Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
4 mins ago
Geoffrey Mather is EIT’s new Head of Computing.
A near-death experience during Cyclone Gabrielle has motivated Geoffrey Mather to be even more positive than before.
Geoffrey, who has recently been appointed EIT’s new Head of the School of Computing, says the Cyclone forced him to reimagine his life and not “sweat the small stuff”.
“I don’t worry about a thing now, instead I just get on and do the best I can with what I’ve got.”
Geoffrey, who was the Assistant Head of the Schools of Business and Computing at the time, was living semi-rurally near the Napier Golf Club at Waiohiki. He says that he was fast asleep at about 5.30 am on the day the Cyclone hit last February.
“I was woken by this torrent of water and my mobile’s torchlight showed that there was about 2 foot of water in my bedroom.”
Wherever he went in the house there was rising water and Geoffrey realised that he needed to get out.
Attempts to break windows proved futile, so he made his way to the kitchen where there was a high window that he could climb out of.
“I pushed the window out and jumped into the torrent of water that by this time was running around my place.”
As he tried to make it to safety he came across his landlord and together they were able to make it to higher ground, eventually ending up at a neighbour’s house.
“About this time, I sent a message to John West, my boss, and it’s quite funny on reflection, but it said something like, ‘Hi John, I don’t think I’m going to be able to get into work today’.”
Having escaped with his pyjamas and his mobile phone only, it was the start of a period of rebuilding for Geoffrey and he credits John West and EIT for their understanding, support and compassion.
“When I did come back to work, I initially came back part-time, and also got some counselling through EAP, which I am also very grateful for.”
Since coming back to work, Geoffrey has been acting Head of School for Tourism and Hospitality, Computing and English Language.
He says this has helped him master the art of multi-tasking and ironically given him focus, but he has also benefitted from the counselling and has even created a podcast about his experience.
“My podcast is called Cyclone Gabrielle Smash-up. It’s six episodes and it’s just me sharing. The first episode is a slightly longer account of what happened on that fateful day.”
”I would like to find a way to create a platform where people can share from their experience what they went through, because something I have learned since Cyclone Gabrielle is that whether someone was impacted or not, everyone has a story.”
“I think it can be empowering, insightful, rewarding, not just for the person who’s sharing the story, but those who are receiving it. And I would like to create a way for those sorts of stories to be shared.”
Now living in Taradale, Geoffrey is looking forward to getting into his new role.
“I am excited by where computing and the school could go in the coming years. That excites me. And I’m eager to help make that a reality and propel the school forward.”
He says that his vision is for it to become EIT’s showcase and to deepen the connections and synergies between teams and communities.
“And not just in the Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti and Auckland regions where we deliver programmes, but also internationally. And at the moment, we have a large project in China with Zhejiang Yuexiu University. And another reason why I look forward to working alongside the School of Computing whānau is before joining EIT, I worked in China for 12 and a half years.”
“I think I therefore have an interesting lens within which to grow and support our China-based programme.”
Geoffrey also looks forward to being reunited with his Malaysian-born partner Kenny. They met 20 years ago in Shanghai and have been living a long-distance relationship for most of that time. Post the Cyclone, they applied for a Partner Visa for Kenny and are now awaiting Immigration New Zealand’s decision.
John West, EIT’s Executive Dean: Faculty of Commerce and Technology, says: “EIT was delighted to have appointed Geoffrey when he started in April 2022. His subsequent appointment to Head of School reflects EITs commitment to empowering and growing managers.”
