Eric Tracey: committed from afar
Eric Tracey's career reflects a lifetime of service to New Zealand from abroad. After completing a Masters of Commerce in 1973, he moved to London and became Deloitte’s first non-British partner in 1980. His governance career expanded across several major UK organisations, and he developed a reputation for thoughtful, principled leadership. As well as corporate governance, he describes his professional specialities as financial trouble shooting, fundraising strategies and “creating order from chaos”.
Although he has lived overseas for 40 years, Eric has never stopped identifying as a New Zealander or championing New Zealand. A distinctive aspect of his legacy is his extensive pro bono work on behalf of the country and its people. He helped establish reciprocal membership arrangements between accounting institutes in New Zealand and the UK, contributed to major trade and cultural initiatives, and supported national causes such as the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal UK and NZTE’s Beachheads Programme. His efforts have been recognised with multiple honours, including Life Membership of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, the Council’s highest honour.
Eric sees himself as one of a generation who received a state-supported education and as such owes the country, and his alma mater, something in return. His long-standing support for the University has been transformative. As a founding trustee and long-serving chair of UK Friends of The University of Auckland, he has helped raise more than $5m to support scholarships, research and outreach. Together with his wife Patricia, he has personally contributed $1.8m to the University through scholarships, facilities and research programmes, and has pledged a bequest of $1m.
Mark Bentley, director of Alumni Relations and Development at the University of Auckland, acknowledged Scott and Eric’s exceptional contributions: “Honorary doctorates are awarded to individuals whose achievements and service embody the values of the University.
“Scott St John and Eric Tracey are outstanding examples of alumni who not only have excelled in their professions, but have remained deeply committed to supporting education, philanthropy and the wider community.
“It is a privilege for the University to recognise exceptional contributions of this kind.”
Eric Tracey received his honorary doctorate from the University of Auckland on 19 March in a ceremony at the Fale Pasifika.