New Head of School excited about EIT’s potential
EIT has appointed Sue Blackmore as the new Head of School of Viticulture and Wine.
Sue combines a broad range of international industry know-how with years of work experience in tertiary education.
She recently relocated from Blenheim to Hawke’s Bay and has settled comfortably in her new home in Bay View with prime sea views.
Sue studied Horticulture Science at Massey University and gained her Postgraduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology and a Masters in Applied Science in Oenology at Lincoln University.
She spent many years overseas including Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Great Britain, America and Germany, working in both wine production and education.
Sue has been involved in tertiary education since returning from overseas in 2005 – initially as programme leader of viticulture and wine at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) and then as Wine Science lecturer and Coordinator for the Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University.
Her latest role saw a return to Marlborough as leader of the Viticulture and Wine team at NMIT. In this role she project-managed the development an array of new programmes at degree and pre-degree levels which contributed to a significant growth in student numbers.
As the new Head of School, Sue is ready to develop a new Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science which will be launched in 2020. Starting in July, Sue and her team will offer a unique part-time Certificate in Wine Growing in Gisborne which focuses on organic and biodynamic production and is tailored to people already working in the industry.
“I have a passion for providing for what industry demands as well as responding to the needs of students,” Sue says.
For the moment she is busy meeting industry players across Hawke’s Bay and getting to know the big EIT family.
“It’s a new frontier but EIT has so much potential that I’m thrilled to strengthen and broaden,” she says.
In her free time Sue is practising Yoga, enjoying a good glass of wine (“I love the Hawke’s Bay reds”) and walking her dog for at least an hour a day. Sue is a keen sailor and hopes to get the opportunity to hoist the sails in Hawke’s Bay soon.
