EIT’s newly-appointed deputy chief executive Mark Oldershaw.
Mark Oldershaw says it felt like returning home when he moved to Hawke’s Bay to take up his new role as deputy chief executive at the Eastern Institute of Technology.
Chief executive of the Industry Training Federation for the last three years, Mark started in his new position in mid-February.
Born and raised in Napier, the Napier Boys’ High School old boy says he has been keen to move back to the Bay for some time but only if the right opportunity presented itself.
“EIT’s national reputation was certainly a magnet for me. It’s a really well-respected institution and I see the deputy chief executive’s position as a big and challenging role.”
After gaining a BCA (Hons) in economics and an Executive Master of Administration from Victoria University, Mark returned to Napier to work for Oldershaw & Co Ltd where he qualified as a chartered accountant.
On a professional level, his particular interest is economic and business development. Before leading the Industry Training Federation through a significant period of change and repositioning, he was Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at the consultancy company Network Communications NZ, where he worked with several major corporate and industry clients.
Before that, he held a number of general manager and chief executive roles in industry, political and arts organisations, including the World of Wearable Arts when the annual art and fashion event was staged in Nelson. In his various roles, he has built up a significant network of business, industry, public agency and political relationships.
Personal interests include music and the arts. He has played the trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn, and while he says he could get back into that when the Hawke’s Bay lifestyle allows, he is now more focused on directing.
Retaining active links with the Hawke’s Bay’s music and arts scene, he was the musical director for the Napier Operatic Society’s production of Mamma Mia in 2014.
Based in Wellington for the last 12 years, Mark moved to Hawke’s Bay with wife Alison and the couple’s two children – Hannah, 14, and Charlotte, 12.
EIT’s deputy chief executive for the past seven years, Claire Hague is to undertake further studies in te reo and community development. She plans to remain in Hawke’s Bay where she will continue in her governance role with Ako Aotearoa, the National Centre for Tertiary Excellence.
Chief executive Chris Collins says he is very pleased to have someone of Mark’s calibre to take on the role of deputy chief executive, particularly given the outstanding contribution Claire had made to EIT.
“Mark’s industry linkages and interest in business and economic development are significant given that EIT’s regions, Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti, are facing economic challenges and want to lift their games.”