Office of the Dean Staff
The Office of the Dean is the managerial and administrative arm of the School of Business and the Division of Commerce. It is home to the Dean and Deputy Dean of the School of Business as is the central administration office of the School.
Reception/General Enquiries
Level 3, Commerce Building
Cnr Clyde St & Union Pl East
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
Tel+64 3 479 8149
Fax +64 3 479 8171
Email business@otago.ac.nz
Complete our Contact Form
 Professor George Benwell |
Professor George Benwell
Dean & Pro-Vice-Chancellor
After working as a surveyor, consultant and University of Melbourne academic, Professor Benwell joined Otago's Information Science Department as a senior lecturer in 1990. He led the Department from 2001-2006 and served as the School's Dean of Research. Between 1996 and 1999, he was the University's Academic Director of Research. In 2007, Professor Benwell was appointed Dean of the School.
Professor Benwell's research and teaching are mainly focused on spatial information processing and analysis, and land and health-related information systems. He currently holds a Bachelor of Surveying from the University of Melbourne, an MPhil from City University, London and a PhD from Melbourne.
In 2001, he received the GJ Thornton-Smith Memorial Medal as a distinguished graduate of Melbourne University's School of Engineering Department of Geomatics.
Tel +64 3 479 8115
Email dean@business.otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Professor Colin Campbell-Hunt |
Professor Colin Campbell-Hunt (part-time)
Deputy Dean
Colin teaches and researches strategy and strategic management. Over the last two decades, he has given particular attention to the strategic challenges facing New Zealand business since the reforms of the mid-1980s opened the economy to the full force of globalisation. He has published several monographs and a book on the strategies firms have adopted in response to the new competitive environment. Since 1998 he has led a large multi-disciplinary research team, Competitive Advantage New Zealand, (CANZ) and is devoted to understanding what is involved in growing world-class businesses from a New Zealand base
Tel +64 3 479 8182
Email: colin.campbell-hunt@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Assoc. Prof. Stephen Cranefield |
Associate Professor Stephen Cranefield (part-time)
Associate Dean – Postgraduate
Stephen studied Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Otago, graduating with a BSc(Hons) in Mathematics, and then gained a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, studying in the Department of Artificial Intelligence (now merged into the School of Informatics). After a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Computer Science at Otago, he had a short-term position in the Computer Science department at Massey University, before joining Otago's Department of Information Science in 1994.
His research interests include multi-agent systems (particularly institutions and norms for open societies of agents, and tool support for agent communication languages, interaction protocols and ontologies), the Semantic Web, and software technologies for next generation telecommunications network service provision.
Tel +64 3 479 8083
Email: stephen.cranfield@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Professor Juergen Gnoth |
Associate Professor Juergen Gnoth (part-time)
Associate Dean - Academic
Juergen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Marketing. His research interests lie with consumer behaviour research, particularly the influence of emotions on decisions and experiences, as well as in place branding, with a focus on multi-level brand management conceptualisations. Prior to becoming a researcher, Juergen studied pedagogics and enjoyed didactics and curriculum design. This comes in handy in his role as Academic Dean when one of his major goals is to help develop further a student-focused BCom Programme at the School of Business.
Tel +64 3 479 8148
Email: juergen.gnoth@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Claire Ramsay |
Claire Ramsay
Director, Administration
As Director, Administration, Claire’s role is to ensure the smooth running of the School. Leading the general staff in the Dean’s office, she is responsible for the financial, administrative and personnel management of the School as well as working on developing and implementing the School’s strategies and policies. With a background in marketing/communications, Claire also contributes to the School’s promotional activities and its connections with the wider business community.
Tel +64 3 479 4016
Email claire.ramsay@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Karen Ayson |
Karen Ayson
Financial Analyst
Karen's main role is ensuring the funding allocation, budgets, compliance issues and other financial activities of the school are coordinated effectively. She also provides support and advice to the Departments managing the financial resources within the School.
Tel +64 3 479 8638
Email karen.ayson@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
Corey Bragg (part-time)
Kaiārahi Māori
Corey is passionate about supporting Māori aspirations and contributing to the success and wellbeing of Māori. He working at the School of Business to support the needs of both students & staff, and connecting with Māori business networks.
Tel +64 3 479 5432
Email corey.bragg@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Bridig Casey |
Brigid Casey (part-time)
Leader Teaching and Learning
Brigid's role is to provide support and advice for teaching and learning initiatives and quality assessment. She works with a wide range of people to develop and document assurance of learning plans for each degree programme.
Tel +64 3 479 8970
Email brigid.casey@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Steve Davie |
Steve Davie (part-time)
Alumni Relations Coordinator
Steve is editor of Alunnews, the School’s Alumni newsletter.
Steve has a long history of radio and television commentating for both rugby and cricket, and has a keen interest in sports in general.
Tel +64 3 479 4280
Email steve.davie@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Stephen Geddes |
Stephen Geddes
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Stephen is responsible for promoting the school, its departments and the work of staff and students in the public eye. He also coordinates alumni relations, marketing and promotional resources and all media communication related to the school.
Tel +64 3 479 8696
Mob +64 21 311 315
Email stephen.geddes@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
Rachel Baker
Receptionist
Rachel is the first point of contact for students, staff and visitors of the School. She oversees security and maintenance requirements for the School and provides administrative support to colleagues in the Divisional Office.
Tel +64 3 479 5197
Email r.baker@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
Dr Graham McGregor
Director, Business Research
Graham's main role is to develop a strategy to generate enterprise and research funding for the School, through projects and activities that will enhance network connections and relationships with the business community. Graham is also responsible for supporting research development activities for departments and individuals across the School, and to liaise with the Research and Enterprise office and the wider university community.
Tel +64 3 479 8034
Mob +64 21 659 948
Email graham.mcgregor@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Trudi McLaren |
Trudi McLaren
Academic Administrator
Trudi provides administrative support to the Associate Deans (Academic and Postgraduate) and secretarial services to the Commerce Divisional Board, Postgraduate Advisory Group and Undergraduate Advisory Group. She also deals with Postgraduate Student matters, Research & Study Leave and PhD Conference applications.
Tel +64 3 479 6822
Email trudi.mclaren@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Amanda Mabon |
Amanda Mabon
Executive Assistant to the Dean/PVC (Commerce)
Amanda provides executive assistance to the Dean/PVC, including handling correspondence, undertaking research as required, ensuring all activities comply with University and Division policy, and providing general administrative support.
Tel +64 3 479 8115
Email amanda.mabon@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Julie Pearse |
Julie Pearse
Internship Programme Coordinator
Julie is responsible for coordinating the School of Business Internship Programme. She liaises closely with employers, students, and the University's Career Development Centre to ensure students are a 'good fit' when placed with organisations throughout the country.
Tel +64 3 479 4280
Email julie.pearse@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
Lisa Pohatu (part-time)
Kaiāwhina Māori
Lisa’s provides support to students especially as they start their study. She also works with the new Māori student group which has some exciting ideas to become a relevant network for Māori students in the School.
Tel +64 3 479 5342
Email lisa.pohatu@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Mark Wilesmith |
Mark Wilesmith
Academic Manager
Mark is responsible for advising students and staff on programme requirements and regulations for undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. He is also responsible for the School's international accreditation efforts, data gathering, managing the Commerce Divisional Board and the associated preparation of paper and programme proposals.
Tel +64 3 479 5635
Email mark.wilesmith@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
Lara Valentine
Information & Special Projects Officer
Lara’s key tasks are to make sure the data collected for the School is accurate and up to date for the Accreditation process. She also liaises with the Department’s regarding Divisional Board paper and programme proposals.
Tel +64 3 479 5227
Email lara.valentine@otago.ac.nz ^ Top
 Jenni Wright |
Jenni Wright
Operations Coordinator
Jenni is reponsible for a variety of tasks associated with the day to day operations of the Office of the Dean and School of Business. This ranges from financial management and processing accounts, to records management, student course advising and the maintenance of databases and the School website.
Tel +64 3 479 8149
Email jenni.wright@otago.ac.nz ^ Top