Trustee Focus

Richard Rowley - CEO Tompkins Wake

Richard Rowley promised himself two careers and while he’s done that, he has also ended up back where he started - in law.

Richard is CEO of Hamilton law firm Tompkins Wake, where he oversees the day to day running and long-term direction of the 70-strong practice.  He is also the newest Trustee on the Waikato University Foundation. 

“I’m pleased to join the Foundation, largely because I think we need to strengthen the ties between business and the University.  The trustees come from all walks of life,” says Richard, “but all are working towards a stronger co-operative and collaborative relationship between the University and the wider community.”

The Waikato University Foundation was established in 1992 and in that time has funded major projects, such as the Academy of Performing Arts, a variety of scholarships, the extension to the gymnasium and numerous other projects.  “The trustees come from all walks of life,” says Richard, “but all are working towards a stronger co-operative and collaborative relationship between the University and the wider community.”

Richard Rowley moved from Auckland nearly three years ago to join the local law firm and his first real connection with the University came after he allowed Tompkins Wake to be the subject of a Waikato Management School strategy case competition in 2010. “Opening up my organisation to young and enthusiastic students was an interesting and rewarding exercise and I’m sure there are many more similar opportunities to be had around the city – where businesses and students gain from working together.”

Richard graduated with a law degree from Otago University then spent 28 years in the profession, first in Oamaru and then in Wellington before moving into the electricity industry and taking on more managerial positions, but his legal background is an asset in his current job.  “I guess it gives me more credibility as I try to keep the partners happy plus look for new ways to expand the business.”   Not all practices have CEOs but Richard says more and more firms are seeing the advantages of having a chief executive.  “It’s good to have real executive authority and responsibility as you keep the team paddling in the same direction.

“But probably the most satisfaction comes from taking on young graduates and assisting them to become really good lawyers who are successful for their clients.”

And when he’s not in the office he’s building a new home south of the city and nipping over to the Coromandel for a restful weekend. He also collects New Zealand art and historic maps. “I actually started collecting maps in Hawaii when I came across some prints of Cook’s maps in a shop in Maui, and from there the fascination grew.  The skills that the early navigators had, like James Cook and Abel Tasman, their accuracy was outstanding.” 

To find out more regarding fundraising activities at the University of Waikato, visit the Foundation website here.