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Sir Woolf Fisher
The
co-founder of Fisher and Paykel and foundation Chairman of New Zealand
Steel, Sir Woolf Fisher (1912-1975) was passionate about education, and
believed that secondary teachers and principals weren’t given enough
recognition. He established the Woolf Fisher Trust in 1960 to fund overseas
travel fellowships for deserving teachers so that they would become more
broadly knowledgeable and bring back ideas which would continuously enrich
education in New Zealand.
Sir Woolf was known to gain great pleasure from awarding Fellowships and created an element of surprise for the recipients by conferring the awards as opposed to inviting applications.
His kindness and generosity were also reflected in his emphasis on staff welfare.
In 1964 Woolf Fisher was knighted for his outstanding contribution
to industry and education in New Zealand.
Woolf Fisher Trustees
Sir Noel Robinson, Chairman
Dr Nigel Evans, Secretary
Sir John Graham
Mr Douglas Armstrong
Mr Peter Masfen
Sir Noel Robinson, Chairman, is Sir Woolf’s nephew. He founded Robinson Industries in 1970 and was managing director and chairman until his retirement in 1999.
He is also chairman of the Estate of Sir Woolf Fisher and
the Counties Manukau Pacific Trust and is Chairman of Highbrook Developments
Limited. He was appointed to a Knighthood in 2006 for services to business and the community.
Dr Nigel Evans, Secretary, has his own engineering consultancy company. He is also a director of Fisher and Paykel Healthcare.
He obtained his doctorate in physics at the University of
Cambridge and was invited back to New Zealand in 1968 by Mr Woolf Fisher
to manage and develop the technology at the newly-established company,
New Zealand Steel.
Sir John Graham is a former Chancellor of The University of Auckland and Headmaster of Auckland Grammar School, and a past president of the New Zealand Rugby Union.
He was an All Black captain and a manager of the New Zealand cricket team. He is chairman of The Parenting Place and a member of the Academic Colleges Group Education Council.
He has an Honorary Doctorate (DLit) from The University of Auckland and in 2011 was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and sports. He received the Blake Medal for leadership in 2012.
Mr Douglas Armstrong is a former member of the Auckland City Council and a former president and CEO of UNITEC.
He is a distinguished fellow and past president of
the Institution of Professional Engineers NZ and a former member of the
Prime Minister’s Enterprise Council and many other boards and national
committees associated with tertiary education and engineering.
Mr Peter Masfen is chairman of Masfen Holdings and Property for Industry and past chairman of the Montana group of companies.
He is a director of the Auckland Regional Chamber of Commerce, Greymouth Petroleum and Mount Linton Station. He is a trustee of King’s College Auckland and King’s School Auckland and The Northern Club.
He has won seven national rowing titles and represented New Zealand at the Tokyo Olympics.
