Professor Jan Thomas has announced her resignation from the Vice-Chancellor role.
Professor Thomas says it’s been an honour and a privilege to have held the Vice-Chancellor role and now that the university has stabilised its finances and is on course for a very solid future, it is good timing to give someone else the opportunity to lead ۶Ƶthrough its next phase.
She is particularly proud of how, over the last five years, the university has built critical state-of-the-art teaching and research spaces on all three campuses, a circa $385 million investment, while remaining debt free. This includes the architecturally award-winning Innovation Complex on the Auckland campus.
She said she appreciates it takes considerable time to replace a Vice-Chancellor, which is why she is giving a year’s notice to ensure stability until a new leader is appointed.
Professor Thomas was previously Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Southern Queensland. Her contract at ۶Ƶ was renewed in 2021 with then Chancellor Michael Ahie acknowledging her strong leadership through the disruption of the pandemic, and the university’s achievements against its strategic plan despite the challenging economic environment at the time.
Prior to becoming a Vice-Chancellor, Professor Thomas was an award-winning Veterinary Surgeon and it’s fitting that Massey’s Tāwharau Ora School of Veterinary Science is now ranked as the best in Australasia and Asia, and 19th in the world.
Professor Thomas has been a passionate supporter for all things ۶Ƶsince she started in January 2017, and is recognised globally as an academic leader of standing. She is a former chair of the Council for the Association of Commonwealth Universities and currently chairs the Quality Assurance Council in Hong Kong.
Chancellor Alistair Davis thanked Professor Thomas for working tirelessly to future proof ۶Ƶ and noted how only recently they had been able to achieve a $3.7m surplus for the year ending December 2024, which was a significant turnaround from the forecast deficit of -$30m.
Mr Davis says, “We appreciate that Jan has faced and worked through many difficult challenges to lead the university and put it on a strong footing, ensuring a very focused institution for the next Vice-Chancellor.
“We will be immediately beginning the recruitment process, but this is expected to take some time, with an appointment not likely to be announced until late in the year at the earliest.”
Professor Thomas says she is looking forward to some planned travel and being able to spend time with overseas family, as well as focusing on how she can give back to the wider Aotearoa New Zealand community that she has grown to love since moving here in 2017.
“I want to sincerely thank the Senior Leadership Team and the hard-working staff at ۶Ƶwho have made the university the respected and loved institution it has become after almost 100 years of existence.”