SIT CEO named Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Penny Simmonds, Chief Executive of Southern Institute of Technology(SIT), was named Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit—a recognition for her service to education, sports and community in Southland, in the New Year’s Honours 2016.
On being asked about how she feels about the honour, Penny says, “I feel absolutely honoured to have been given this honour. This is truly the reflection of the work that not only SIT has done but also all those involved with SIT.”
She says that the honour means a lot as it “recognises the importance of the work SIT has done not only for education but also the communities involved with it.”
She says that SIT wishes to continue the work they have been doing.
“I think part of the recognition is about the good work that SIT has done especially for the international students and we hope to expand it further. SIT has played an important part in bringing more Indian students to southland and we want to expand it further. We also wish to keep supporting Indian Weekender and Giri Gupta in future too.” SIT has been closely associated with Indian Weekender with its iconic Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame. Penny has personally been involved with the event’s success over the years since its inception.
In her conversation with Indian Weekender Penny also pointed out the looming shortage of employees in Southland and says she hope to see not only Indian students but employees too choosing Southland as their study and work destination.
Simmonds was appointed as the chief executive of SIT in 1997. SIT has campuses in Invercargill, Gore, Queenstown and Christchurch and a successful distance learning faculty through SIT2LRN.
Prior to her appointment as chief executive, Simmonds was in a management position at SIT from 1990 to 1997. She is a Board Member of Venture Southland, a combined local authority economic development group, as well as Chair of Hockey Southland, President of New Zealand Hockey, Community Trust of Southland Board Member. Simmonds is a former Director of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery and former Board Member of the New Zealand Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, the Southland District Health Board and Southland Disabilities Services.
Simmonds was a recipient of the Woolf Fisher Fellowship in 2000.
Simmonds implemented the Zero Fees Scheme at SIT in 2001 that attracted thousands of students to Southland. She also introduced a marketing strategy, which increased the number of international students from 29 in 2000 to 1,000 in 2014.
Penny’s inclusive approach to the Indian and other ethnic communities is also one of the reasons that SIT today can boast of a large number of Indian students undertaking various study programmes in Invercargill. While this has meant a great opportunity and support for the students from India, it has also meant a large amount of investment injected into the Southland economy. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it has been Penny’s leadership that has contributed to putting Invercargill on the world map.
Besides spearheading important educational initiatives, Penny also contributes to the community in many other ways through her participation on boards of numerous organisations committed to various philanthropic, educational and recreational services to the community.
Penny Simmonds, Chief Executive of Southern Institute of Technology(SIT), was named Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit—a recognition for her service to education, sports and community in Southland, in the New Year’s Honours 2016.
On being asked about how she feels about the honour,...
Penny Simmonds, Chief Executive of Southern Institute of Technology(SIT), was named Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit—a recognition for her service to education, sports and community in Southland, in the New Year’s Honours 2016.
On being asked about how she feels about the honour, Penny says, “I feel absolutely honoured to have been given this honour. This is truly the reflection of the work that not only SIT has done but also all those involved with SIT.”
She says that the honour means a lot as it “recognises the importance of the work SIT has done not only for education but also the communities involved with it.”
She says that SIT wishes to continue the work they have been doing.
“I think part of the recognition is about the good work that SIT has done especially for the international students and we hope to expand it further. SIT has played an important part in bringing more Indian students to southland and we want to expand it further. We also wish to keep supporting Indian Weekender and Giri Gupta in future too.” SIT has been closely associated with Indian Weekender with its iconic Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame. Penny has personally been involved with the event’s success over the years since its inception.
In her conversation with Indian Weekender Penny also pointed out the looming shortage of employees in Southland and says she hope to see not only Indian students but employees too choosing Southland as their study and work destination.
Simmonds was appointed as the chief executive of SIT in 1997. SIT has campuses in Invercargill, Gore, Queenstown and Christchurch and a successful distance learning faculty through SIT2LRN.
Prior to her appointment as chief executive, Simmonds was in a management position at SIT from 1990 to 1997. She is a Board Member of Venture Southland, a combined local authority economic development group, as well as Chair of Hockey Southland, President of New Zealand Hockey, Community Trust of Southland Board Member. Simmonds is a former Director of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery and former Board Member of the New Zealand Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, the Southland District Health Board and Southland Disabilities Services.
Simmonds was a recipient of the Woolf Fisher Fellowship in 2000.
Simmonds implemented the Zero Fees Scheme at SIT in 2001 that attracted thousands of students to Southland. She also introduced a marketing strategy, which increased the number of international students from 29 in 2000 to 1,000 in 2014.
Penny’s inclusive approach to the Indian and other ethnic communities is also one of the reasons that SIT today can boast of a large number of Indian students undertaking various study programmes in Invercargill. While this has meant a great opportunity and support for the students from India, it has also meant a large amount of investment injected into the Southland economy. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it has been Penny’s leadership that has contributed to putting Invercargill on the world map.
Besides spearheading important educational initiatives, Penny also contributes to the community in many other ways through her participation on boards of numerous organisations committed to various philanthropic, educational and recreational services to the community.
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