Designers Institute Board Member a Winner
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The Wellington branch of the Institute of Directors is pleased to announce its 2010 aspiring director award winner. Karl Wixon was chosen from a very strong group of applicants for this year’s award – the branch’s fifth.
DINZ Councillor Karl Wixon is the 2010 recipient of the Wellington Branch of the Institute of Directors ‘Aspiring Director Study Award’. The award recognises his experience and commitment to governance best practice. Karl received the Award at a dinner of Fellows and Distinguished Fellows of the Institute of Directors in Wellington on May 20th and in his acceptance speech spoke of the value of design in corporate governance “in an ever-changing world - creativity is becoming increasingly important in the board room, whilst I am not closely involved in ‘hands-on’ design anymore, I have transferred design thinking and process into the work I do with boards and executives in designing futures and developing strategy”. Karl works primarily in Maori economic development on projects that integrate design and culture to add value to enterprise. “Designers are used to serving boards – not being on them – I want to cross the table to where the decision making occurs and where I think design and culture can add immense value to any organisation”, says Karl.
Karl is a Director of Havelock North based WIKI Design & Consultancy Ltd, has an unusual but effective composition of skills and experience. He is an Industrial Designer by training, has completed professional certification in Project Management, has substantial experience in strategy development and is a member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand Inc holding a Certificate in Company Direction.
His consultancy primarily focuses on Maori economic development through amarriage of commercial, cultural and creative approaches to growth and innovation. Karl is of Waitaha, Kati Mamoe, Kai Tahu, Moriori, Ngati Toa Rangatira and NZ European descent.
He is primarily involved in developing and leading strategic projects spanning Maori fisheries, primary sector and tourism, working with both peak bodies and anchor companies in these sectors with both onshore and offshore development foci.
He works closely with boards and executives providing both strategic leadership and translation into projects and operations, as well as increasingly being involved in governance development. He was the principal developer of a Marae Governance and Management toolkit for Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Maori Development, which was distributed to every Marae in the country in 2009.
He is currently a national council member of the Designers Institute of New Zealand and is a founder, developer and executive member of Nga Aho Incorporated a national Society of Maori Design Professionals. Karl receives $2,000 towards an IoD development course, a year’s complementary membership, six complementary vouchers for branch functions and a commitment by the branch to assist him in achieving his objectives.
“I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award. This is a fantastic opportunity to undertake professional development through some of IoD’s programmes as well as gaining some mentoring and insights from veterans of the boardroom. I am immensely grateful to the Wellington Branch of IoD for the opportunity and look forward to the year ahead. I am sure receiving the award will help fast-track the achievement of my aspirations to secure directorships where I can add value. My personal area of interest is in harnessing the potential of culture and creativity to add value to our assets – moving us from being primarily commodity traders to purveyors of value”…says Karl.
The selection committee was impressed with Karl’s diversity of experience and ongoing commitment to making a contribution to his community in the governance area. The committee stated that they were looking forward to working with him over the next 12 months.
Posted on: June 2, 2010