The Dean’s Office is the managerial and administrative hub of the University of Otago Business School and the Division of Commerce. On this page you'll find brief profiles and contact details for:
Reception/General Enquiries
Ground Level, Commerce Building
Cnr Clyde St & Union Pl East
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
Tel: +64 3 479 5197
Fax: +64 3 479 8171
Email: business@otago.ac.nz
Professor Robin Gauld
Dean & Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Robin joined the Otago Business School in December 2016 as the School's Dean and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, after a long relationship with the School through joint research projects and working on various boards and committees.
Robin is Professor of Health Policy, and Director of the Centre for Health Systems—that spans the Business School and the Dunedin School of Medicine.
He was a Senior Fellow at the Boston University Health Policy Institute from 2009–2013, and a Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellow in 2008–2009, working with colleagues from Boston University and Harvard University. In 2014, he was NZ-UK Link Foundation Visiting Professor at the School of Advanced Study, University of London.
Past positions include lecturing and research posts at the University of Hong Kong and City University of Hong Kong, and teaching at the University of Texas and Harvard University.
Robin has authored over 115 peer-reviewed journal articles and several books and chapters. His current research interests include: comparative health policy, health system and quality improvement, clinical governance, primary care, population based health funding formulas, and health information technology.
Tel: +64 3 479 8115
Email pvc.commerce@otago.ac.nz
Professor David Fielding
Deputy Dean (part-time)
David as Deputy Dean supports Robin and stands in for him in an official capacity as required. He chairs the Divisional Board and represents the Business School on various University boards.
David's research interests are mainly in the areas of development macroeconomics and quantitative political economy. Current interests include the economics of violent conflict in the Middle East, monetary unions in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the volatility of aid to developing countries. He has previously worked at the Universities of Oxford, Nottingham and Leicester (UK), Princeton University (US) and the United Nations University in Helsinki. His teaching at Otago includes macroeconomics and development economics.
Tel: +64 3 479 8653
Email david.fielding@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Fiona Edgar
Associate Dean – Postgraduate (part-time)
Fiona is responsible for the oversight of the Business School’s Postgraduate programmes. She leads the postgraduate advisory group and supervises the admission of students into the postgraduate programmes. She leads initiatives involving postgraduate programmes, including curricula, recruiting and student relations.
Fiona belongs to the Department of Management where she teaches and researches in human resource management, industrial relations, and management theory. Her current research interests include HRM and, in particular, how HRM impacts on employees in the workplace, as well as the relationship between HRM and organisational performance. Her most recent work explores wellbeing and HRM within the context of knowledge workers.
Tel: +64 3 479 8091
Email fiona.edgar@otago.ac.nz
Esmay Eteuati
Associate Dean - Pacific
(part-time)
Esmay provides leadership and strategic advice to the Business School in all matters relating to the University’s Pacific Strategic Framework. Based in the Dean’s Office she has a dual role that includes providing support and pastoral care for all Pacific undergraduates and postgraduate students. She has worked part time in the Otago Business School for over four years and part time in the Humanities Divisional Office for five years.
Esmay has also taught as a Professional Practice Fellow at the University College of Education in 2014 and 2015 teaching Pacific content. More recently in 2018, Esmay received a Pacific Professional Development Fund Award from Ako Aotearoa she was one of four Pacific staff members from the University to receive these.
Tel: +64 3 479 4756
Email: adp.commerce@otago.ac.nz
Dr Richard Greatbanks
Associate Dean - Academic (part-time)
Richard leads teaching and learning activities in the Business School, with a particular focus on undergraduate. He is involved in oversight of the regulations for papers and degrees and involved in the academic boards in the Business School and the University. He has an input into the student facing services the Business School and University offer.
Richard belongs to the Department of Management. He is a Chartered Manufacturing Engineer and has held several technical and managerial positions within Aerospace manufacture. After spending more than thirteen years in the UK Aerospace industry, Richard moved to academia.
Tel: +64 3 479 8658
Email: richard.greatbanks@otago.ac.nz
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Dr Katharina Ruckstuhl
Associate Dean - Māori/Manutaki Tuarua - Māori (part-time)
Katharina began her role within the Dean's Office in April 2017, her role being to provide leadership and strategic advice to the Business School in all matters relating to the University’s Māori Strategic Framework.
Katharina joined the University of Otago in 2008, after five years with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu as education manager and project consultant. Prior to that she had been in the teaching profession in management roles. Dr Ruckstuhl completed her Honours degree and PhD through the English Department at Otago. As well as this, she also has post-graduate qualifications in Education through Massey University.
More recently Dr Ruckstuhl has taken on leadership roles with the National Science Challenge, Science for Technological Innovation. She is the Vision Mātauranga leader of the Challenge’s Building New Zealand’s Innovation portfolio and is a member of the Challenge Kāhui Māori and senior management team. Her research focuses on innovation and Māori business, including developing science capacity to respond to the growing Māori economy.
Tel: +64 3 479 4916
Email: katharina.ruckstuhl@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Sebastian Filep
Associate Dean – International (part-time)
The Associate Dean International is responsible for developing the internationalisation strategy for the Otago Business School. In liaison with DVC External Engagement and the International Office, this role includes oversight of the student exchange programme, as well as other international initiatives that build the international focus of students and staff at Otago Business School. An important part of the role is academic leadership of international initiatives, ensuring the best use is made of both existing networks and establishment of new international collaborations.
Sebastian is based in the Tourism Department. His research area focuses on explorations of subjective well-being and flourishing in tourism contexts, drawing from the field of positive psychology (study of optimal human functioning). He is an Associate Editor of Leisure Sciences, a leading international journal in the field, and he is an active editorial board member of several major tourism, leisure and hospitality journals.
Tel: +64 3 479 5403
Email sebastian.filep@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Ben Wooliscroft
Associate Dean – Research (part-time)
Ben leads the Business School’s research committee; liaises with staff to support and encourage new research initiatives; and represents the Business School in the wider University.
Ben belongs to the Department of Marketing and has taught in the marketing sector since graduating with a BCom(Hons) in 1998 - mainly in the areas of marketing theory, consumer behaviour, history of business and marketing research. He has a passion for the history of general theory development and philosophical issues in marketing
Other interests include researching complexity, chaos theory, self-organised critical states and the application of scientific methodology in marketing.
Tel: +64 3 479 8445
Email ben.wooliscroft@otago.ac.nz
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Administrative and support staff
Lornae Straith
Senior Manager Client Services
As Senior Manager Client Services, Lornae's role is to ensure the smooth running of the Business School. Leading the general staff in the Dean’s office, she is responsible for the financial, administrative and personnel management of the Business School. Lornae also works on developing and implementing the Business School’s strategies and policies.
Tel: +64 3 479 4016
Email: lornae.straith@otago.ac.nz
Graham Arnold
Financial Analyst
Graham's role is to provide strategic financial and non-financial information to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and the Director Administration, and to ensure the funding allocation, budgets, compliance issues and other financial activities of the school are coordinated effectively. He also provides support and advice to the Departments managing the financial resources within the School.
Tel: +64 3 479 8638
Email: graham.arnold@otago.ac.nz
Alison Cowan
Operations Coordinator
Alison is responsible for a variety of tasks associated with the day-to-day operations of the Dean's Office and wider Business School. This ranges from financial management and processing accounts, to records management, general administrative tasks and the maintenance of databases.
Tel: +64 3 479 8149
Email: alison.cowan@otago.ac.nz
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Esmay Eteuati
Pacific Islands’ Student Academic Advisor (part-time)
Esmay is passionate about the retention and academic success of local and international Pacific students. Esmay’s role is to liaise with academic departments and Student Services with respect to any issues relating to Pacific students and their course of study. Esmay supports both staff and students in the Business School and has a network of contacts with other divisions around the University.
Tel: +64 3 479 4756
Email: esmay.eteuati@otago.ac.nz
Theresa Forbes
Information & Special Projects Officer
Theresa manages information related to programmes, papers, staff and students within the Otago Business School. She ensures all programme and paper proposals have appropriate documentation for academic board approval, that accreditation requirements have been met and performs special projects in support of the Business School’s academic mission. Theresa also provides administrative support for the Otago Business School Postgraduate students.
Tel: +64 3 479 6822
Email: theresa.forbes@otago.ac.nz
Stephen Geddes
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Stephen is responsible for promoting the Business School, its departments and the work of staff and students in the public arena. He also coordinates alumni relations, marketing and promotional resources and all media communication related to the school.
Tel: +64 3 479 8696
Email: stephen.geddes@otago.ac.nz
Amanda Mabon
Executive Assistant to the Dean/PVC (Commerce)
Amanda provides executive assistance to the Dean/PVC. Her role includes handling correspondence, undertaking research as required, ensuring all activities comply with University and Business School policy, and providing general administrative support.
Tel: +64 3 479 8115
Email: amanda.mabon@otago.ac.nz
Julie Pearse
Internship Programme Manager
Julie is responsible for coordinating the Business School's Internship Programme. She liaises closely with employers, students, and the University's Career Development Centre to ensure students are a 'good fit' when placed with organisations throughout the country.
Tel: +64 3 479 4280
Email: julie.pearse@otago.ac.nz
Rachel Sizemore (Ngāi Tahu)
Kaiāwhina Māori
Rachel provides tautoko to Māori students in the Business School. Offering an ear to listen, help with scholarships, extra tutorials, and to liaise with academic departments and Student Services with regards to those students and their intended course of study. Rachel offers support also to those studying away from their whanau, hapū and iwi, to feel safe and supported. Rachel is also Kaitakawaeka (Liaison officer for Māori Students) for the School of Biomedical Sciences. She has a background in research, but her passion is for young people and making sure they have successful tertiary experiences.
“Ui mai koe ki au, he aha te mea nui o te Ao? Māku e kī atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.”
If you ask me what is the most important thing in the world? I will reply, it is people, it is people, it is people.”
Tel: +64 3 479 5342
Email: rachel.sizemore@otago.ac.nz
Bronwen Stephens
Academic Manager
Bronwen provides advice to students and staff on academic matters such as degree structure; finalist status; double degree planning. She also provides advice to students regarding the exchange programme.
Tel: +64 3 479 5635
Email: bronwen.stephens@otago.ac.nz
