Jonathan Muhl – SIT.

Kia ora,

I am Jono Muhl and I am currently a Tutor at Te Pukenga – Southern Institute of Technology . I am standing for the position of academic staff Te Pūkenga on the Industrial and Professional Committee.

After a long career break to raise my family I returned to Academia in 2019 and quickly realised that all was not well in the sector. Within a year membership of the union was not just desirable but a necessity in a workplace where dollars were priorities and kaimahi were consumables. This may have been worse in some institutes than others, and I accept that in the South there may have been a particular “flavour” of leadership, but what ever the outcome of the current election the following year is going to bring even more turmoil and uncertainty to us all.

Although a recent recruit to the union by some standards, since joining I have been increasingly involved locally (through branch committee and now co-branch president) and nationally, through committees such at the Rules Review. There are a few reasons why I wish to be considered for this position. These include:

• The smaller regions, including the deep south have their own issues and it is important that they can be heard and considered.
• As a relative newcomer I can bring a diverse set of views and contributions
• The year spent on the Rules Review have given me a good understanding of the workings of the TEU, as well as its past and future paths.
• While the future is uncertain the experience and knowledge gained working under our previous Chief Executive may prove invaluable should they now become our minister...
• I have taught at all levels from schools and trades to advanced degree and understand may of the unique challenges of each.
• After 15 years in our Volunteer Fire Brigade, firefighting is second nature!

While I have met many through conference and committees over the past few years, for those that do not know me I have included a short “history” below...

Ngā mihi,
Jono Muhl

After graduating from The University of Edinburgh inl Engineering in 1990 I continued there in research and teaching, accidentally attaining a PhD on the way... I span out my main research into a start up, Intexia, which went so well I closed it in 2005 and moved to New Zealand where I spent the next 15 years raising 4 gorgeous Tamarik and doing community work in my “free” time, before returning to teaching in 2019.