Waikato University honours former Te Awamutu student

CLARE McTAMNEY receives the Distinguished Alumni Award from University of Waikato chancellor, former Prime Minister Jim Bolger. Photo supplied.

By Grant Johnston

Former Te Awamutu student, Clare McTamney was one of three recipients of the inaugural University of Waikato Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Clare attended Te Awamutu College from 1990-1993 before heading to university. She graduated from Waikato in 1999 with a Bachelor of Management Studies (Honours) and law degree. She went on to attain a Master’s degree in International Business Studies at Melbourne University.

These days the 30-year-old is based in Melbourne and works for Accenture as a global remuneration specialist. Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company operating in 48 countries. Clare’s current role involves research and analysis of remuneration trends and best practices across borders.

Lynn Barry, director of human resources, Accenture South East Asia, said Clare could work across cultures and language barriers, and her talents with technology meant people regularly sought her advice.

Growing up at Te Kawa, where her parents Martin and Lyn McTamney turned their kiwifruit orchard into ground-breaking tourist destination Akona Restaurant, obviously provided a good background for Clare’s future career.

Outside work, Clare has taught adult literacy and English to recently arrived immigrants to Melbourne. She is the membership officer for the Kea Melbourne committee (Kiwi Expat Association) and sings as an alto with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir.

Clare said she was honoured to receive the University of Waikato’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

"Receiving the award had caused me to reflect on my Waikato days. My grounding from my five years there has always stayed with me, and I know it will guide me through my entire career.”

Clare will be home to get married at Te Kawa to her Irish fiancé in January. She was back home last week to receive her award from former PM Jim Bolger at the annual chancellor’s dinner at Waikato University.

The other recipients of the inaugural award were former head of Telecom NZ, Theresa Gattung and Rotorua company director, Deryck Shaw.