John Gallagher (businessman)

Last updated

Sir John Gallagher
KNZM KStJ
John Gallagher KNZM (cropped).jpg
Gallagher in 2025
9th Chancellor of the University of Waikato
In office
2003–2006
ProfessionBusinessman

Sir John Allan Gallagher KNZM KStJ (born 1939) is a New Zealand businessman, philanthropist, and education advocate. He served as a Hamilton City councillor for 12 years and a Waikato regional councillor for three years. [1] A member of the council of the University of Waikato for 25 years, he was chancellor of the university from 2003 to 2006. [2]

Contents

Early life and family

Gallagher was born in 1939, the son of Bill Gallagher and Millie Gallagher (née Murray), and raised in Waikato. [3] His brother Bill was also knighted for services to business, in 2011. [4]

Business career

Gallagher joined the Gallagher Group, a company founded by his father in the 1960s, and worked alongside his brother, Bill. Gallagher Group became an international exporter of electric fencing, animal management, and security solutions. Gallagher held senior leadership roles within the company and continues to serve as a director of Gallagher Holdings Ltd.

In 2020, Gallagher was jointly inducted with his brother into the Waikato Business Hall of Fame. [5]

Contributions to education and the community

Gallagher served on the University of Waikato Council for 25 years, including a term as deputy chancellor, and later as chancellor from 2003 to 2006. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Waikato in 2008. [2]

The Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts at the University features the Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber, named in his honour. [6] [7] He currently serves as patron of the University of Waikato Foundation (Te Pou Taunaki). [8]

Gallagher served as a trustee of Skycity Hamilton Community Trust from 2003 to 2009, Hamilton Garden's Te Parapara Garden Trust from 2006 to 2012, and as a councillor for the Young Enterprise Trust. [9] He is a trustee of the Gallagher Charitable Trust, [10] a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, [11] and a director of Habitat for Humanity Hamilton. [12]

Honours and awards

In the 2002 Queen's Birthday Honours, Gallagher was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local-body and community affairs. [13] In 2008, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Waikato. [14] The same year, he received the freedom of Hamilton City, [15] and in 2014, he was awarded the inaugural Hamilton Medal by Hamilton City Council for an outstanding contribution to Hamilton. [9]

Gallagher was made an Officer of the Order of St John in 1999, [16] promoted to Commander of the order in 2006, [17] and further promoted to Knight of the Order of St John in 2010. [18]

Gallagher was promoted to Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to business, education, philanthropy, and the community, in the 2025 New Year Honours. [10] [19]

References

  1. ↑ "Celebrating local government changemakers". Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ). Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  2. 1 2 "University celebrates recipients of 2025 New Year Honours". University of Waikato. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  3. ↑ Fox, Andrea (31 December 2024). "New Year 2025 Honours: Waikato's John Gallagher earns a knighthood for a lifetime of community leadership and giving". Waikato Times. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  4. ↑ "Sir Bill Gallagher: Integrity, hard work and smarts spur new knight". Stuff News. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  5. ↑ "Gallagher brothers". Waikato Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  6. ↑ "Honorary Doctors of the University of Waikato". Waikato University. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  7. ↑ "Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts". Waikato University. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "Te Pou Taunaki Foundation". Waikato University. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Hamilton business leader and philanthropist John Gallagher becomes a knight". Radio New Zealand (RNZ). 31 December 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Arise, Sir John Gallagher". Waikato Times. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  11. ↑ "Distinguished Fellows". Institute of Directors New Zealand. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  12. ↑ "Habitat for Humanity Central Region Limited". Company Hub NZ. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  13. ↑ "Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 2002. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "Honorary Doctors of the University of Waikato". University of Waikato . Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "Gallagher brothers receive city's highest honours". Scoop. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  16. ↑ "Other notices: the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem". The London Gazette . No. 55666. 12 November 1999. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  17. ↑ "Order of St John". The London Gazette . No. 58136. 27 October 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  18. ↑ "Order of St John". The London Gazette . No. 59607. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  19. ↑ "Investiture Ceremony 23 May PM". The Governor-General's Blog. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.