New Chancellor for Victoria University

The Hon. Russell Marshall was elected the new Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington at today's University Council meeting. He succeeds Douglas White QC, who will retire after twenty years as a member of the Council; the last four years as Chancellor.

Russell Marshall served as a minister from 1984 to 1990 in the last Labour government, including terms as Minister of Education and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Marshall (previously Pro-Chancellor) is a member of the Finance Committee, convenes the Pacific Island Liaison Committee and recently chaired the Council's Working Party on the Government White paper.

Mr Marshall is the Chairman of Polytechnics International, Education New Zealand (formerly NZEIL) and the Cambodia Trust. He is also a member of the Nelson Mandela Trust. Until earlier this year Mr Marshall chaired the National Commission for UNESCO and he has just completed a four-year term as New Zealand representative on the UNESCO Executive Board.

After retiring from politics Mr Marshall completed a Bachelor of Arts at Victoria which he had begun forty years earlier. Mr Marshall also has a Diploma in Teaching.

The Council elected Emeritus Professor Tim Beaglehole as Pro Chancellor, joining Mrs Winnie Jardine, who was re-elected as Pro Chancellor. Rob Cameron was re-elected Treasurer.

The Council paid warm tribute to the retiring Chancellor, Douglas White for his lengthy service to the university, beginning with a term as President of the Students' Association, and including service as Treasurer, Pro Chancellor and Chancellor.

Mr Marshall will take office as Chancellor at the beginning of January 2000.