Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Engagement

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Engagement is responsible for the University’s international strategy and operations; marketing and communications; student recruitment; government, public relations and stakeholder engagement; alumni relations and philanthropy, as well as being the strategic lead for sustainability. Through his international portfolio, the DVC Strategic Engagement has oversight of the Auckland Confucius Institute and North Asia CAPE (Centre for Asia Pacific Excellence) and is also Chair of the Advisory Boards for the New Zealand Centre at Peking University and the New Zealand Centre at the Indian Institute of Technology (Delhi).

Prior to commencing this role in 2021, Erik was at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, where he held the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Global Engagement) from 2016. He was previously Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International and Outreach) at the Australian National University in Canberra and Director of International Affairs at University College Dublin.

A New Zealand citizen originally from Sweden, Erik completed his undergraduate studies at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles and the London School of Economics, and holds an MPhil and PhD from the University of Cambridge. He is an alumnus of the executive education programmes at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the LH Martin Institute at the University of Melbourne. He began his career in higher education at the University of Auckland in 2001.

Contact details

Dr Erik Lithander
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategic Engagement
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1142
New Zealand.

Phone: +64 9 923 4799
Email: erik.lithander@auckland.ac.nz