UCOL is pleased to announce that the first of its Council members have been appointed by Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds.
They are Leanne Southey as Chair, along with Troy Hobson as Deputy Chair, and Dr Pim Borren, who have to date formed the Establishment Advisory Group for UCOL. They will be joined by Ian McKelvie MNZM, who has been acting as UCOL’s Community Advisor.
UCOL Operation Lead, Jasmine Groves, says the announcement of the first four council members will bring a great sense of stability to the kaimahi of UCOL.
“These four outstanding people have been undertaking establishment tasks to set up the organisation for UCOL’s direction and community partnerships over the last few months, and I’m thrilled that they are now the founding members of UCOL’s council from 2026. Together, they bring a vast array of knowledge and skills, important links to our communities, and a steady guiding hand for the start of our exciting new journey as a standalone entity.”
Leanne Southey was born and bred in the Wairarapa and still calls it home today. She is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and is a Director in the Wairarapa accountancy firm Southey Sayer. Leanne is involved in various community organisations and currently serves as a Trustee of the Masterton Community Trust, Director of Trust House Limited, and a board member of Wellington Water Limited. She has also held the role of Deputy Chair on UCOL’s previous council.
“I’m greatly looking forward to leading UCOL as Council Chair into the future and back to creating opportunities and strategically making decisions that best serve our rangatahi, our young adults, and local communities.”
Dr Pim Borren calls the Tasman region home. He brings broad experience to UCOL’s Council, specialising in leadership, governance, and economics, having served as Chief Executive for a range of organisations across education and local government. Including the Chief Executive of the Southbank Institute of Technology in Brisbane, Queensland’s largest vocational institute, with annual revenue of more than $130 million, almost 1000 staff and 25,000 students. Dr Borren was also the Chief Economist to the Government of the Cook Islands.
Troy Hobson brings over 25 years’ experience in the finance and banking industry in both NZ and the UK, dealing with complex financial instruments, as well as an established executive leadership career in agribusiness management and governance of iwi farming and commercial property interests. In 2013-2014, he acted as a member of the Commercial Negotiations Advisor for the interests of all Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa-Tamaki Nui a Rua in its Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations with the Crown. Mr Hobson has long been involved in governance-related roles as a trustee or council member across Ōtaki and Porirua Trusts Board, Tahamata Incorporation (an iwi-owned dairy farming Business), Eastern and Central Community Trust, and Fonterra Cooperative Council.
Ian McKelvie’s experience spans local government, Parliament, and the primary sector. Born and bred in Rangitīkei, he served as Mayor of Manawatū for nine years, followed by 11 years as a Member of Parliament. He has held governance roles with FMG, Dunchurch Enterprises, Pukemarama Farms, and Farmers Mutual Finance, and chaired organisations such as Special Olympics New Zealand and the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand.