Neville Jordan
Sir Neville Jordan KNZM CRSNZ (born 15 May 1943) is a New Zealand electrical engineer and businessman.
Sir Neville Jordan | |
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Born | Petone, New Zealand | 15 May 1943
Biography
Born in Petone on 15 May 1943, Jordan was the third child of Hercules Jordan, a welder, and only child of Lydia Marie Jordan (née Ashman), a laundry worker.[1][2] After completing the engineering intermediate year at Victoria University of Wellington, Jordan studied electrical engineering at the University of Canterbury from 1964 to 1966, graduation with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1967.[2] He was a New Zealand universities judo representative.[2] After graduating, he worked for companies including IBM and Philips.[3]
In 1975, Jordan founded MAS Technology, a microwave technology company whose IPO was on the NASDAQ main board.[3]
In 1995, he founded the Jordan Foundation, which provides scholarships for higher learning and support for the arts.[3] In 1998, he founded venture capital business Endeavour Capital, which has invested in more than 35 New Zealand start-ups.[3]
Jordan was president of the Royal Society of New Zealand between 2006 and 2009; preceded by Jim Watson and followed by Garth Carnaby.[4]
From 2015 to 2018, Jordan was chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington,[5] having been a member of the university council since 2013.[6][7]
Honours and awards
In the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours, Jordan was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to telecommunications and export.[8] He was conferred an honorary DEng degree by the University of Canterbury.[9] In 2012, he was recognised as Wellingtonian of the year.[10] In the 2015 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to business, science and the community.[11] He is a Companion of Royal Society Te Apārangi.[12]
In 2006, Jordan was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.[13]
Jordan is an honorary Captain of the Royal New Zealand Navy.[14]
References
- "Knighthood for Neville Jordan in New Year Honours". Stuff.co.nz. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- Taylor, Alister, ed. (2001). "New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001". New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa. Auckland: Alister Taylor Publishers: 496. ISSN 1172-9813.
- "Sir Neville Jordan — NZ Hi-Tech Awards". Hitech.org.nz. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "Royal Society Te Aparangi – Presidents". Royalsociety.org.nz. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "Neville Jordan elected as VUW Chancellor". Wellington Scoop. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "Council membership for 2016" (PDF). Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- Wellington, Victoria University of (26 October 2018). "Leading the way | News | Victoria University of Wellington". www.wgtn.ac.nz. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- "Queen's Birthday honours list 1999 (including Niue)". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 1999. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- "Honorary Graduates" (PDF). University of Canterbury. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- "Neville Jordan Wellingtonian of the Year". Stuff.co.nz. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "New Year honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- "View our Companions". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- "Past laureates". Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- "Endeavour Energy". Endeavour Energy. Retrieved 6 October 2023.