Alan has been a passionate Wellingtonian for over 40 years and is an active supporter of the Wellington arts community. He was chair of the City Gallery Wellington Foundation for nine years and is now a Lifetime Foundation Contemporary Patron. He is a trustee of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation and is a supporter of Wellington Opera as a member of the Circle 500. He is also a donor patron of the Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts and a founding donor of the Royal NZ Ballet Foundation.

Alan has been a Council member and chair of the Finance Committee for seven years as well as a trustee on the Victoria University Foundation Board of Trustees for the same period. He is also a member of the Victoria Benefactors' Circle. Alan was previously a senior partner in EY and a member of the Australasian and Asia Pacific Boards and is currently the independent chair of Habit Health, the largest integrated rehabilitation business in New Zealand.

“It’s wonderful to welcome Alan into the role,” says Professor Nic Smith, Vice-Chancellor. “I see his depth of experience and involvement with Council combined with his commitment to growing and celebrating Wellington as incredibly powerful. Alan’s astute financial and commercial acumen combined with a deep appreciation of our core mission and the communities we serve will be an enormous asset for our University.”

Both appointments are for the remainder of the 2025 calendar year.

While John Allen steps down as Chancellor, John has agreed to stay on Council and participate in several committees until he takes up his new role as Chief Ombudsman in late March.

“2025 will be about bringing our Community, Connection, and Collaboration strategy to life and I look forward to working with Alan, Maryan, and the rest of Council as an important part of that process,” says Professor Smith.