- Location: Cromwell Presbyterian Church
- Start Date: Wednesday 15th Oct, 2025.
- End Date: Wednesday 15th Oct, 2025.
- Time: 10.00am - 12.000pm.
- 1 Weeks.
- 2 hours per week.
Cromwell U3A
My Career Journey to Central Otago - John Christie
With a strong track record as Director at Enterprise Dunedin, I was instrumental in driving the city’s economic development and positioning it as a hub for digital innovation.
My leadership encompassed a wide range of strategic areas — from city branding and destination marketing to nurturing start-ups and fostering a culture of innovation and community engagement.
In my current role as Director of the Central Otago Campus at Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga, I draw on this experience to lead with purpose and champion educational excellence. Over the course of my career, I’ve also served in a variety of governance roles across health, education, business development, events, and the not-for-profit sector — contributing to organisations that make a meaningful impact across our communities.
My address will offer a reflection on leadership, regional development, and the future of vocational education in Aotearoa. I will talk about my journey from unexpectedly becoming Chief Executive of the Otago Chamber of Commerce to leading major economic development initiatives at Dunedin City Council, including the establishment of Enterprise Dunedin and the nationally recognised Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE).
As Director of Otago Polytechnic’s Central Otago Campus, I will turn my focus to the significant changes underway in vocational education. With the government moving to dismantle Te Pūkenga and reintroducing regional governance, I will explore both the opportunities and challenges this shift presents—particularly for rural campuses facing programme closures and funding pressures.
