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Wellington, May 17, 2021
Massey University Financial Education (Fin-Ed) Centre is gearing up to provide expertise and guidance to support New Zealanders in making sound decisions, with the appointment of David Kneebone as its new Chair.
The aim is to encourage them to save for the rainy day, have in place a sound retirement plan and plan for stability of income in the future.
New era of support and advice
Established in 2011, the Fin-Ed Centre was a joint initiative between Westpac New Zealand and Massey University. Westpac stepped down from its involvement with the Centre at the end of 2020.
Fin-Ed Director Dr Pushpa Wood said that she is grateful for the past decade of collaboration with Westpac and their involvement with setting up the Centre.
“Thank you, Westpac. The Centre looks forward to continuing our work to help New Zealanders become more financially savvy and hopes to continue working with Westpac in the mutual areas of research and education interest in future,” she said.
According to her the Fin-Ed Centre is poised for a new era and will continue with their extensive work around improving financial capability, professionalising the sector through their workforce development programmes, new online education course offerings, research, and consultancy.
Change in leadership
Mr Kneebone steps into the role as Chair, succeeding Dame Diana Crossan who decided to leave the post in March 2021.
Dr Wood said that the Centre is excited to welcome Mr Kneebone as he brings with him national and international experience in private and public organisations.
Mr Kneebone is returning after six years in Hong Kong as the Board Director and General Manager of the Investor and Financial Education Council. He was previously in the Commission for Financial Capability in New Zealand and was its Executive Director from 2010 to 2014.
“Mr Kneebone is a great addition to our board as he brings with him not only great experience, but his passion is working with organisations that have a strong cause-related focus. As the Centre really starts to develop our workforce programmes and personal financial capability resources, we know that David will be a huge asset in this push,” Dr Wood said.
Centre of Excellence
Mr Kneebone said that he is looking forward to his new role.
“New Zealand deserves an academic Centre of excellence focused on financial education and I am very pleased Massey University continues to support the Fin-Ed Centre.”
Dr Wood expressed the Centre’s gratitude to Dame Diana for the leadership and guidance that she provided during her 10-year involvement, the past three years of which was in the post of Chairperson.
Dame Diana was the Retirement Commissioner of Commissioner for ten years, during which she transformed the role into a broadly influential office, before being appointed Dame Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit for her work in equal employment opportunities, retirement income and work in several charities.
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