Director of Strategy, Analytics and Reporting
Tel +64 3 479 7716
Email david.thomson@otago.ac.nz
David Thomson is the Director of Strategy, Analytics and Reporting at the University of Otago. He is a member of the University's senior leadership team, reporting to the Vice-Chancellor.
His key points of focus in that position include:
- Undertaking strategic planning and leading institutional research for the University;
- Leading the University's engagement with Government on planning and funding matters, ensuring that connections between University goals and Government strategy are developed and clearly articulated;
- Providing leadership in optimising funding from Government, and in ensuring that Government funding regulations are correctly applied and reporting requirements met.
- Having input into Government policy and regulation development in higher education.
Amongst many other things David chaired the University's Senior Emergency Management Group through the course of Covid-19 disruption, and also led the group that has established and now operates Putea Tautoko, the University's Covid-19 financial relief fund for students. David serves on a number of pan-University and education sector groups. He has had input into Government policy and regulation development in the areas of higher education planning, funding and reporting since the early 1990s. He holds, or has held, governance roles in the early childhood and secondary school education sectors, and in a number of sporting and philanthropic organisations.
David holds a BA (Hons) in History and an MBA – both from Otago - and is a published author and award-winning journalist. While a born-and-bred New Zealander, he has also lived and worked in the United Kingdom and also worked in East Africa and Asia. His interests outside of work include travel, fishing, food and wine, classic cars, and first world war military aviation.