Wednesday 15 December 2021 9:26am
Brian Donnelly in his office.
Known for his knowledge and dedication to the University, Brian Donnelly, Senior Adviser, Superannuation, Staff Benefits and Retirement, is retiring after nearly 36 years at the University, 52 years working in all.
“It’s been very busy and I've tried to make sure everybody in the University knows about Superannuation, retirement and being prepared. Less than one per cent of all New Zealanders, and that includes University staff, have enough money to live on in retirement, compared to current spending. My biggest concern is most people come to retirement and they either have debt or little or no savings.”
Brian grew up in a loving, caring but poor Catholic family in North East Valley, and was educated at Sacred Heart and Christian Brothers Schools, and spent two fantastic years in the Christian Brother Juniorate at Otahuna, Tai Tapu, near Christchurch.
“Everyone, including my family thought I would become a Christian Brother, and on the day that I had to sign my life away – two fantastic years – I decided God wanted me to have children, so I politely declined. That probably dictated the rest of my working life,” he says.
Brian has two sons, Chris (Blenheim) and Matt (married to Simona) in Brno, Czech Republic, and grandson Adam, with grandson two due late April 2022.
Brian believes his empathy and way of dealing with staff stems from his deep-seated religious background. His parents and time in the Brothers allowed him to form his moral compass and his mum, realising he was very shy, taught him to enquire, read, and to debate.
Brian worked three and a half years at the National Bank, and while working in Gore, Brian’s flatmates saw he was unhappy. After seeing an advertisement for a role in payroll with the Hospital Board in Dunedin, they wrote a letter to the board and asked Brian to sign it – not long after he received a call from his future best man saying he had an interview for the role.
He stayed at the Hospital Board from 1973-1986, where he was able to play a significant role getting OHB onto the nationwide payroll system and learn so much about computers, from the USA Firm in late 1970s.
“It sparked some technological part in me which stayed with me forever. They are logical, so easy to understand and create reports on most things.”
While at the hospital, after seven years Payroll he had the role of Management Accountant for six years, loving dealing with budgets, numbers and explaining expenditure with vastly improved reporting, he was shoulder tapped to take over Payroll at the University of Otago.
During his time at Otago, Brian has seen many changes not only in Payroll but also through the Payroll and Human Resources merger in late 2003. Brian was fortunate to use his Payroll and IT knowledge when changing to the DecFin payroll system (17 years), with two IT staff. Then from early 2004 asked to be the Project Manager to complete the majority of the move to the current HR/Payroll system
From December 2005, Brian took on his current role managing Superannuation, Staff Benefits and Retirement, where Kevin Seales allowed him the opportunity to expand the role introducing the Phased Retirement Policy, create the Business Objects HR Reports for Departments, HR Divisional budgets and a number of other tasks, which he was also passionate about.
“It’s been very busy and I've tried to make sure everybody in the University knows about Superannuation, retirement and being prepared. Less than one per cent of all New Zealanders, and that includes University staff, have enough money to live on in retirement, compared to current spending. My biggest concern is most people come to retirement and they either have debt or little or no savings.
“If you don’t have Super[annuation] you don’t have options later in life so you can’t retire when you want to and that’s what a lot of people have found out. It can then become an issue for the employer.”
Brian’s dedication to the staff of the University comes down to wanting everyone to get the most out of their retirement.
“I am fortunate to be able to use pastoral care, not only with retirement counselling but also where staff are referred to me over redundancies, or where staff have serious or terminal illness. It’s being here for staff – I don’t like letting them down.
“I just want people to plan for their retirement and enjoy their retirement.”
Meanwhile, his own retirement is looking very busy.
“I’ve got a thousand books I want to read. I always feel so guilty. You can’t read a book when you’re thinking about work all the time. I’ve got to learn to ease down – that's my big issue, I’m going to struggle I think.”
Brian is in the RSA choir as lead tenor and assistant producer and has been asked to take over as producer next year.
He also plays golf, and his club wants him back on the committee next year as well as playing an extra day, and be a volunteer with course maintenance.
On top of this, he wants to take up playing bridge.
He hopes to spend three months in Europe meeting his grandsons next year.
“It’ll be hard leaving the University but I’m sure the Remuneration team will do a great job. They’ll do it differently, but I have no qualms that they’ll be fantastic.
“I am extremely grateful to have worked with Kevin Seales and Sir David Skegg (and all five Vice-Chancellors), as their appointments changed a very negative workplace into a happy and friendly workplace from 2005. Under Kevin, and my manager, Dan Wilson, they gave me freedom to “do my thing” confidentially.
“I feel extremely honoured and humbled to be able to have worked 52 years in jobs I have absolutely loved with a passion.”
Brian has been someone staff can go to throughout his time at the University for nearly 36 years.
HR Director Kevin Seales had this to say...
"The Life of Brian – well ok, maybe I am not the first one to come up with that Monty Python quip!
I have been asked to write a paragraph about Brian’s time at the University; an impossible task really, as I could probably write a book.
When I asked the people who Brian had worked closely with over the years, they provided me with some of their memories of their time working with Brian, and very clear theme emerged ‘Brian is a gentleman’.
Of course, the next major theme which will be of no surprise – Brian’s knowledge and absolute dedication to the various roles he had over his time at the University.
Brian genuinely cared about the people he supported across the University for so many years and was always so generous of his time in doing so. This was evidenced by his very comprehensive emails – yes of course, I have to mention Brian’s emails – they were as extensive as they were invaluable, which was indicative of the care, attention to detail and desire to always achieve the best and fairest outcome for all.
There were a few mentions of non-related University activities such as his love of golf and the practice sessions in the smoko room at Jamieson, the very serious rugby chats (move over Ian Foster and Tony Brown), the cricket coaching lessons of swing bowling and his famous ham on the bone and mustard sandwiches. I hear he was a bit of a mover on the dance floor as well.
There is no doubt in my mind that Brian will be missed by so many – we wish him well in retirement and we expect him to remain close to his UoO family.”