Sir Neville Jordan, a Wellington investor and adviser in science and technology who became Victoria’s Chancellor at the start of this year, received a Knighthood in the 2015 New Year Honours, for services to business, science and the community.
Sir Neville is believed to be the first Chancellor of the University to be knighted while holding the office.
He joins a select group of Victoria Chancellors to have held knighthoods, which includes the University’s first Chancellor, medic, solider and author Sir Thomas Duncan MacGregor Stout, and the late Sir Ivor Richardson, an eminent New Zealand and Commonwealth jurist and legal writer and a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
Sir Neville was among a group of more than 20 people honoured at Government House for their outstanding achievements in a range of fields.
“It was an extremely humbling occasion. I come from a very modest background—there were few luxuries when I was growing up and I started working in the local freezing works when I was 13. I never dreamed I would one day be receiving a Knighthood.
Victoria Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford, congratulated Sir Neville and said the University is very proud of his recognition.
“Sir Neville has taken a keen interest in Victoria over many years, both in our capability in science and engineering but also in the humanities, another of Victoria’s areas of strength.
“It is very good to now have him at the helm of the University Council. His exceptional governance skills are helping Victoria succeed in the ambitious plans we have set for ourselves over the next few years.”
Sir Neville has a background in electronics engineering and is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand. He founded MAS Technology Ltd in 1975, a telecommunications microwave company that he successfully listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
His previous awards and accolades include the Governor-General’s Supreme Award for Exporting and induction into both the New Zealand Hi Tech Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. Sir Neville was also Wellingtonian of the Year in 2012.