Jan Mogford was Executive Director of EIT’s Tairāwhiti Campus and Regional Learning Centres from 2010 to 2020.
EIT has paid tribute to Jan Mogford, a former Executive Director of the Tairāwhiti Campus and Regional Learning Centres, who passed away on Sunday after a long illness.
Jan began working as a tutor at the then Tairāwhiti Polytechnic in 1995 and served in the role of Head of School of Business, Computing, Humanities, Rural & Trades, Hospitality from 2000 to 2010.
In 2011, following Tairāwhiti Polytechnic’s merger with EIT, Jan was appointed as Campus Director, a position she held until her retirement at the end of 2020.
EIT Chief Executive Chris Collins paid tribute to Jan this week, saying the news had been greeted with great sadness by the EIT whānau.
“Jan’s leadership, knowledge, passion, and commitment to ensuring our merger was successful for learners and the wider community, was huge! Jan made a real and significant difference to our success and to making EIT a better and more effective learning institution.”
He said that while Jan made an enormous contribution in Tairāwhiti, it was also significant to the wider life of EIT, particularly in her leadership of the Regional Learning Centres in both Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.
“She was greatly valued by her fellow Executive Team members, Council and Board members, staff and leaders in the wider community. She also helped develop strong partnership relationships with Iwi, particularly Ngāti Porou, through marae restoration activities up the Coast and through Māori Trades Training initiatives.”
“Our hearts and prayers go out to Jan’s husband, Ron, and her wider whānau. They have lost a partner, mum and grandmum. While Jan’s pain and suffering has come to an end, we are all left with the loss and grief of the passing of a dear friend, a highly respected colleague and a passionate advocate for our communities,” Mr Collins said.
EIT Tairāwhiti Campus Manager Waata Shepherd, who was appointed by Jan in 2019, said that Jan had always held the community interests and needs as a high priority for the Institute’s operational performance.
“Jan was deeply committed to the Tairāwhiti and wider EIT communities and did everything in her power to address what was required in our communities and assist and support students in their aspirations. She will be deeply missed by us all.”
Jan Mogford’s funeral service was held in Gisborne today (Wednesday 26 January) and due to COVID-19 restrictions, was also livestreamed. EIT provided venues on its Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti campuses for staff to watch proceedings.