New Zealand electrical engineer and businessperson (b. 1943)
Sir Neville Jordan KNZM CRSNZ (born 15 May 1943) is a New Zealand electrical engineer and businessman.
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 retired officer of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve and an honorary Captain of the Royal New Zealand Navy.[14][15]
References
External links