Friday 9 February 2018 3:04pm
David Tapp. Photo: Sharron Bennett
The University of Otago has appointed Dunedin man David Tapp as its Director of Shared Services – an integral new position at the University and within its support services structure.
University Chief Operating Officer Stephen Willis announced Mr Tapp's appointment to University staff today (Friday). Mr Tapp will be responsible for the development, implementation and performance of the University's new Shared Services Division – one that focuses on services and information that students (both existing and prospective) and staff need.
“Mr Tapp has a strong background managing large-scale complex teams, with a deeply customer-centric orientation, working for other government sectors in New Zealand, but also in Australia. We are very confident that David brings the ideal mix of expertise and values to help us lead successfully through this transformation,” says Mr Willis.
“David will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of Shared Services, one that guides the delivery of an outstanding student and staff experience through high quality, effective service delivery to all of the University's internal and external customers.”
The Shared Services portfolio will be responsible for administrative support and student experience primarily, but also includes components of finance, human resources, and information technology within its ambit.
As an Otago School of Business alumnus, Mr Tapp says he is “absolutely delighted” to be appointed, and that working at the University has “always been a long-term career aspiration”.
"I've had a long association with the University, dating all the way back to my days as a student in the very early 1990s,” he says.
"Ultimately, our goal in Shared Services is to deliver an outstanding service experience to both staff and students, and I am really excited at the opportunity to work with all of the great people within the Shared Services Division."
Mr Tapp has been with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) since 2011, where he is currently the Manager of Justice Services in Dunedin, responsible for the running of the Dunedin and Timaru District and High Courts, as well as the Coronial Services. Before this, Mr Tapp was the Chief Adviser of Modernisation at the MOJ.
During his 20-year career to date, Mr Tapp has also been with Australian insurance giant AXA (1996-2003); a bank manager with Westpac leading personal and business retail banking services across two branches (2006-2011); and a Customer and Information Services Manager with the Dunedin City Council (2003-2006).
He has a Bachelor of Commerce from Otago, majoring in Operations Management. He also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (with distinction) – in operations management, organisation design, international management and business ethics.
Mr Tapp is also credited with establishing a mentoring programme for the University of Otago MBA programme, now in its ninth year of operation. He was a committee member at the Otago University Rugby Club from 2006 to 2015, and a rugby coach. He is currently a member of the Silverstream Primary School Board of Trustees.
Mr Tapp starts with the University on 19 March.
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