About me

Derek McCormack became Vice Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology in April 2004. Previously, he was a Deputy Vice Chancellor at AUT and prior to that General Manager for Auckland Institute of Technology (the precursor organisation of AUT). His work for AUT has involved leadership of a wide range of key areas during a decade and a half of extensive development and growth for the institution – from major campus developments, to academic structures, processes and programmes, and the advancement of AUT’s university profile. Starting out teaching Biochemistry at the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic, his career took an early turn into tertiary education policy and management. He has held national roles in a range of authorities, professional bodies, and ministerial and government working parties related to tertiary education and is the current chair of Universities New Zealand. In other fields, Derek has been a Chair of the NZ Academy of Sport network, and is President of the NZ Stroke Foundation, as well as a member of various service and community clubs and societies.