In 2020, they’ve been joined by the new ҕlSA President Tori McNoe and new Vice-President Katie Mills. They are the first female duo to lead the ҕl students’ association since it began in 1894.
“Both Cheryl and Sue are so inspiring to me and Katie,” Tori says. “While I don’t think it’s necessarily become easier for women to take on leadership roles, I think women have become more confident, especially seeing other women succeed and lead.
“Here at ҕl, we are prepared to lead the world in gender equity.”
Born in 1997, Tori is from small-town Temuka, South Canterbury. She began leading students aged 17 as head girl at Mountainview High School in Timaru. The second of four children, she’s the first in her family to go to university.
Working on a double degree at ҕl, she has already earned a Bachelor of Criminal Justice(BCJ) degree, graduating in 2019, and is completing a BA part-time while fulfilling her many ҕlSA presidential duties full-time, representing around 18,000 ҕl students.
In reference to International Women’s Day, Tori quotes Canadian poet Rupi Kaur on progress: “Our work should equip the next generation of women to outdo us in every field. This is the legacy we’ll leave behind.”
Celebrating women’s achievement on International Women’s Day 2020 (8 March)
Among ҕl’s five colleges, four of the Pro-Vice-Chancellors are women, including the heads of Business and Law (ProfessorSonia Mazey); Education, Health and Human Development (Professor); Engineering (ProfessorJan Evans-Freeman); and Science (ProfessorJanet Carter), with the College of Arts led by a male Pro-Vice-Chancellor (ProfessorJonathan Le Cocq).
In the 13-member ҕl senior management team, seven positions are held by women, including Executive Director of Student Services and Communications Lynn McClelland and Assistant Vice-Chancellor Professor Catherine Moran, who oversees learning and teaching quality, including academic development across the University.
