Sam Mackay Email & Phone Number

Wellington, Nz

Auckland, New Zealand

I’ve been focused on completing my PhD which explored the work and well-being experiences of expatriate employees posted to Kabul in the final years of international intervention in Afghanistan. In exploring the impact of traumatic terrorist events, the research ventured into territory where few researchers have gone before.Key achievements: * Completed leading-edge PhD research, which involved deep-dive interviews with expatriate employees, culminating in 492,000 words of interview data. Secured high-risk ethical approval to enable exploration of sensitive themes with interviewees.* The examiner determined the thesis to be “a most compelling, convincing and comprehensive doctoral thesis” which “informs, enthrals, and at times astounds the reader” and which is “one of the highest quality theses I have examined in my 30+ years as an academic.”

Auckland, New Zealand

As a senior leader, my role was to lead strategic initiatives driving sector recovery, growth, and resilience post-Covid-19. I managed high-impact projects across key teams, enhancing sector engagement, building capability, and embedding cultural values to support innovation and alignment with government objectives.

Kabul, Afghanistan

In this senior technical consulting role, I managed the large-scale education reform programme BetterEducation Systems for Afghanistan (BESAF), aligning objectives with the Ministry of Education,UNICEF, the World Bank, and other development partners to drive education improvements undercomplex security conditions.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

I led transformational initiatives to drive industry growth and future-proof operations, including astrategic partnerships strategy, service redesign, customer segmentation model, and enhancedstakeholder engagement.From November 2015 until February 2016, I undertook a secondment opportunity as Acting Regional Director, Middle East & North Africa, at the New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This involved directing ENZ’s operations and strategy in the Middle East and North America and leading a cross-functional team to revitalise region-wide marketing initiatives to increase visibility and audience engagement for ENZ.

Beijing, China

In this contract role, I advanced New Zealand’s government relations and business developmentobjectives with China. I leveraged strategic insights, stakeholder engagement, and capability-building initiatives to foster bilateral collaboration, expand market opportunities, and enhance NewZealand’s regional influence.

Wellington

In this contract role, I managed projects to develop brand and marketing collateral for internationalbusiness opportunities in the vocational education sector. I also enhanced ENZ’s engagement with thePrivate Training Establishment (PTE) sector, culminating in the publication of a sector engagementplan.

New Zealand

In this senior management role, I was responsible for a staff of over 20, with functions ranging from international administration, international marketing, business development, student experience and pastoral care, hall of residence management, and English Language provision.

Beijing

As a freelance columnist, I wrote the popular columns Beijing 101 (weekly) and There and Back (monthly), regarding my experiences and observations in China and as International Manager at the Southern Institute of Technology. The columns aimed to entertain and engage the regional community to foster social licence for enhanced internationalisation.

Beijing City, China

In this contract role, I provided programme management and teaching support for the New Zealand History and Culture undergraduate course at Peking University and facilitated engagement between New Zealand and Chinese institutional partners to support the New Zealand Centre's operations.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

In this advisory role, I was responsible for enhancing New Zealand's international links with priority regions (including Europe, North America, China, Japan, Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East and Central Asia) and organisations (including OECD, UNESCO and APEC); advising and briefing Education, Tertiary Education and Associate Education Ministers.From March to September 2008, I undertook a part-time secondment to a Senior Advisor role in Human Resources to lead the development of an Equality and Diversity Strategy which aimed to foster a more diverse and responsive workforce better reflecting the multiple populations the organisation engaged with.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

In this advisory role, I developed special education operational policy, with a particular focus on the Deaf/Hearing Impaired and Blind/Low Vision sectors and schooling centres.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Human Resources Management And Services

Sexcapades, Drug Hazes and Terrorist Attacks: Exploring Expatriate Work and Well-being in Fortified Compounds in a Hostile Environment My.

Master Of Business Administration (Mba), First Class Honours

Top All Round Student Top Research Award

Chinese Language

Master Of Laws - Llm, International Law And Legal Studies, Merit

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Bachelor Of Laws (Llb), History, Political Science, Law

John F Kennedy Award for American History, 2004 Award for Outstanding Voluntary Service, 2004