Eminent graduate, international businessman and philanthropist, Dr Mark Stewart was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from his alma mater the University of Canterbury in 2023.
Over a 40-year commercial career, Stewart has been a director of a number of publicly listed companies and, through his family investment company Masthead Ltd, has extensive investments across a range of different industries.
A common thread throughout Stewart’s life and career is a desire to give back. In 2016 he generously supported UC students by funding a US Study Abroad programme and provided support for the UC Business School’s 21-Day Challenge. This challenge gathered teams of students from across the University to solve a problem in a Pacific nation, giving UC students the opportunity to make a real impact on helping international communities in need. He was named the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme – Canterbury Mentor of the Year in 2006 and was also a mentor for the UC 21-Day Challenge programme in 2015.
Stewart was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2018 for services to sport and the community, having held major governance roles in football. Stewart has been the Chair of Mainland Football Limited, a board member of New Zealand Football, Chair of the NZ Football Foundation and was on the organising committee for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup held in New Zealand in 2015.
He has been the National President of the NZ Malaysian Business Council, a Board member of Export New Zealand and Canterbury Branch President, was Chair of the St Andrew’s College Foundation and was a Board member of the fundraising team for the Christchurch City Mission. He was a review committee member for NZ Rugby League. Stewart was recently a government appointee for an organisational review of Sport NZ and High Performance Sport NZ.
Stewart was made a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management in 2001, received the Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Trust award for Most Outstanding Voluntary Administrator in 2010, received an outstanding Service Award from both Sport Canterbury in 2010 and NZ Rugby League in 2000.
