Highest UCOL Honour for Malcolm Pettman

29 March 2011

Highest UCOL Honour for Malcolm Pettman

The first recipient of new Universal College of Learning Council Honours was announced at a UCOL graduation ceremony today.

Council Chair Trevor Goodwin says the awards, made for the first time this year, honour people who have made an outstanding contribution to UCOL, the wider community and to society.

Malcolm Pettman, well known in the Manawatu for his contributions to business and the community, receives the highest honour of Honorary Fellow, for an outstanding and distinguished contribution.

Mr Pettman says he is honoured to receive the award and feels privileged to be amongst the many people who contribute in some way to the success of UCOL and its students. “In today’s world I believe it is particularly important for young people to be qualified to achieve their goals in life,” he says.

“For me, one of the highlights of the year is attending the UCOL graduation ceremonies. It’s an emotional feeling to see the young and not so young receiving their degrees, certificates and diplomas that they have worked hard to earn.”

Malcolm Pettman has accountancy qualifications but has spent much of his long career in management in the New Zealand dairy industry. He retired from the position of Chief Executive of Tui Milk Products Ltd in 1991 but Mr Goodwin says his life before and since then has been committed to community, education and service.

Mr Pettman has served on the UCOL Council since 1997. He was Deputy Chair for four years and Chair of the Council’s Finance and Resource Committee, and will leave the Council in April this year. Mr Goodwin says in all of his work for UCOL, Mr Pettman’s depth of experience has been invaluable. “He has contributed to Council at the highest level through his work with the Chief Executive, always guided by the highest standards of excellence in education, training and research.

“Mr Pettman ensured the institution operated in a financially responsible manner that provided for the efficient use of resources to maintain long term viability so that UCOL could continue to serve its communities, offering the opportunity for education to all its peoples.

He says Mr Pettman played a leading role in the financial work involved in UCOL’s merger with Wairarapa and Whanganui Community Polytechnics.

Mr Pettman’s working life was linked to many aspects of dairy companies: Golden Bay Co-op Dairy Co. Ltd; Ruahine Co-op Dairy Co Ltd in Dannevirke; Tui Co-op. Dairy Co. Ltd. Pahiatua; Tui Milk Products Ltd. His skills were called on post-retirement as an advisor/consultant to various dairy companies until the formation of Fonterra. He has also been the Chair of Directors of Electro Power Ltd and Chief Executive of the Tararua District Council, and is a director of Infracon Limited.

Mr Goodwin says Mr Pettman has also given back much through voluntary work. “He has offered his services on a voluntary and ongoing basis, providing advice on how to reach financial goals. The organisations he supports include Neighbourhood Support Group, PN City (Inc.); Manawatu Multiple Sclerosis Society; St Andrew’s Church, and Freemasonry.

He has been Treasurer and President of the National Association of Woodworkers and is still a leading contributor to the Manawatu guild. “He generously gives his time, knowledge and expertise to these organisations that would not otherwise be able to afford to access advice of this calibre,” Mr Goodwin says.

The other two recipients of UCOL Council Honours for 2011 will be announced at graduation ceremonies in Whanganui and Masterton next month.

ENDS