Professor Margaret Hyland formally farewelled
26 February 2017 | Read time: 2 minutes
Former SfTI Director Professor Margaret Hyland was recently formally farewelled by the Challenge.
Margaret left SfTI in January to take up a new role as Chief Scientist at MBIE.
SfTI management presented her with a pounamu from the Kāhui Māori, blessed by our Kāhui Māori Kaihautū Dr Te Taka Keegan, as a small token of our huge appreciation of the contribution she made to the Challenge.
Margaret's pounamu is from the South Island and was blessed with water from Tāwhiao's spring, which is in Ngāruawāhia.
Te Taka says that as Kāhui Māori, they felt it important for Margaret to receive a Māori taonga in appreciation of her support and recognition of the importance of Māori aspirations in the Challenge.
“He tukunga aroha hei whakaatu i tō mātou aroha mōna, mō ōna aroha hoki ki a mātou – a gift in appreciation of all of her support for us.”
SfTI Director Professor Sally Davenport says Margaret put a huge effort into developing and successfully setting the direction for SfTI’s mission-led purpose.
“We will miss her steady hand and skilful directorship of what is quite a complex virtual organisation. It is testament to her dedication to the Challenge that we have had to replace her with two Directors to move forward and build on her legacy.”