Sir Edmund Hillary

Leaders have had a dramatic effect on the lives of New Zealanders and our country is full of great leaders who are transforming their local businesses, schools, teams and communities. Their leadership talents contribute greatly to New Zealand's growth and prosperity and provide a catalyst for effective and positive change, helping to improve all our lives. However, New Zealand needs more leaders in all fields from business and the professions, through to education and community development. Let us work to provide the leadership our country need

With his Nepalese Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, Sir Edmund became the first man to climb Mt Everest in May 1953. 

He is an inspiration to us all, not only because of what he achieved on the mountain, but because of his commitment to growth and development spanning a much longer period. 

For him, the summit triumph was the start of a journey. For the last 50 years he devoted himself to environmental and humanitarian efforts that have had a huge impact on Nepalese and New Zealand people and communities.

He is a leader who will leave a great legacy.

Sir Edmund Hillary died on Friday 11 January 2008.

A tribute

We are honoured to have Sir Edmund Hillary's support for our Institute as our founding patron in perpetuity and to have his name on our flagship leadership programme - the Hillary Leadership Programme.

To have the support of one of New Zealand's most respected and authentic leaders has helped us to quickly gather momentum in our mission to enhance the understanding of leadership in New Zealand and take action to develop leaders. As more and more leaders of all ages leave our programmes, I know that they will, in their own way, continue Sir Edmund's leadership legacy through selfless commitment to others and our country. We will, of course, continue to honour his memory as our patron by continuing to strive for excellence and reminding ourselves of his values of aspiration, determination and integrity.

I have very much appreciated the opportunity to meet with Sir Edmund and Lady June in recent years. Last year, Sir Edmund shared with me some of his personal thoughts on life and leadership. It was a very special moment for me and I felt enormously privileged to hear the inspiring opinions of one of the world's most remarkable leaders and humanitarians first hand. I shall treasure the memory of that meeting for many years.

Dr Lester Levy

Chief Executive