Alumni 2026 April - Massey University

Your latest Alumni newsletter

Kia ora koutou katoa,

Welcome to the latest edition of the alumni newsletter. It’s always a pleasure to share stories that highlight the many ways Massey graduates are making a difference in their communities and around the world.

In this issue, we celebrate alumni who are serving their communities through public leadership. Three Massey graduates have recently been elected as mayors in their regions: Jonathan Larsen, Mayor of Kaipara District; Aksel Bech, Mayor of Waikato District Council; and Peri Zee, Mayor of Upper Hutt City Council. Their achievements reflect a strong commitment to community, leadership and service.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of Massey’s Spanish programme, which began in 1996. Over the years, the programme has played an important role in supporting the teaching of Spanish across New Zealand. Today, many alumni continue that legacy in classrooms, helping students build confidence, creativity and meaningful connections through language. In this issue, we feature alumni Anita Vennell and Kerri Williams, who are bringing the Spanish language to life for their students.

We also celebrate alumni from the School of Aviation, whose careers have grown from their time at Massey into leadership and management roles across Aotearoa and around the world.

Our alumni community is truly global. The 2026 Southeast Asia Roadshow brought Massey together with universities, industry partners, alumni, students and  New Zealand Embassies and High Commissions across nine cities in five countries over 14 days. The visit highlighted the strength of our international alumni network – passionate advocates who proudly share their Massey stories wherever they go.

Finally, we were delighted to welcome a delegation from Suzhou, China, to explore opportunities for further collaboration in research, innovation and alumni engagement.

Thank you for staying connected with the Massey alumni community. We hope you enjoy this edition.

Ngā mihi nui,
Alumni Relations Team

Leading local change across Aotearoa

Three alumni have recently taken on mayoral leadership across Aotearoa, each bringing a strong dedication to the communities they serve. Their journeys reflect varied experiences but share a common focus: a deep commitment to local leadership and making a difference where it matters most.

Read more about their stories:
Peri Zee
Jonathan Larsen
Aksel Bech

Anita Vennell – A purpose beyond the classroom

“My role as a language and social sciences teacher is not simply to transfer knowledge. It is to provide students with a map and set them on their own, self-guided journey.” This philosophy shapes everything Anita does in the classroom. It guides the way she builds strong, meaningful relationships with her students and encourages them to step beyond their comfort zones and discover their own path as learners.

Kerri Williams – Inspiring the next generation through language

For Kerri, the key to successful language teaching is making it meaningful. She believes the most effective approaches make language learning purposeful, interactive, and relevant to students’ lives. In her view, language education goes far beyond vocabulary and grammar. “Learning another language has a profound impact on students’ personal and academic development.”

Alumni shaping the future of aviation

We’re proud to showcase a selection of School of Aviation alumni stories, highlighting the diverse pathways and achievements of graduates making their mark across the industry. From airfield operations to major airport projects, alumni like Sam Rawlings, Quyen Bui, Toby Flatley and Woody Andrew are building impactful careers both in Aotearoa and internationally, each contributing to the future of aviation in their own way.

Massey Aviation graduates fly high in Airbus A380

Two graduates of the Bachelor of Aviation Air Transport Pilot (ATP) programme, who gained their wings 25 years apart, have piloted an Airbus A380 aircraft together for an international airline. Captain David Beardsmore, a graduate from cohort Massey 1 (1987), and First Officer San San Tan, a graduate from cohort Massey 54 (2012) recently piloted an Airbus A380 carrying 600 passengers safely to their destination.

Share your PhD story

We’re inviting PhD alumni to share their unique journeys with our wider alumni community.

Whether your path involved breakthrough research, unexpected challenges, or a career shaped by your doctoral study, your story can offer valuable insight and inspiration to others. We’d love to showcase how your PhD has influenced your thinking, your work, and where life has taken you since graduation.

Please send your story and any supporting details to alumni@massey.ac.nz

Massey expands connections across Southeast Asia

From Singapore to Surabaya, Massey continues to strengthen its presence across Southeast Asia. The recent Southeast Asia Roadshow brought Massey together with universities, industry partners, alumni, students and New Zealand Embassies and High Commissions across nine cities in five countries over 14 days.

Suzhou delegation visit strengthens research, innovation and alumni ties

Recently, Massey has welcomed a delegation from Suzhou, China, to explore opportunities for further collaboration across research, innovation and alumni engagement. The visit aligned closely with Massey’s focus on building lifelong relationships with its graduates.

Massey enters world top 15 in 2026 QS Subject Rankings

Massey has achieved remarkable results in the 2026 QS Subject Rankings with a new global top 15 subject ranking. Veterinary Science rose five places to be ranked 14th in the world and first in Oceania and Asia. It was also ranked first in the world in the employer reputation component of the ranking.

Celebrating the women shaping the future of food science and technology

Massey is proud to recognise two outstanding women in food science and product development through the Massey University Woman in Food Science and Technology Award, with joint winners: alumna Jo James of Begin Distilling Ltd and Annabel Caldwell of Good & Humble.

A lifetime of influence in Māori education: Rāwiri Wright honoured with Doctorate

Renowned Māori education leader Rāwiri Wright, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education in recognition of his extraordinary, decades-long contribution to Māori education, cultural revitalisation and educational equity in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Discover and win!

Massey University Press has generously gifted two of their latest publications for our alumni giveaway. Simply email us to go in the draw to win!

As a special thank you to our alumni, we’re offering an exclusive 20% discount on all Massey University Press books. Don’t miss out!

Save the date – Massey University China Alumni Conference 2026

We warmly invite you to join the 2026 Massey University China Alumni Conference in China. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect and reconnect with fellow alumni, strengthen alumni networks, and explore opportunities for professional and business collaboration.

Our new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pierre Venter, will attend the event and deliver a keynote address. The event will also feature presentations from distinguished alumni, visits to leading local companies, and networking sessions designed to foster meaningful exchange and collaboration.

Date: 24 May 2026

Location: Hebei University of Technology, Langfang Campus

Further details will be shared soon. Please keep an eye on the Alumni Event website and the Massey University Alumni Facebook page for updates.

Connect with your alumni community!