Our People
Jo Morrow
Principal
Our Residential Principal plays a pivotal role in providing strategic leadership within the hall, ensuring a cohesive approach aligned with our core values. Emphasizing academic integrity and providing support to first-year university students are central focuses. The responsibilities of this position encompass overseeing finance, property management, student welfare legislation, pastoral care, campus security, marketing, maintenance, and health and safety. Regular reporting to the Boards, Council, and University ensures that expected outcomes are consistently reviewed and maintained.
Kate O’Brien
Office Administrator
The Office Administrator oversees hall operations, ensuring efficiency and adherence to hall policies, while offering administrative and pastoral assistance to residents. Key duties entail managing administrative tasks, schedules, and correspondence, organising events, and coordinating activities that enhance residents' living experience. Moreover, the Office Administrator actively participates in legislative administration, hall promotions, student enrolment, and streamlining daily activities for seamless operation.
Geoff McGregor
Residential Manager
Our Residential Manager offers administrative support in designated areas as directed by the Principal. This entails monitoring academic integrity, promoting student wellbeing, and providing guidance for various student body activities. Key duties involve supervising residential tutors, enforcing hall policies and procedures, staying updated on legislation pertaining to pastoral care, managing online student affairs, overseeing residents' daily routines, and conducting hall tours for prospective students. Residing onsite fosters a robust connection between staff and residents.
Catherine Blockley
Finance Manager
The Finance Manager supervises property, payroll, and operational finance affairs for the hall. This role entails managing budgets, generating reports, handling resident payments and scholarships, and providing guidance to residents on financial independence. By collaborating across the organisation, the Finance Manager streamlines processes and contributes to sustainable growth by ensuring overall financial well-being.
Mark Croker
Facility & Property Manager
Our Property and Facilities Manager operates within a strategic framework to ensure a safe and secure environment for all residents and staff. This role emphasizes attention to detail, meticulous planning, and timely response to emergency procedures, prioritising safety and compliance. Daily supervision and collaboration with contractors facilitate the efficient functioning of hall operations, ensuring that building and grounds maintenance stays within budgetary constraints.
Kelly King
Housekeeping Manager
Supervising our Housekeeping team involves maintaining cleanliness and hygiene standards throughout the hall. Responsibilities encompass collaborating with housekeeping staff, organising cleaning schedules, and upholding a high level of facility care. This role entails facility inspections, procurement of supplies, and the implementation of effective cleaning protocols. Our housekeeping team plays a pivotal role in cultivating a comfortable and sanitary living environment for residents, thereby enhancing overall well-being and fostering a positive experience within the hall.
Liv Nye
Marketing & Communication
The Marketing and Communications role is responsible for crafting promotional and communication materials for the hall, with a strong emphasis on maintaining cohesive branding and communication strategies across all platforms. This includes updating the website, branding internal documents, and fostering a positive image within the community. Central to this role is the creation of compelling content that resonates with our community members and embodies our core values.
Rachel Gunn
Board/Executive Council Secretary
As the Secretary to Boards and Executive Council, this role plays a crucial administrative function within the governance of the hall. Responsibilities include managing communications and maintaining official records to facilitate the smooth operation of board and executive council activities. The Secretary drafts meeting agendas, records minutes, and distributes essential documentation, thereby enhancing transparency, accountability, and the overall effectiveness of the board and executive council.
Quinton Hurley
Senior Tutor
The Senior Tutor heads a committed team of Residential Tutors, all of whom live on-site and play vital roles in offering pastoral care within the hall. Together, they constitute an indispensable team dedicated to nurturing a supportive community, assisting residents through their first year of university, and maintaining a safe and inviting atmosphere. With a focus on resident well-being and close collaboration with other staff members, the Senior Tutor and their team collectively promote student growth and success within the hall.
2024 Residential Tutors
Our Residential Tutors assist with the monitoring of well-being for residents in the Hall. They provide timely advice, helping with personal and academic matters. Tutors are responsible for supervising standards of behaviour and ensuring there is a place for support after hours. Tutors are typically in their fourth or fifth year of study so have a sound working knowledge for the university systems and protocols.
We have a fantastic team of Tutors for 2024: Quinton, Jack, Josie, Shannon, Matt and Josh. They are a diverse group, and each bring their own unique skills and experience to the team.
Top Row: Quinton Hurley, Jack Munro, Josie Persico, Shannon McLean
Front Row: Matthew McHugh, Josh Earnshaw
Chaplains
Rev. Dr Michael Reid
PRESBYTERIAN
Michael has an extensive list of educational activities and amongst this has undertaken postgraduate research into the history of the New Zealand School Journal (which dates from 1907). More recently Michael finished a career in secondary education teaching English, History, Art, Christian Studies, and Social Studies (including NCEA Levels 1–3).
Michael has previously worked in curriculum design, review and evaluation, and special and inclusive education. He has authored several books and published articles on a variety of educational and hobby-related topics.
Michael is currently the senior Minister of Hoon Hay Presbyterian Church, has held key leadership roles and been a lay preacher in the PCANZ with 30 years’ experience.
Father Philip
CATHOLIC
Father Philip sits as a Catholic Chaplain on the Rochester Trust Board. He also works as a senior priest in a local parish and is a part-time Catholic chaplain at Canterbury University. His ability to listen and guide our residents is highly valued, as he provides a non-threatening and open space for students to wrestle with a variety of topics. Fr. Philip conducts Mass twice a week in our Chapel, which is hosted for students across the UC campus.
In his downtime Fr Philip enjoys time outdoors, he particularly enjoys tramping. Originally from the United States, he enjoys the different New Zealand communities that he has worked alongside and becoming more familiar with our diverse communities.