Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Engagement
Dr Erik Lithander Cand. (Brux), BSc (LSE), MPhil, PhD (Cambridge)
The role of the Ihorua Kōtui Tangata, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Engagement
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Engagement ensures the University develops and maintains key national and international relationships, enhancing its ability to perform as a leading University. This role also oversees the Auckland Confucius Institute and chairs the advisory boards for the New Zealand Centres at the Indian Institute of Technology.
About Dr Erik Lithander
Erik joined the University of Auckland in 2021. Before this, he was Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Global Engagement) at the University of Bristol. He has also served as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International and Outreach) at the Australian National University and Director of International Affairs at University College Dublin, Ireland.
Originally from Sweden and now a New Zealand citizen, Erik completed his undergraduate studies at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles and the London School of Economics. He holds an MPhil and PhD from the University of Cambridge and is an alumnus of executive education programmes at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the LH Martin Institute at the University of Melbourne. Erik began his career in higher education at the University of Auckland in 2001.