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Neville Jordan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir Neville Jordan
Jordan in 2017
Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington
In office
2015–2018
Preceded byIan McKinnon
Succeeded byNeil Paviour-Smith
Personal details
Born (1943-05-15) 15 May 1943 (age 81)
Petone, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Canterbury
Military service
Branch/service Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve
Years of service? - 1995
Rank Lieutenant

Sir Neville Jordan KNZM CRSNZ (born 15 May 1943) is a New Zealand electrical engineer and businessman.

Biography

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Born in Petone on 15 May 1943, Jordan was the third child of Hercules Jordan, a welder, and only child of Lydia Marie Jordan (née Ashman), a laundry worker.[1][2] After completing the engineering intermediate year at Victoria University of Wellington, Jordan studied electrical engineering at the University of Canterbury from 1964 to 1966, graduation with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1967.[2] He was a New Zealand universities judo representative.[2] After graduating, he worked for companies including IBM and Philips.[3]

In 1975, Jordan founded MAS Technology, a microwave technology company whose IPO was on the NASDAQ main board.[3]

In 1995, he founded the Jordan Foundation, which provides scholarships for higher learning and support for the arts.[3] In 1998, he founded venture capital business Endeavour Capital, which has invested in more than 35 New Zealand start-ups.[3]

Jordan was president of the Royal Society of New Zealand between 2006 and 2009; preceded by Jim Watson and followed by Garth Carnaby.[4]

From 2015 to 2018, Jordan was chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington,[5] having been a member of the university council since 2013.[6][7]

Honours and awards

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In the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours, Jordan was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to telecommunications and export.[8] He was conferred an honorary DEng degree by the University of Canterbury.[9] In 2012, he was recognised as Wellingtonian of the year.[10] In the 2015 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to business, science and the community.[11] He is a Companion of Royal Society Te Apārangi.[12]

In 2006, Jordan was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.[13]

Jordan is retired officer of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve and an honorary Captain of the Royal New Zealand Navy.[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ "Knighthood for Neville Jordan in New Year Honours". Stuff.co.nz. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Taylor, Alister, ed. (2001). "New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001". New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa. Auckland: Alister Taylor Publishers: 496. ISSN 1172-9813.
  3. ^ a b c d "Sir Neville Jordan — NZ Hi-Tech Awards". Hitech.org.nz. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Royal Society Te Aparangi – Presidents". Royalsociety.org.nz. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Neville Jordan elected as VUW Chancellor". Wellington Scoop. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Council membership for 2016" (PDF). Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  7. ^ Wellington, Victoria University of (26 October 2018). "Leading the way | News | Victoria University of Wellington". www.wgtn.ac.nz. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 1999 (including Niue)". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 1999. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Honorary Graduates" (PDF). University of Canterbury. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2018.[dead link]
  10. ^ "Neville Jordan Wellingtonian of the Year". Stuff.co.nz. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  11. ^ "New Year honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  12. ^ "View our Companions". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Past laureates". Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Endeavour Energy". Endeavour Energy. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Appointments, Promotions, Extensions, Transfers, Resignations and Retirements of Officers of the Royal New Zealand Navy". New Zealand Gazette. 30 November 1995.
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