RICHARD COLEMAN '82 QC

CHAIRMAN

Richard is Chairman of the UK Friends of Auckland Grammar School Trustees. Richard started at the School in 1982, was Head Prefect in 1986, and won the Girdlers' Scholarship to Cambridge University in 1987. Richard practices as a barrister at Fountain Court Chambers in London, where he is the leading practitioner in the fields of commercial dispute resolution, banking, financial services and professional discipline. His core expertise is in written and oral advocacy, case management and dispute resolution. Richard also worked at law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed in Washington, D.C. and was awarded the Queen's Counsel in 2012.

DR JULIE MAXTON

Julie is the Executive Director of the Royal Society, the first woman in 350 years to hold the post, a position she has held since 2011. Before the Royal Society, Julie was Registrar at the University of Oxford, the first woman in 550 years in the role. She is an Honorary Fellow of University College Oxford, a Bencher of the Middle Temple, a Freeman of the Goldsmith's Company, as well as a Board member of Engineering UK, the Charities Aid Foundation, Haberdasher Aske's School and of the International Advisory Board of the Blavatnik School of Governance at Oxford University. Julie combined a career as a practicing lawyer with academia, and held positions as Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is the author of numerous articles regarding trusts, equity, commercial and property law.

GRAHAM COOP '78

Graham is a qualified barrister and solicitor in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Wales. He has been on the UK Friends of Auckland Grammar School Trust since 2015. After gaining his Bachelor of Law degree with Honours from the University of Auckland, Graham received his DEA (with honours) from the Université de Paris II, Panthéon-Assas, France. Graham's area of expertise lies with international dispute resolution and public international law, with a particular focus on the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors, together with environmental, banking and defence issues. He is one of the world's leading experts on international energy law.

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JAMES GEMMELL '94

James is a Rugby Presenter for Sky Sport in the UK. He serves as a presenter of Northern Hemisphere Internationals, European Champions Cup, Pro12 and Top 14 leagues, plus Super Rugby and the Rugby Championships from the Southern Hemisphere. Along with workmate and fellow Old Boy Tim Dale '97, James produced Beneath the Black: A Journey Through New Zealand Rugby, exploring how a small country on the edge of the world produces the most dominant team in sport. James was one of the commentators for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, alongside fellow Old Boy Scotty Stevenson '90. James will move back to New Zealand at the end of September 2021.

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MICHAEL COLLINSON '83

Michael is the Managing Director, Consumer and Retail at William Blair and Company, a global investment banking and asset management firm. Michael was Deputy Head Prefect in 1987, was a member of the Eight Rowing squad, and starred in several School productions including Oklahoma, Godspell and Annie. Michael received his Bachelor of Law and Commerce degree (with Honours) from the University of Auckland, majoring in Financial Economics, and his MSc at the London School of Economics and Political Science before joining William Blair in 2015. Notable transactions that Michael has been a part of include the sale of Continental Bakeries to Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking, the sale of Vandemoortele to Alpro and the partnership between Aujan Industries and The Coca-Cola Company.

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PETER MCNAUGHTON '62

Peter is the Professor of Pharmacology and a member of the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Research at King's College London, a position he has held since 2013. This group investigates the cellular and molecular basis of sensations. Peter's work focuses on the specialty of molecular and cellular basis of pain sensation. Peter has posted numerous articles in scientific journals including the Journal of Neuroscience and the Journal of Physiology.

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LADY ROSEMARY BUCHANAN

Lady Rosemary is a former principal dancer with the New Zealand Ballet and is the wife of the late Sir John Buchanan '56. Based in Surrey in the UK, she is busy in retirement with family, friends and philanthropic activities. Lady Rosemary is a prominent donor of Auckland Grammar School and has donated $1.5m in scholarships in her husband’s name. Sir John and Lady Rosemary grew up in South Auckland and Sir John regarded that having the opportunity to attend Auckland Grammar School was significant in success of his career. They established the Sir John Buchanan Scholarship for an out-of-zone boy to attend the school on a five-year full scholarship to Tibbs House, the School's boarding hostel. Lady Rosemary has a lifelong interest in dance and is aware of how it can delay dementia and support wellbeing for the elderly. The Buchanan's have two children, Kirsty (based in the UK) and Sean (based in the US), and three grandchildren.

TIM O'CONNOR

Tim became the 11th Headmaster of Auckland Grammar School in 2012. Educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School, Tim gained a Diploma of Teaching at Palmerston North Teachers' College and graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Education. He later undertook post-graduate studies in Improving Schools and the Art of Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 2002, Tim was appointed Rector of Palmerston North Boys' High School and was active in many areas related to boys' education, including the Association of Boys' Schools New Zealand, the Secondary Schools Principals' Association and the International Boys' Schools Coalition. In 2007, he was awarded both a Woolf Fisher Fellowship and was also made a Sir Peter Blake Trust Emerging Leader. Tim's philosophy on boys' education and the importance of academic rigour and achievement complemented by extensive co-curricular opportunities, matches that of the School. As someone who thrives on competition and is driven to succeed, he follows in the long line of highly regarded Headmasters who have led the School before him.

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