mini传媒

Ada Wells

Christchurch Normal School 鈥� Training Department (Primary) 1881

As a tireless campaigner for women鈥檚 equality and economic independence, Ada聽Wells聽is well-known for her contribution to the suffrage movement of the 1880s and 90s where she worked closely with Kate Sheppard as a fervent and efficient organiser.聽She attended mini传媒 College in 1881 and went on to teach at Christchurch Girl鈥檚 High School. She was an advocate of free kindergartens, universal access to secondary education,聽the reform of local government, the charitable aid system and prisons.聽Ada was also active in the campaign to amend the electoral law to enable women to be elected to Parliament.聽In 1917, Ada was the first woman elected to the Christchurch City Council.

Ernest Rutherford OM FRS HonFRSE

MA (Hons) 1894

Often referred to as the 鈥渇ather of nuclear physics鈥� for his discovery of the atomic structure, Ernest Rutherford is one of UC鈥檚 pioneering legends. Leaving mini传媒 College with three degrees in 1895, he quickly made his mark on the scientific field. Most famed for being the first person to split the atom in 1917, Rutherford is also credited with discovering two different radioactive atom rays (alpha and beta) and producing the nuclear model of the atom.鈥疘n 1908 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his investigations into the disintegration of elements and the chemistry of radioactive substances.

Jane Soons

UC Geography Department

Born in England, Emeritus Professor Jane Soons travelled to the other side of the world to take up a lecturer position at UC. Described as achieving聽鈥渋n a male dominated world, without modelling herself on men鈥�,聽Jane was a trailblazer and role model for female academics and students of geomorphology. Appointed UC鈥檚 first female professor in 1971 and an Emeritus Professor upon her retirement in 1992, the University posthumously renamed the geography building after her in 2021, acknowledging her lasting contribution to her field.

Dame Jean Herbison DBE CMG

BA 1951

After graduating from UC,聽Dame聽Jean Herbison continued her studies in Auckland and the US.聽An esteemed alum of the Fulbright programme, her teaching career聽in New Zealand began at Avonside Girls鈥� High School, with positions later聽held聽at Christchurch Teachers鈥� College and Christchurch Polytechnic. Jean was elected to the UC Council in 1970,听补苍诲听in 1979聽became the first woman to hold the post of聽Chancellor at a New Zealand university. She聽has been聽awarded聽Commander of the Order of the British Empire聽(CBE), a recipient of the Queen鈥檚 Silver Medal Jubilee and聽appointed Dame Commander for her services to education.

Dr Dame Julie Maxton DBE

LLM 1981

After moving from Scotland to complete her Master of Laws at UC, Dr Julie Maxton began her academic career teaching within UC鈥檚 School of Law as a Lecturer.聽Upon marrying, Dr Julie moved to the University of Auckland, acting in roles聽of Professor of Law, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Law.聽Also聽a practicing barrister, Dr Julie was made a Master of the Bench of Middle Temple in 2012. She聽is the Executive Director of the Royal Society;聽the first woman in 350 years to hold the post, and before this聽was Registrar at the University of Oxford, the first woman in 550 years in the role.聽In the 2023 UK New Year鈥檚 Honour List,聽Dr Julie was made a Dame.

Helen Connon

MA 1881

Helen聽Connon聽played a pioneering role in the education of New Zealand women. When a founding professor聽at聽mini传媒 College, and later her husband, John Macmillan Brown agreed to enrol her聽鈥� the聽decision settled the issue of聽inviting聽women into New Zealand鈥檚聽universities. A tireless worker, she impressed by becoming聽one聽of the five teachers at Christchurch Girls鈥� High School during her studies. Becoming the school鈥檚 second principal in 1882, she dedicated herself to making educational opportunities accessible to girls. After her death in 1903, the Helen Macmillan Brown Bursary was established,聽with students still benefitting from聽her聽legacy聽today.聽Alongside聽this,聽the first UC聽Hall of聽Residence聽was聽built in her name.