InZone Education appoints new chair

InZone Education Foundation has announced the appointment of a new InZone board chair, Dr Jim Mather, who will assume the role on March 1.

The InZone Education Foundation is a New Zealand-registered charitable trust that aims to inspire and support Māori and Pasifika youth to take their place in the cultural, economic and civic leadership of Aotearoa New Zealand. It wants to provide them with the opportunity to immerse themselves in culturally supportive residential and school communities with high expectations and a focus on achievement in their academic, sporting and cultural activities.

Current board chair and founding trustee Deborah George said, “Jim has proven to be an outstanding leader in Māori, Pasifika and mainstream organisations.”

InZone was founded under the umbrella of the United Māori Mission and opened its doors to the first cohort of 28 boys in 2011.

Subsequent to this, a new charitable trust (InZone Education Foundation) was established, led by Matt Whineray as chair of the first board of trustees.

Mather said he felt humbled and honoured to be following in the footsteps of the many leaders and whānau who have contributed to an amazing organisation. 

Rēnata Blair, director of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust said he was very pleased with the appointment. 

Mather joins current board members Gerald Bethell, Astrud Burgess, Brandon Edwards (Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai) Dane Grey (Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei), Kara Waetford (Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai) and Lana West. Deborah George will remain as a trustee.

Mather is of Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe and English descent. He grew up in the communities of Te Teko, Ōtara and Māngere.

Previously he was the chief executive of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa for five years. This followed a nine-year tenure as CEO of Māori Television, and prior to that, CEO of the Pacific Business Trust.

Mather holds a masters of business administration from the Henley Business School in England and a BBS, as well as diplomas in business and management. He also completed a PhD in economic development through AUT in 2014.

With business management experience spanning 25 years, he is a qualified accountant by profession, and has held a variety of private sector roles including GM of a marine engineering business and financial controller for a local subsidiary of a Swiss multi-national. He is a member of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand and the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Aligned with his commercial background, he is also a former officer in the New Zealand Army and was awarded the Sword of Honour in recognition of his distinguished achievements in officer training. He served for six years in the NZ Army before leaving to further his career and educational aspirations.

He currently holds governance roles with the following organisations:

• Chair of Radio New Zealand

• Chair of Lakes District Health Board

• Director of Auckland Transport

• Director of Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited

• Member of the MBIE Risk and Audit Committee

• Managing director of Mather Solutions 

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