Chris Chapman
Graduate, LLB/MBus
International Business
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Savvy approach rewards
Sometimes life takes unexpected turns along the way. Chris Chapman’s career to date has provided him with more of those unexpected turns than most.
Chris graduated with a law degree from Otago in 1992 and spent the following four years as a lawyer in the New Zealand Army. Then the big OE beckoned. During his two years in the UK, he found work in events management – overseeing media logistics for both the cricket and rugby world cups, then working for an events marketing company.
On returning to New Zealand, Chris realised that a postgraduate qualification would allow him greater career opportunities. So, in 2003, he returned to Otago to complete an 18-month Master of Business, majoring in International Business. It included a five-month international placement and Chris chose ITAM in Mexico City. By working his Otago connections, he was able to focus on Fonterra’s Mexico office for his master’s project.
Not one to be shy, Chris also made himself known to the staff at Mexico’s New Zealand Trade and Enterprise office. It turned out to be a useful connection. He successfully applied for a job in Wellington with NZTE at the end of his postgraduate study.
He is now with Treasury’s Export Credit Office, which assists New Zealand businesses trade internationally.
“Without my postgraduate study, I wouldn’t be where I am now. It was a savvy way of getting a foot in the door to the business world.”
And, demonstrating that life is not just about career progress, it’s noteworthy that Chris is married to Adriana, who he met while in Mexico, and they recently had their first child, Mateo.