Role of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor

The role of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor is to provide high quality services to the Vice-Chancellor and, through the Vice-Chancellor, to Council, the Senior Management Team (SMT), Heads of Schools (HOS), and Directors of Central Service Units (CSUs).

These services include strategic and academic leadership, planning, policy development and compliance, risk management including the internal audit function, legislative awareness and compliance, the provision of management information and reporting and executive support.

The philosophy of the Vice-Chancellor's Office is to provide and demonstrate leadership, integrity and the highest standards of professionalism to the University community in these areas.

The key functions of the Office include:

  • overall management of the academic and administrative affairs of the University;
  • coordination of strategic planning;
  • coordination of overall accountability to meet the University's statutory obligations;
  • coordination of the activities of the various components of the University;
  • management of external relations at senior management level;
  • coordination and facilitation of the activities of the Council and its standing and ad hoc committees;
  • provision of advice on University policies and procedures; and
  • repository of information and data on matters relating to governance and senior management bodies.

Office of the Vice-Chancellor Staff

On this page:

Pat Walsh

Vice-Chancellor Professor Pat Walsh

As Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University I am both its administrative and academic head, responsible to Council (of which I am also a member) for ensuring that the University carries out its statutory and contractual functions in teaching, research and community service.

I am also the employer of all staff in the University and chair of the Senior Management Team. I also chair the Universities New Zealand (UNZ) Committee on University Academic Programmes.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 214
Phone: 04 463 5301

Back to top ^

vicki-faint

Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor Vicki Faint

I am the Executive Assistant to Professor Pat Walsh, Vice-Chancellor.  My main responsibility is to contribute to the smooth operation of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor from the organisation of meetings and functions, through to correspondence, diary management, minute taking and general office administration. 

I am also the Secretary of the weekly Senior Management Team meetings.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 213A
Phone: 04 463 5301
Email: address

Back to top ^

Neil Quigley

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Neil Quigley

As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) I have responsibility for research policy, strategy and performance, as well as research scholarships, external research revenue, intellectual property and commercialisation.

I chair the Boards of Victoria Link Ltd (the commercialization company of Victoria University of Wellington), iPredict Ltd (a technology startup company), Wetox Ltd, Victoria University Press, the Adam Art Gallery Funding Trust, and the Adam Art Gallery Advisory Board. I am also a director of Te Puni Village Ltd, the holding company through which the University manages the operation of the Te Puni Village student residence.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 303
Phone: 04 463 5083
Email: address

Back to top ^

Catherine Galuszka

Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Catherine Galuszka

I am Executive Assistant to Professor Neil Quigley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). I ensure the smooth running of the office, from the organisation of meetings and function, through to correspondence, diary management, minute-taking and general office administration. I am secretary to the University Research Committee, and to the intellectual property standing committee. I also look after grants funded through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor's (Research) office.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 301
Phone: 04 463 5546
Email: address

Back to top ^

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Penny Boumelha

As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), I am responsible for leading the implementation of the University's Learning and Teaching Strategy, Equity and Diversity Strategy, and Student Experience Strategy, and have oversight of a number of Central Service Units. Reporting units include:

I chair a number of committees and groups, including:

  • Equity and Diversity Committee
  • Learning and Teaching Strategy Committee
  • Student Experience Group
  • PVC and Deans Committee
  • Grievance Appeal Committee
  • Centre for Lifelong Learning Management Board
  • VPEP Committee
  • Library and Information Services Committee
Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 209
Phone: 04 463 5093
Email: address

Back to top ^

David Mackay

Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Team Leader, Executive Support Team Susan Davies

I am Executive Assistant to Professor Penny Boumelha, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Team Leader, Executive Support Team in the Academic Office. In addition to my EA responsibilities I have functional responsibility for managing the flow of work and allocation of work to members of the Executive Support Team to ensure a co-ordinated approach to academic and project support.

Additionally I am Secretary to the PVC and Deans Committee, Student Experience Group and the Grievance Appeal Committee.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 208
Phone: 04 463 5201
Email: address

Back to top ^

Executive Officer to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Jude Brown

My role is to support the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) in a variety of policy, planning and operational matters. I also provide advice and support to the DVC (Academic) in the monitoring of the University’s Equity and Diversity Strategy, the Learning and Teaching Strategy and the Student Experience Strategy.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 207
Phone: 04 463 5104
Email: address

Back to top ^

andrew simpson

Chief Operating Officer Andrew Simpson

As Chief Operating Officer, I provide strategic leadership across many of the University’s Central Service Units, ensuring the provision of high quality services to students and staff, data analysis and reporting. I also lead the development and implementation of long-term resourcing strategies for the University, in addition to a range of other strategic responsibilities.

Contact Details

Room: Hunter Building 212
Phone: 04 463 5585
Email: address

Back to top ^

elizabeth-church

In-House Solicitor Elizabeth Church

I am a New Zealand qualified solicitor, with 9 years experience as an in-house lawyer. Most recently I was employed in London as Head of Legal and Business Support for a subsidiary of the Capita Group Plc, a FTSE 100 company, where I had oversight of the provision of legal advice to the business, the appointment of external legal advisers, responsibility for contentious matters and litigation and I managed the incidents and complaints reporting procedures within the organisation.

Prior to this, I have held positions with Office of Treaty Settlements, Wellington; Buddle Findlay, Barristers and Solicitors, Wellington; Quigg Partners, Barristers and Solicitors, Wellington; and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, London.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 213
Phone: 04 463 6551
Email: address

Back to top ^

denise-young

Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer Denise Young

I am Executive Assistant to Andrew Simpson, Chief Operating Officer. My main responsibility is to ensure the smooth running of the office of the Chief Operating Officer, by providing secretarial and administrative support services and undertaking direct responsibilities to support the Office.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 222A
Phone: 04 463 9489
Email: address

Back to top ^

Sue Sumpter

Director Planning and Policy Sue Sumpter

As Director of Planning and Policy my role is to provide support to the Vice-Chancellor in the areas of planning, policy, reporting, risk management and internal audit.

My planning role includes oversight of the planning process; assisting with strategy development at the University level; and providing support to Faculties, Schools and Central Service Units in the development of their plans.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 205
Phone: 04 463 5990
Email: address

Back to top ^

Administration Assistant/Secretary Sylvia Moynihan

As Administration Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor's Office, I am responsible for assisting the Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor and, in her absence, providing executive support to the Vice-Chancellor, as well as general office administration.

I also provide secretarial support for the Director Planning and Policy; I am minute taker at Council meetings and I am responsible for the care and operation of the Victoria Room which involves coordinating bookings and catering.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 221
Phone: 04 463 6282
Email: address

Back to top ^

alex-galvin

Policy Manager Alex Galvin

As Policy Manager, I look after the coordination of policy across the University. This includes maintaining the currency of University policies and statutes, supporting the writing of new policies as needed, and facilitating policy training. Victoria's policy, including statutes, policies, guidelines and procedures can be found on the University Policy website.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 221
Phone: 04 463 4705
Email: address

Back to top ^

leah-gifford

Secretary to Council Leah Gifford

As Secretary to Council, I provide executive support to the University Council and its sub-committees, and to the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor on governance matters. My responsibilities include providing advice on University policy and protocol, and legislative compliance, and undertaking ad hoc projects and activities associated with the business of Council.

Contact details

Room: Hunter Building 206
Phone: 04 463 5196
Email: address

Back to top ^