John Christie joins Otago Polytechnic after 10 years as Manager of Enterprise Dunedin (the economic development team at Dunedin City Council), and 20 years as Chief Executive of the Otago Chamber of Commerce.

But he's always been on the fringes of education, including running training courses through the Chamber, and serving on the Otago Polytechnic Board for a number of years.

"And so for me, this opportunity came up and I thought it would be quite fun to get a bit closer to it and see what difference I can make," he says.

Otago Polytechnic's Central Campus is split across two locations - Cromwell and Wānaka.

It draws on the local environment to offer students a unique learning experience, with programmes ranging from High Country Farming, Horticulture, and Electrical Trades through to Outdoor Education, Avalanche Safety and Snowsports.

As a longtime Dunedinite, John admits the new Cromwell-based role will be a big change. But he has had a lot to do with the Central Otago region in his previous roles, and is enthusiastic about the potential.

"The location's fantastic. Cromwell and Wānaka are great campuses, and there's real opportunity there to get close to the community. Especially in those areas where you can see the industry growth, like horticulture and agriculture areas... and also your traditional trades like electrical, mechanical, and building."

John will be joined by members of the senior leadership team later this month for engagement meetings aimed at ensuring Otago Polytechnic can continue to provide relevant learning opportunities that meet the evolving needs of learners and the local community.