u3a Rutherford
2026 Course Program

2026 - Course 4: International Affairs

Jul 17: Rosemary Banks - "An exemplary career representing NZ at the highest diplomatic levels"

Rosemary Banks is a former Ambassador to the United States (from 2018-2022 and 2024-2025).   Her forty plus year career in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade included eight overseas assignments. She was Ambassador to France and Portugal and Permanent Representative to the OECD (2010-2014) and Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York (2005-2009).  Earlier Rosemary served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Canberra and in Honiara. Prior to her 2018 appointment as Ambassador to the United States, Rosemary was a Crown negotiator for the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process. She has a Master of Arts degree in Russian with First Class Honours from Canterbury University and a Master of Science from the London School of Economics.  The University of Canterbury awarded her an Honorary Doctorate.

Jul 24: Angela Kearney - "The risks, dangers and rewards of a career as a humanitarian professional"

Angela Kearney is a recently retired humanitarian professional. After training as a midwife in Christchurch, she began her international career as a VSA volunteer in PNG. 40 years later she finished her career managing the UNICEF assistance programme in Indonesia – their biggest global programme, resourced with 200 staff and a budget of NZ$200 million.  Since “retirement” Angela has recently undertaken short term assignments in  Somalia, Syria, Papua New Guinea and Bangladesh.  Soon she will return to civil war ravaged South Sudan for 4 months, hopefully based in the capital Khartoum – but depending  on security and Ebola.

Jul 31: Neville Reilly - "Military Peacekeeping experiences and possible options for some of the current world trouble spots."

Neville Reilly was a member of the New Zealand Army for 39 years, retiring in the rank of Brigadier.  He saw operational service in the former Yugoslavia, East Timor and Afghanistan.  In Afghanistan he commanded New Zealand’s Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamyan Province.  He held Defence Attaché/Adviser appointments in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Saudi Arabia.  He was New Zealand’s senior representative at the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for U.S. military operations across the Middle East.     Following his retirement from the Army, Neville served as New Zealand Ambassador to Afghanistan in 2010-2011.  He recently retired from the role of Regional Controller for the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, an appointment he held for 10 years. 

Aug 07: Fiona Cooper - "NZ-US relations - navigating uncertainty"

Fiona Cooper is Executive Director of the NZ US Council, a non-partisan, non-government organisation focused on advancing New Zealand’s interests in a strong bilateral relationship. The Council is especially important in the current environment (e.g tariffs, critical minerals, security and current US politics in the lead up to the USA “mid-term” elections in November. She has just returned from a trip to Washington, LA and Chicago. She is connected to many business and government contacts and lives in Auckland. Fiona grew up in Ch-Ch, completed an Honours Degree in Political Science at Canterbury University, was employed at MFAT for 9 years, in the NZ dairy industry for 11 years, and 13 years as NZ Director of the Australia NZ Leadership Forum. Despite living in Auckland, she is a life-long Crusaders supporter!

Aug 14: David Rendall - "Improving livelihoods and food security in developing countries"

David Rendall graduated from Lincoln University with a Masters Degree in Agricultural Science. He began his professional career in NZ with the Ministry of Agriculture.  After serving 5 years with the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) – a Rome based, global multi-lateral lending agency specialising in agriculture, Dave was recruited to establish and lead a wholly owned Lincoln University consulting agency. After 5 years, he joined the UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS) – a specialist agency responsible for managing UN sponsored development projects – where he served in southern Africa,  East Timor and Iraq. More recently, David has worked as a consultant specialising in both smallholder agriculture and post-crisis recovery. In the end,  David learned that smallholder farmers often understood things better than he did.

MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES:
u3aruth@gmail.com

 © 2026 U3A Rutherford - Christchurch, New Zealand