Outstanding achievements recognised in Alumni Excellence Awards

This year’s recipients represent the breadth and diversity of the Massey alumni community, with each demonstrating excellence in their field while embodying the university’s values of innovation, leadership and making a positive difference.

Alumni Excellence Award – Dan Te Whenua Walker

Dan Te Whenua Walker, Tangahoe, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine, Maniapoto, Tainui, Ngāti Kahungunu o Te Wairoa, Tūhourangi, holds a Master of Advanced Leadership Practice (with Distinction) from Massey. He serves in several prominent governance roles, including Chair of the Child Cancer Foundation New Zealand, Director of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Deputy Chair of NZ Māori Tourism, and Director of the Ringa Hora Workforce Development Council.

As Chair of the Child Cancer Foundation New Zealand, Mr Te Whenua Walker provides governance and strategic leadership for an organisation that supports tamariki with cancer and their whānau across Aotearoa New Zealand. Inspired by his own family’s experience with childhood cancer, he is committed to ensuring no family has to face that journey alone.

His governance experience spans iwi, government, tourism, workforce development and community organisations. For more than 16 years, he has served on the board of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui, including as Deputy Chair, where he has helped lead land repurchases on Taranaki Maunga, the return of hapū whenua and iwi commercial ventures, balancing cultural and financial outcomes.

During his time as Co-Chair of Indigenous at Microsoft Aotearoa, he led partner development and cloud solutions across Australia and Aotearoa. He also co-founded the Indigenous at Microsoft initiative to ensure Indigenous voices were central to shaping the future of technology, helping unlock more than US$6 million for Indigenous-led innovation.

Mr Te Whenua Walker was the recipient of the 2025 Robert Walters New Zealand Leader of the Year Award and the Māori Leadership Award, and was previously named Young Māori Business Leader of the Year.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Students and Global Engagement Dr Tere McGonagle-Daly, Ngāti Whakaue ki Maketū, Te Arawa, says, “Dan stands out as the clear top-tier candidate, demonstrating sustained leadership across global technology, national policy, and community governance."

Young Alumni Award – Ellen Dixon

Ellen Dixon graduated from Massey with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, with a minor in Business Communication, earning recognition as a Massey Scholar. Her studies in critical theory, forensic linguistics, policy and intercultural communication laid the foundation for a career spanning civil society organisations, including the Global Student Forum and international institutions such as UNESCO, UNESCO IESALC and the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM Report).

Ms Dixon has held an elected seat on the UNESCO SDG4-Education 2030 High-Level Steering Committee, which guides the global mission for quality education for all. Representing civil society alongside government ministers, World Bank leaders and organisations including the LEGO Foundation, she contributes to shaping international education policy at the highest level.

She has also played a key role in developing regional initiatives, including the sixth Asia-Pacific Meeting on Education 2030, the inaugural International Day of Digital Learning and the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers.

In Aotearoa, Ms Dixon has held appointments with the Ministry of Education, the Board of Commissioners for the Tertiary Education Commission and Universities New Zealand – TePōkai Tara (formerly the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee). She has also held leadership and management roles in domestic and international Non-governmental organisations focused on education and human rights.

Dr McGonagle-Daly says, “Ellen Dixon is a benchmark young alumni candidate, with an unusually high level of achievement, influence and visibility early in her career. Her work with UNESCO – including advisory roles, high-level steering groups, and contributions to global education policy – demonstrates direct influence on international systems and decision-making.

The 2026 Alumni Excellence Award recipients will be formally celebrated at a private awards dinner later this year, where family and members of the university community will come together to recognise their outstanding accomplishments.

Alumni Relations Manager Danette Whitehouse says they would like to thank everyone who submitted nominations for this year’s awards.

"The calibre of nominations was exceptionally high, reflecting the remarkable contributions of Massey alumni across a wide range of industries and communities. While only a small number of recipients can be selected each year, the experiences and achievements of all our nominees are truly inspiring, and we look forward to sharing more of their stories with our alumni community."