Shortly before retiring as head of ideaschool, Chris Verburg introduced Professor Matthew Marshall to the team he will be leading when he takes up the EIT position early in December.
A classical guitarist, Mr Marshall has shaped a career that combines performance music and academic management.
"The two work very well together," he points out.
Head of Music at Massey University in Wellington for many years, he was most recently Dean of Arts and Social Science at Southern Cross University in Lismore in northern New South Wales.
Prior to that he was Dean of Creative and Performing Arts at Central Queensland University in Mackay.