Rt Hon Sir John Key

Biography

Sir John was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2008 to 2016. He successfully led the country through the aftermath of the global financial crisis and a series of devastating earthquakes in New Zealand's second-biggest city, Christchurch. Among his portfolios, Sir John was Minister for Tourism. In this role he promoted New Zealand offshore and oversaw substantial growth in New Zealand's tourism industry. He retains a strong interest in the best that our country has to offer both local and international tourists. Sir John is well respected in international affairs. He chairs the International Democrat Union and chaired the United Nations Security Council in 2016. Sir John, who was knighted in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours, has also been appointed an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia. Sir John's current business activities include a role advising a $200 billion United States corporation on its investments in China as well as an advisory role with a New York fund manager. Sir John worked in investment banking for 20 years primarily for Bankers Trust in New Zealand and Merrill Lynch in Singapore, London and Sydney. His positions included heading Merrill Lynch's global foreign exchange business along with responsibility for European derivative trading and E. Commerce. He was a member of the Foreign Exchange Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (1999-2001). 

Research Interest

 Earthquake