme Director for the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. In addition she is a member of the Board of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority
As Chair of the Council, Jenn is ex officio a trustee of the CPIT Foundation.
Kay Giles
Kay Giles has been Chief Executive of the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) since August 2010. Prior to this, Kay was Institute Director at SkillsTech Australia, the trades and technician institute in the Brisbane metropolitan area. She has also held positions of General Manager, Information Technology and Product Services, Department of Employment and Training; Director, Open Learning Institute; Director, Wide Bay Institute of TAFE and Regional Director, Wide Bay/Sunshine Coast Region TAFE, Training and Employment Queensland (TAFETEQ).Kay has a passion for vocational education and training and to the role it plays in contributing to economic, industry, community and individual development
Elizabeth Hopkins
Elizabeth has over 20 years experience in commercialising science and has worked in several areas including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, and food. She has been CEO of several New Zealand Biotech companies and now holds business management, directorship and consultancy roles within a wide range of organisations at both local and national levels. She is also Deputy Chair of the CPIT Council.
Jane Cartwright
Jane Cartwright was awarded a Bachelor of Science, a Post Graduate Diploma in Science (Human Nutrition) and an MBA from the University of Otago, and holds NZ, UK and Australian Dietetic Registration. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Partnership Health Canterbury Primary Health Organisation, and has previous experience as the Strategy Support Manager and the Research and Policy Development Manager with the Christchurch City Council and Planning Manager for the Canterbury District Health Board along with various Mental Health roles with Health Link South. Jane is a member of the CPIT Council and was appointed a trustee in July 201.
Carl Pascoe
Carl has 30 years experience in educational, community, directorships, business management and consultancy roles within a wide range of organisations at both local and national levels. He has run his own consultancy business for 17 years. The consultancy specialises in assisting people to shape and develop values based, challenging, and profitable, exciting and fun organisations. His focus is on creative thinking, strategic direction setting, negotiation, mediation, networking and organisational change. He uses a unique style of facilitative and experiential processes.
Karen Lewis
Karen is employed by the Accor Group of Hotels, as an accountant based at their Christchurch Accounting Centre. She has previously worked in hotels both in New Zealand and overseas for a number of years. She has spent about 13 years in the tertiary education sector gaining a PhD in accountancy from the University of Canterbury. Her thesis examined the business history of the Mount Cook Group, a major private sector company in NZ tourism up until 1990. Following completion of her PhD, she worked for 4 years at the University of Canterbury as a lecturer in accounting. Karen has served for 5 years as a director on the National Board of Youth Hostels Association of New Zealand Inc., where she also served on the audit and risk committee.
Scott Whitaker
Scott was born and raised in Christchurch. Scott left Christchurch after completing his studies at Canterbury University in 1995, spending time living in Perth, London and Auckland before returning with his family 2004. Scott is a lawyer with Duncan Cotterill, a longstanding Christchurch firm which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2007. Scott practices predominantly in corporate and commercial law and property law and has particular specialty in finance and banking. He has acted for a number of finance companies and for major New Zealand banks as well as a wide range of companies and property investors.
Kay Poulsen
Kay Poulsen is Managing Director of Help4U, a patient advocacy and health system navigation service. She has over 20 years’ experience working with public sector organisations and has held senior management positions as Quality Manager for Banks Peninsula District Council (BPDC) and Project Manager for Canterbury District Health Board (based at Christchurch Hospital). She has provided consultancy services to several not-for-profit organisations such as Nurse Maude, Presbyterian Support South Canterbury and the Royal NZ Plunket Society. Kay has an MBA with distinction from the University of Canterbury, a Diploma of Secondary Teaching from the Christchurch College of Education and is a registered PRINCE2 Practitioner. Kay is a current member of the New Zealand Health IT Cluster and a Director of the Rotary Club of Christchurch.
Jackie Curtis
Jackie is Relationship Strategy Manager with Meridian Energy Ltd. Jackie has a comprehensive background and significant experience in the provision of strategic communications and marketing in both the private and public sector. Prior to her current role she was Director of External Relations with Environment Canterbury. In that role she had responsibility for the management of the IT, customer services, communications and marketing, resource care and community resilience teams. Jackie has also worked within central government as Southern partnership manager with Land Transport NZ. In that role she managed the team responsible for working with local authorities to determine the land transport programme of works within the South Island.
Geoff Cranko
Geoff has been developing and managing companies for an impressive 25 years. His career has seen him work on every continent leading teams of up to 1500 people. Having run both large and small organisations, Geoff knows first hand the challenges that any business can bring. He believes that success comes through good relationships, and he understands the intricacies of business issues from corporate strategy to product and personnel development. As Strategy’s Group Managing Partner, Geoff offers straight talking business experience to our clients. Geoff enjoys client interaction at the highest level, helping to provide clear thinking with regards to the strategy and direction of our clients' businesses. Along with facilitating, managing and developing the growth of the Strategy Group of companies, Geoff sits on several boards of private companies. He is also a trustee for the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation and the International Busker's Festival.