For Immediate Release
15 December, 2010

Wintec Honorary Awards for a Businessman, a Farmer and a Journalist

A businessman, a farmer, and a journalist will have honorary awards conferred upon them next year by Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology).

John Spencer will receive an honorary fellowship for his business, financial and commercial savvy both at a national and regional level. He is currently Chair of Tainui Group Holdings, WEL Networks and KiwiRail, and was formerly Chief Executive of the New Zealand dairy Group. He is also actively involved at a Governance level with Tower Ltd, Dairy NZ, Legal Services Agency and other organisations."

Sir Henry van der Heyden will receive an honorary fellowship for his services to agriculture in the Waikato region and beyond. He began his career as a farmer in Putaruru. He then joined the New Zealand Dairy Group Board aged 34, where he went onto become their Chairman in 1999. He played a considerable role in industry rationalisation and was instrumental in helping to set up Fonterra. Sir Henry is currently Chairman of Fonterra Co-operative Group, a post he has held since 2002. In 2007 he was awarded a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DCNZM) for services to agriculture.

Venetia Sherson will be awarded an honorary Master of Arts in recognition for her contribution to media and journalism in the Waikato region. She is a former editor of the Waikato Times who was at the helm to manage and introduce the paper’s first Saturday morning edition in 2003. She was also Wintec’s first Editor in Residence, a role she held for four years. During that term she edited and co-directed two regional books, Heritage Hamilton and Baches of Raglan, both of which were produced by Wintec students.

Wintec chair Gordon Chesterman said the honorary awards for John Spencer and Venetia Sherson will be conferred during Wintec’s annual graduation ceremonies in March next year, with Sir Henry’s conferment occasion still to be confirmed.

Wintec’s honorary recipients must have made a significant contribution to Wintec, the region or the nation over a number of years through innovation in industry or business, scholarship and research, or enhancing New Zealand society.

Honorary fellows and degrees are approved by the Wintec Council following recommendations made by the Honorary Degree Nominations Committee which annually review honorary nominations from Wintec staff.

ENDS

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