Tan Sri Halim Saad is one of Malaysia’s most influential business leaders, responsible for projects such as Malaysia’s North-South Expressway and Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s satellite terminal.
He has maintained close ties with Victoria University and New Zealand since graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in accounting from Victoria in 1977.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford says Tan Sri Saad has been an “outstanding supporter of the University” and is a “well deserving recipient of the Friend of New Zealand Award”.
“Halim’s generosity and support of Victoria over the years has enriched the University’s connections with Malaysia. It is an honour to count him as an alumnus, and we are incredibly privileged as a university to benefit from his expertise, experience and ability to create educational opportunities between New Zealand and Malaysia,” says Professor Guilford.
Tan Sri Saad has spearheaded several learning initiatives at Victoria, including a new programme that will enable Malaysian students from his Kolej Yaysan Saad International College to complete their accounting degrees at Victoria, Auckland and Canterbury universities. The first group of 140 students will arrive in New Zealand next week, with numbers expected to grow in 2016.
Tan Sri Saad has been a key supporter and co-founder of Victoria’s Chair of Malay Studies, and sponsors the Saad lecture and seminar series in Malay Studies at the University. He received a Distinguished Service Award from Victoria in 1999.