Dame Judy McGregor | |
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Born | 1948 (age 75–76) |
Academic background | |
Alma mater | Massey University |
Thesis |
Dame Judith Helen McGregor DNZM (born 1948) is a New Zealand lawyer, journalist, public servant and academic. She is currently a full professor at Auckland University of Technology[1] and chairs the Waitematā District Health Board.
McGregor completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Waikato in 1970, where she was founding editor of Nexus, the student magazine.[2] Working as a journalist, she rose to editorship of the Sunday News and the Auckland Star, and served on the Broadcasting Standards Authority.[2] She took a stand against the 1981 Springboks tour, and walked in the 1975 Māori land march.[3]
After a PhD in political communication, completed in 1995,[4] McGregor worked as a professor at Massey University.[2] In the 2004 New Year Honours, McGregor was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to journalism.[5]
Between 2003 and 2013, McGregor served two five-year terms as the first Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner for the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, appointed by Minister Margaret Wilson and replaced in the role by politician Jackie Blue.[6][7][8] As commissioner, her report Caring Count, based on undercover work in the aged-care industry, had a huge impact[9][10][11][12] and led ultimately to an industry-wide settlement.[13]
McGregor then moved to Auckland University of Technology as professor.[1] In 2016, she was named supreme winner at the Women in Governance Awards.[3] After the resignation of Lester Levy as chair of the Waitematā District Health Board, the Minister of Health, David Clark, appointed McGregor to the role, effective 10 June 2018.[14]
McGregor was promoted to Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to human rights and health, in the 2022 Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours.[15]
Notable students of McGregor include Sue Bradford.[16]