New chairman for SIGNAL

A chairman has been named for the new South Island ICT grad school that Otago Polytechnic is collaborating on.

Dr David Band comes to the role with 30 years of experience in global consulting firms, running large business schools, and directing and investing in technology-based companies.

Dr Band describes his new role with SIGNAL as both a challenge and a great opportunity.

“It is a challenge to New Zealand higher education to think in terms of – and to deliver – return on investment to New Zealand. And it is a huge opportunity for local businesses, students and educators to help us all make giant strides towards being a truly competitive knowledge economy,” he says.

“As with all great ideas, the success of SIGNAL and other ICT Grad Schools will be determined by how well we execute those ideas. What will this require? Many things, but in particular, an unrelenting focus on outcome and a determination to be driven at all times by the needs of our customers – business and students.”

The interim chair of SIGNAL, the University of Canterbury’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Business and Law Professor Sonia Mazey, says to have someone of Dr Band’s experience and industry knowledge joining the SIGNAL board is a tremendous coup.

“David brings SIGNAL the wealth of his contacts and experiences, plus a real focus on outcome. He is a terrific asset to our new grad school.”

SIGNAL – the South Island ICT Grad School – is a collaboration between Otago Polytechnic, Ara Institute of Canterbury, Lincoln University, the University of Canterbury and the University of Otago. The grad school, funded by TEC, is also closely aligned with industry and is tasked with meeting the technology sector’s growing demand for highly-skilled ICT professionals.

SIGNAL in the media: Otago Daily Times, Livenews, voxy.co.nz, stuff.