Independent Board Chair: call for expressions of interest

21 April, 2026

Expressions of interest are invited for the position of MacDiarmid Institute Independent Board Chair. The Independent Board Chair role is a paid position for a 2.5-year term through to the end of 2028, provided by the MacDiarmid Institute, a Centre of Research Excellence that is established through a grant from the Tertiary Education Commission.

The Institute brings together a national network of materials science researchers to focus on developing innovative and sustainable materials. Our research spans carbon capture and conversion, low-energy computing technologies, reconfigurable materials to reduce waste, and Pūtaiao Māori approaches to sustainable resource use.

Interested candidates should contact either the Director (Professor Nicola Gaston: nicola.gaston@vuw.ac.nz) or the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington (Professor Sally McArthur: sally.mcarthur@vuw.ac.nz) for a confidential discussion to learn more about the possibility.

Role Purpose and Scope

The Independent Chair will be a member of the Institute Board. The Institute’s governance and management structure consists of:

• The Host, Victoria University of Wellington;
• the Board;
• the International Science Advisory Board;
• any other sub-committees validly established by the Board;
• the Director/s and Deputy Directors; and
• the management and administration office established by the Host.

The MacDiarmid Institute’s established and functional governance is headed by a Governance Board (“the Board”). 

The Board

The Board will comprise up to twelve (12) members selected from the wider scientific and business communities and appointed as follows:

1. An independent Chair appointed by the Host after consultation with all other Partner Institutions.
2. A senior representative from the Host Institution, e.g., Pro-Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
3. A senior representative or nominee from each other Partner Institution e.g., Pro-Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, or other senior leader.
4. Up to four more members appointed by the Board to strengthen the skills, capabilities, and diversity of the Board relevant to the scope and domain of the Centre. At least one should have strong Mātauranga Māori expertise.
5. The Director/s, Deputy Director/s, and a Science Executive member are invited to attend the Board meetings (but not vote).

An Independent Chair to be appointed under (1) above is now sought.

Key Areas and Responsibilities

The Independent Chair will advise and work with the Director in order to deliver the vision of the MacDiarmid Institute, fulfil the strategic plan, act upon operational plans and behave in a manner that reinforces the MacDiarmid Institute’s values.

The Independent Chair will:

• attend and chair quarterly Board meetings; and
• have institute relevant expertise in many of the following areas:
  • Governance
  • Mātauranga Māori research
  • Māori partnership
  • Research programme design and evaluation
  • Public engagement and communications
  • STEM outreach
  • Commercialisation of technology
  • Industry engagement
  • Sustainability
  • Capability development relevant to postgraduate and alumni training
  • Engagement with government
  • Equity, Diversity, and inclusion
  • ECR/Rangatahi representation
  • Financial management
  • Legal and risk management
  • Health, Safety and Wellbeing
  • Science system leadership

Key Attributes and Skills

The Independent Chair will:

• have a demonstrated passion for good governance;
• have a passion for the work of the MacDiarmid Institute and for Aotearoa;
• have specific expertise and experience in leading complex institutions with multiple stakeholders, in particular through system change; and
• ideally have experience of or demonstrated engagement with STEM research.