Published: Wednesday, 27 June 2018 10:05
Congratulations to two of our ex-students. Charmian O'Connor, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry was made a Dame in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to Education and Chemistry.
Dame Charmian O'Connor learnt Maths and English from her mother in a small cottage as her mother juggled the duties of a provincial housewife: making butter and spinning wool. But from such humble beginnings, greatness came.
She would go on to start school two years ahead of her peers and start University aged 16, one of only 10 women in a class of hundreds.
Her mother's investment of time and energy would see O'Connor become the first girl from Auckland Girls Grammar school to study science at university and she would go on to an academic career as an assistant Vice Chancellor and Professor Emeritus at the University of Auckland.
Jennifer Flay, was awarded a KEA Award at a gala dinner on 21 June. The award recognises 'Kiwi High Flyers'. Jennifer is the general director of the FIAC one of the most prestigious and infludntial art fairs worldwide; each year the event attracts more than 240 exhibitors and result in millions of dollars in sale. Jennifer was awarded the French Legion of Honour (France's highest award) in 2015.