Startup Dunedin is lucky to have a board made of people who really go to bat for Dunedin and our entrepreneurial community. We’re stoked to have some awesome new faces on our Startup Dunedin board; keep reading for more from their journeys and backgrounds, to what they’re looking forward to in their current board role.
Jo Kirkwood is a trustee on the Startup Dunedin board, and sits as the Otago Polytechnic representative. With a background spanning policy, academia, and governance, Jo brings some really unique experience and a background supporting student entrepreneurship in Dunedin.
Jo kicked off her career as a Policy Advisor in Wellington before returning to Dunedin to complete her PhD focused on motivations for entrepreneurship.
This research sparked a deep interest in studying entrepreneurship in New Zealand, leading her to explore areas like ecopreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and the role of women entrepreneurs (a.k.a. “mumpreneurs”). Today, Jo is a Professor at Otago Polytechnic.
In terms of what she’s excited for, Jo says it’s an opportunity to focus on student entrepreneurship, particularly through programmes like Audacious. Having seen firsthand the dedication and hard mahi that Ōtepoti students bring to the table, she’s exactly the right person to bridge the gap between study and entrepreneurship.
As for what makes Dunedin awesome: “One of the best things about Dunedin is the incredibly supportive network here,” she notes, emphasising the collaboration, mentoring, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities available to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Jo’s mahi helps to support tertiary students in Ōtepoti, helping in turn to make our awesome small city such a vibrant and supportive place to start and grow businesses. We’re really grateful for the unique perspective she brings to the Startup Dunedin board, and her insights into how we can keep our supportive network thriving and growing!