Ian Culpan

Mema Mō Te Ora
Life Member

Professor Emeritus, University of Canterbury

Just another JAFFA but permanently on loan to Te Waipounamu after graduating from Otago and moving to Christchurch.  My first teaching job was at the new Kaiapoi High School and throughout this time I upgraded my qualifications at the University of Canterbury, (UC). I was appointed to the Christchurch College of Education in PE and Outdoor Education (1980) where I developed, along with UC colleagues, the conjoint four-year B.Ed PE degree and later co-ordinated the development of the Bachelor of Sport Coaching.  During this time, I was Vice President of AHPER, its journal editor, co-director of the South Island PE Teachers Conferences, President of the NZ Olympic Academy, co-principal writer of national Health and PE Curriculum (1999), and chair of NZQA’s Health and PE Qualifications Standards Committee.  In 2007, the College merged with UC, and I was appointed Head of the School of Sciences and PE. where I established the NZ Centre for Olympic Studies.  In the past 15 years, I have taught in 3 international master’s degrees in Europe (Germany and Greece).   I continue to support PENZ and been privileged with a PENZ Fellow, the Gillies Medal, Life Membership and the Te Iho-Takaro Ringawera trophy.   I was also very honoured to be twice awarded the IOC trophy for my work in Sport and Education.