Mark Stewart Awarded Honorary Doctorate
The University of Canterbury (UC) has bestowed an honorary Doctor of Commerce on Trust Chair Mark Stewart. Mark was the first in his family to attend university, graduating from UC in 1984 with a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Business Administration before embarking on a highly successful business career.
Mark left New Zealand in 1985 at age 22 to work in Malaysia. He has served as Honorary Consul for Malaysia and received a PJN (Distinguished Order of Meritorious Service) honour from Malaysia bestowing him the title of Datuk, the equivalent of a knighthood from the Malaysian King, for outstanding service to the country.
Over a 40-year commercial career, Mark has been a director of a number of publicly listed companies. A common thread throughout his life and career is a desire to give back through philanthropy and governance roles.
In addition to his role with the Trust, Mark is also currently the Chair of the ChristChurch Cathedral Reinstatement project. He is a trustee of the NZ Olympic Foundation, as well as of the NZ Dementia Prevention Trust and the Hororata Community Trust, which he established as a way of fundraising for the local community after a major earthquake in September 2010 hit the district hard.
In 2018 Mark was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to sport and the community.
Trust Chair Mark Stewart. © AHT/Jo Moore.
