Board Chair. Board member since June 2018
BArch (Auckland) BA, BD (Otago) DipMin PCANZ, PhD (London)
Murray Rae began his working career as an architect in private practice before studying theology and philosophy in New Zealand, Germany and the UK. He is currently Professor of Theology at the University of Otago where he teaches courses in Christian Theology and Ethics. From 1998-2004 he taught theology at King’s College, London, and was previously a chaplain at the University of Auckland. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister, trained for Ministry at Knox Theological Hall, and taught at Knox for two years from 1992-3. He is married to Jane and together they have three boys, all of whom have studied at the University of Otago.
Board member since December 2022
BCom (Otago)
Corey was born in Dunedin and is a graduate of the University of Otago, completing his studies in 2017. He has worked in the financial services industry since 2016, initially as a KiwiSaver specialist and is currently an Associate Investment Adviser at Forsyth Barr while he completes his NZX accreditation.
Outside of work Corey is involved in the local field hockey community, having participated as a player and national level umpire. He is currently serving as a coach and Treasurer at the Momona Hockey Club.
Board member since October 2019
BA (Otago), Retired Presbyterian Minister
Margaret was born in Balclutha and has her roots in the Catlins. After gaining her degree at Otago (and being an inaugural resident of Salmond College in 1971), she spent some years in Scotland before settling back in NZ where she spent much of her working life as a librarian, at the University of Canterbury Engineering Library, then as the Manager of the Hurunui District Libraries and latterly as the Manager of the Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa in the National Library. During this time she served on various national committees within the library field.
In 2010 she and her husband Mike came to Dunedin for her to begin her two year formation for ministry studies at Knox Centre for Ministry & Leadership and at Knox Church. She was called to the ministry of Opoho Presbyterian church in 2011 and she completed this ministry in January 2020.
During her time in Dunedin Margaret has been a member of the Council of Assembly Leadership Sub Committee, convenor of two Presbytery groups (the Ministry Workgroup and the Review & Development Workgroup), and the convenor of the team producing the research report on the experience of women in ministry in the PCANZ in 2018.
Board member since November 2020
BCom (Otago), FCA
Andrew is a Chartered Accountant in Public Practice and a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand. He has been in Public Practice for 27 years. Prior to this he worked for Ernst & Young, mainly in Wellington. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, and a director of several privately held companies. He was a guest lecturer at the Otago University Business School for a five year period and is regularly involved in running Workshops for the Business, and Not for Profit Sectors. Over the past 27 years he has served on several different Not for Profit committees and boards.
Andrew currently has a high level of involvement in Rotary and served as the District Governor for the lower half of the South Island from 1st July 2018 to 30 June 2019 and is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ. He is married to Barbara and together they have two daughters, both of whom are studying at Otago University.
Board member since August 2020
LLB, BA (History)
Jessica was born and bred in Dunedin. She is a graduate of the University of Otago, and has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Majoring in History). Jessica was admitted to the bar in May 2013 and has been practicing law since, initially in the area of Treaty of Waitangi claims but more recently in employment law.
Jessica worked for several years in a Dunedin law firm before embarking on her OE for seven months in 2018. She returned to Dunedin in early 2019 where she joined the employment and litigation team at Anderson Lloyd.
Jessica is involved in the legal community as a member of the Otago Women Lawyers’ Society and the Dunedin and Auckland branches of the Employment Law Committee.
Jessica is also a member of the Executive for the Dunedin branch of Pregnancy Help Inc. which provides practical support and advice to families/whanau in Dunedin.
Board member since December 2018
BTP, MPlan(Hons) (Auckland), DPhil (Oxon), MNZPI
Michelle worked in professional planning practice for a decade prior to turning to an academic career. She is currently a Professor in the School of Geography at Otago, teaching and researching across the disciplines of geography and planning. She draws on te ao Mārama and mātauranga Māori to challenge the possibilities for sustainable urban and environmental planning. Her research involves many overseas collaborations in the UK, Scandinavia, Australia and Canada. She has produced more than 170 research outputs from 30 research grants. Michelle is Editor of Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability. She is also on the Editorial Boards for the Journal of Urbanism and MAI Journal (a journal of indigenous scholarship). In 2018 Michelle was the recipient of national research awards from both the NZ Geographical Society and the NZ Planning Institute, and was the recipient of a National Teaching Excellence Award in the Kaupapa Māori category. She is currently a research programme leader with Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. Michelle has been an Elder in Presbyterian churches in Aotearoa since the late 1980s, and is a Quinquennial Fellow of Knox College.
Board member since August 2022
BA, PG Dip, MA (USP), PhD (Qld)
Patrick Vakaoti is a Fijian sociologist in the Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology Programme, University of Otago. He researches young people and their experiences of street-frequenting, political participation, university learning and indigenous identity. He is a strong advocate for an appreciation of Pacific and indigenous consciousness at the university and in the community at large. Patrick is married to Vanisha and they have a young son, Rafa who has earmarked Salmond as his College of choice when he attends University.
Board member since September 2021
BTour (Hons), BCom
Jo is a Marketing Specialist, External Engagement, at the University of Otago. An alumna of Otago, Jo studied a Bachelor of Tourism (first class honours) and Bachelor of Commerce (major management, minor history).
An engaged, innovative and strategic marketer, Jo has over 10 years’ across the education, tourism, retirement and automotive industries. With experience in digital, traditional and experiential/event marketing mediums, she’s worked in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and Canada. After exploring the world and NZ, Jo relocated to Dunedin in 2018 to be closer to family and enjoy the wonderful lifestyle that Otago offers.
Head of Salmond College since December 2019
BA, PGDip Tch, PGDip Couns
Head of Knox College since May 2021
BSc, BTchg (Sec)
