José Ugaz "The Risk of Grand Corruption in New Zealand"
Global Chair of Transparency International, José Ugaz included Victoria Business School (VBS) in his New Zealand-wide speaking tour in August 2017.
A lawyer by trade, Mr Ugaz is best known for his work as Peru’s ad-hoc state attorney where he prosecuted several high-level corruption cases. Most notably, he was instrumental in the corruption case against former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori and the former head of the country’s intelligence services, Vladimiro Montesinos. During the Fujimori-Montesinos affair, his office opened more than 20 cases against 1,500 member of Fujimori’s network.
Commentator Ian Fraser interviewed Mr Ugaz on issues including an analysis of what grand corruption is, the magnitude of the problem and how to measure corruption.
“Most of the big cases that challenge international security are linked to corruption and that’s a relation we cannot forget,” Mr Ugaz said.
He also told his story of fighting corruption in Peru, discussed the transparency of political party finance in New Zealand’s upcoming elections and national and international security issues.
The interview was followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with three business people; BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope, Trade Me’s James Ryan, and Lynn McKenzie, who is known for her former leadership roles with National Council of Women of New Zealand, ZONTA and Transparency International New Zealand.
Professor Ian Williamson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of VBS said the event aligned with the shared vision of Victoria Business School and wider University to the place where the community discusses and develops solutions to key challenges in society.
“The issue of corruption is certainly one that is relevant to sectors, government, business and civil society. And it is appropriate that this topic is being led by Professor Karin Lasthuizen. We are proud to have her as part of our world-class talent focusing on globally relevant issues.”
Professor Lasthuizen is the School’s inaugural Brian Picot Chair in Ethical Leadership. “One of the main aims of the Chair is to contribute to maintaining New Zealand’s good ethical reputation. A way in which we can do that is to facilitate discussion about important ethical issues,” she said.
Video clips of the public lecture, can be found in the resources section of the Chair of Ethical Leadership web page.