Farewell to Associate Professor Ian Yeoman
Associate Professor Ian Yeoman, a popular academic in the School of Management at Wellington School of Business and Government is leaving Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, and New Zealand, after 15 happy years.
Associate Professor Yeoman moved here in 2008 from Scotland. Needing “a new adventure,” he arrived with a cat, a bicycle, and 14 boxes, containing mostly books. He knew about the country’s rugby fanaticism but didn’t care for that much. He knew about Lord of The Rings, and the excellent wine. He also knew it was not Australia, and therefore would not be sunny all the time.
“When I told people I was moving to Wellington, which I knew was windy, people thought I was mad”.
After 15 years teaching Future Tourism and Tourism Management at the University, Associate Professor Yeoman will take up a post as a Professor in Innovation, Disruption and New Phenomena at NHL Stenden University of Applied Science in The Netherlands, where he will be working with colleagues in two research fields on hotel management and tourism futures.
It might finally be time to tackle learning a new language, he thinks.
It certainly is time for another change, and Associate Professor Yeoman thinks fondly on much of his time not just at Te Herenga Waka, but in Wellington.
“This is where I met and married my wife. We have a place on the Kapiti Coast. I am certain we will return here. We will be back to visit as well”.
Associate Professor Yeoman already had a strong reputation when he arrived here, thanks not only to his international scholarship but time spent working in industry. He believes he was able to improve that reputation while working in Wellington, connecting with industry here, forming a close relationship with The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and making the most of the School of Business and Government’s handy location across the road from the Beehive.
“I got an MBIE research project grant around the future of New Zealand tourism, which was a five year project, replicating the planning work I had done in Scotland. Being held in high regard, and having policy background, as well as a presence in industry magazines, and my hotel management experience, has meant I’ve been able to do a lot of media work in New Zealand.”
He praises Victoria University’s approach, allowing “a lot of academic freedom to create your own individual pathway if you’re ethical, and a good teacher”. And says he has found it fulfilling working with PhD students, where it is a hard road for them, and there is a tremendous sense of achievement at the end of it.
Last year, Associate Professor Yeoman was recognised as one of the top twenty academics in terms of influence in the hospitality industry of the United States of America, and in the top 4% of academics globally.
And one of the high points of his time in New Zealand has been his involvement with the Tourism Transformation Plan. This will be published later this year.
But his proudest moments in New Zealand remain the personal ones.
“Meeting my wife and getting married. If I hadn’t been in Wellington, that wouldn’t have happened. A big personal thing. A huge thing, that I can never underestimate”.
On top of that, his next proudest moment was becoming a Kiwi, getting citizenship, and then supporting New Zealand in the FIFA World Cup (“they never lost a game, the only undefeated team, they drew three matches”).
Associate Professor Yeoman leaves New Zealand feeling like he has done everything he could here as an academic practitioner who has continued to publish and speak internationally, as well as being deeply involved in the New Zealand industry, helping with policy, and educating the future players.
In a whirlwind move, he departs this weekend, arriving on Sunday to start his new teaching post on Monday, with three big keynotes within the first five weeks.
He will miss Garage Project beer, hokey pokey ice-cream, and The Topp Twins (“the best comedians in the world”).
Associate Professor Yeoman says it will be head-down until July, when he has already formulated his first travel plan for the (immediate) future.
“My wife has never been to Paris, so I’m going to take her to the ballet in Paris”.
From all at the Wellington School of Business and Government, we wish Associate Professor Ian Yeoman the very best, and thank him for his contributions to our school, and city. We look forward to a return visit and take comfort in the thought that the Sunderland Football Club’s biggest overseas fan is moving a little closer to the team this season.