Tribute to Sir Eion Edgar

Sir Eion Edgar, a Queenstown-based investor, businessman, philanthropist, husband and father, has passed away last month in Queenstown aged 76, and leaves behind enormous legacy for New Zealand.

Sir Eion attended John McGlashan College in Dunedin from 1954 to 1963 and was inducted as a member of the Distinguished Old Collegian in the College’s centennial year in 2018. After school, he then attended the University of Otago and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1967 and completed his accounting professional qualifications the following year. He began working for Forsyth Barr in 1972.

Sir Eion chaired numerous charitable trusts and organisations, including the Edgar Olympic Foundation, New Zealand Dementia Prevention Trust, Winter Games NZ Charitable Trust. He was the official patron of Diabetes New Zealand, the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, and the New Zealand Football Foundation. Sir Eion had significant contribution in the creation of the University of Otago’s Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre, and also in the creation of the southern hemisphere’s largest single-building indoor sports arena, Dunedin’s Edgar Centre.

Sir Eion served as Chancellor of the University of Otago from 1999 until 2003, and was awarded Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the university for outstanding service.

He served as Chairman of Forsyth Barr for 20 years until his retirement in 2018. In his role as the Chairman, he was instrumental in the company’s sponsorship of the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. He was served as a director of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Chairman of the New Zealand Stock Exchange, and President of the New Zealand Olympic Committee. He was also a trustee of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand and of the Halberg Diasbility Foundation.

Sir Eion has undoubtedly made significant contributions to New Zealand as a philanthropist in sport, education, youth, arts, sport and health, which has earned him many awards and accoldates, including a knighthood, being named NBR New Zealander of the Year in 2004, the Senior New Zealander of the Year in 2010, and being inducted into the Business Hall of Fame.

Graduate Profile by University of Otago – https://www.otago.ac.nz/business/alumni/otago090613.html