Dilworth’s new Board Chair, Jonathan Mason, brings a wealth of governance experience, a vision for excellence and a commitment to change.
At the Dilworth Board’s annual meeting in April, Jonathan Mason was elected as the new Board Chair. He is the first independent Trustee to hold this position in several decades and has been on the Board since 2019.
Jonathan is one of the country’s most experienced board governors. He was recently appointed Vice President of the Institute of Directors, New Zealand’s premier governance organisation. He serves on the Board of Zespri, is a trustee of WWF-NZ and the University of Auckland Endowment Fund, is a member of the University Council for the University of Auckland, and is Chair of the NZUS Council.
He is also an Honorary Adjunct Professor of Management at the University of Auckland and has recently held board positions at major New Zealand companies, including Vector, Westpac New Zealand, and Air New Zealand.
We sat down with Jonathan to learn more about him, his motivation for joining the Dilworth Board, and what his leadership will likely mean for the Dilworth community.
Jonathan is passionate about education and the importance of laying down the right foundations in secondary school—that, he says, ‘are the foundations to do well in life’. He joined the Dilworth Board in 2019 because he strongly believed in Dilworth’s mission.
“I was attracted to the mission of Dilworth. Everyone I talked to told me how special Dilworth is and what a great education it offered”.
He said he had occasion to meet many Dilworth students while his daughters (now in their early twenties) were attending the neighbouring Diocesan School. “What I saw amongst my daughters’ friends were young men who treated fellow students and adults with respect; they impressed me so much.”
Around his busy work schedule, Jonathan loves attending as many Dilworth events as he can. Particular favourites are basketball, choir, drama—“They perform at a level of excellence”, and debate—“The debate I saw, gosh, they were good”.
Jonathan sees so many Dilworth students making the most of their scholarships and their time at the School. He says, “They have absolutely taken up Headmaster Dan Reddiex’s challenge to strive for personal excellence, and it is inspiring for the Board to see.”
Dilworth Community Apology
Reflecting on the Board’s role over the last six years, Jonathan says the Dilworth Community Acknowledgement and Apology, which he delivered on March 1st, was a pivotal point for him personally and the Board.
“It represented a significant day for the Board. Our Apology was in response to listening to Dilworth survivors of abuse as well as what we learned through the work of the Dilworth Independent Inquiry and acknowledging this abuse and harm and sincerely apologising”.
He said he knows that for some survivors he has talked to, the day has helped them towards closure, but for others, the hurt remains.
Jonathan admits that the last six years have represented a significant governance challenge. “The incredibly hard part is that every individual's circumstances, experience, and response isdifferent. While we respect this, we can’t satisfy everyone and constructively and positively govern the school.”
Going Forward
In the coming year, Jonathan says the Board has to focus on income generation to ensure the School can fulfil its mission into the future, as the Founders James and Isabella Dilworth intended. Strong governance, academic results, and clear pathways for further study will remain firm outcomes. “The Board’s goal is personal excellence for Dilworth students, whatever form that may take for each individual”.
Governance changes will also be a priority for the Dilworth Board as they implement the recommended changes arising from an extensive governance review. Initiatives such as term limits for the Board will be introduced with a greater emphasis on skill matrices, ensuring representation across key areas such as education, admissions, finance, property, governance, and leadership. There will also be a concerted effort to promote diversity on the Board, ideally encompassing gender, ethnicity, and age.
Greater interaction with Dilworth whānau is high on the list, says Jonathan: “We are looking forward to increased interaction with our parent community, hearing what it is like from their point of view and what they believe is best for their young men”.
In closing, Jonathan says, “Addressing the individual needs of those men who were abused while at School and ensuring the School can develop and thrive to support future generations is one of the most complex challenges of governance.”
Jonathan Mason is here to lead a Board committed to excellence and change. His leadership marks the beginning of a new chapter for Dilworth.