Branches

Alex was sworn in as Mayor of South Wairarapa in 2019 after a career in geotechnical engineering and research. A Wairarapa resident for 20 years, he and wife Julie and daughter India live rurally near Martinborough.

Although new to public office, Alex had previously served as a senior advisor at Wellington City Council. Away from work, he loves old cars, particularly Mercedes, and enjoys maintaining his too large property. He also enjoys keeping tabs on where College is heading, taking part in the activities of the CCOBA (he served on the committee until 2000), and catching up with College friends and Old Boys.

Secretary

Charlie Cresswell (9016) – cwmcresswell@gmail.com

Having left New Zealand in 1990, shortly after graduating with a commerce degree from the University of Otago, Chris has lived in Japan, the United Kingdom and, for the last 19 years, in Australia with his wife, Shanti, and five sons.

He owns the Australian business entity of a global IT and project management consultancy, PTS Consulting Australia.

At College, Chris was in Jacobs House and the Chapel Choir, which has instilled sufficient confidence for him to lead the school song at the (in)famous annual Sydney Long Lunch.

Secretary

Andrew Adams (12439) – ccoba.nsw@gmail.com

Tim Black is a business entrepreneur who lives in central Timaru with wife Brooke, teenage daughters Lucy and Alex and a Jack Russell terrier.

After five years in Condell’s House (1988-1992), Tim went farming in South Canterbury before heading to Lincoln University to study for a BComAg.

He worked for 13 years at Pyne Gould Guinness, where he was a wool auctioneer and fine wool representative, before moving to Elders Limited.

In recent years, he has established his own business, Black & Associates Limited, reclassing for NZ Merino and then diversifying into retail and hospitality with stores (Tuesday and Black & Co), and a bar (Hector Black’s) in central Timaru, and taxidermy (Animal Art and Taxidermy NZ).

Secretary

Jeremy Sutherland 9242 – jtgsutherland@xtra.co.nz

Michael entered Jacobs House in 1973 and is pleased to be part of both a very special year group and of Jacobs in its boarding heyday.

Hailing from Dunedin, as many from Jacobs were, Michael returned to the University of Otago to undertake study in networking before moving into a career of export trading, working for Dunedin publicly listed Otago Press & Produce. During this time, father Ken and uncle Bob were stalwarts of the Otago Branch of CCOBA and Michael was press-ganged into being permanent secretary for the next decade or two. Additional study, marriage, children, and a change of career led to 20 years in the public sector, 15 of them in trade commissioner roles in the Pacific, including five fascinating years in Fiji with his family before, during, and after the 2006 coup.

Now in Auckland, Michael is a self-employed consultant who – along with five other 1973 Old Boys and four family members – is seeking to breathe life into the Auckland Branch of CCOBA.

Following retirement from Canterbury Health Laboratories, Canterbury District Health Board, in 2017, Lance moved to Nelson with his wife, Christine.

He has previously served on the CCOBA committee, received the Christ’s College Leadership Medal in 2010 and is the father of two Old Boys, Angus and Nicholas. He remains professionally active; teaching at the University of Otago, Christchurch, on technical advisory groups of the Ministry of Health and Pharmac, and is a member of NISG and a member and past chair of two international charitable trusts.

His time is largely taken up with his four grandchildren in Nelson, mountain biking, skiing and enjoying the Nelson culture and environment and meeting new people in the region.

Secretary

Bill Unwin (5387) – judwin@xtra.co.nz

Born in Christchurch, Zac is the son and brother of Old Boys and was in Flower’s House from 1967-1970.

He has spent his life happily farming in Marlborough where the family acreage comprises a large vineyard, and sheep and cattle. Leisure time is spent on the ocean and Zac has enjoyed sailing many miles around New Zealand and throughout the Pacific. He enjoyed following the progress of his son, Tim who was at College from 2004-2008.

Now he’s a doting grandfather, who anticipates another generation may undertake their secondary years at College.

Secretary

Nigel Taylor (7235) – mill.stream@xtra.co.nz

Twenty years after Jono left College, he attended a CCOBA evening in Hawke’s Bay and was surprised how much he enjoyed catching up. It motivated him to become involved and help provide opportunities for Old Boys to keep in contact.

Boarding in School House from 1993-97, Jono played tennis and rugby, and was a member of the skiing club. He is now a Horticulture and Arable Nutrient Specialist for Ballance Agri-Nutrients in Hawke’s Bay where he lives with his wife and two daughters, Olivia, 9, and Pippa, 4. Jono enjoys family time and the outdoors, particularly fishing.

Secretary

Philip Pinckney (10494) – Philip.Pinckney@bakertillysr.nz