13 Facts About Alan Gibbs

Alan Timothy Gibbs was born on 1939 and is a New Zealand-born businessman, entrepreneur and former public servant.

Alan Gibbs is the founder of Gibbs Amphibians, which produces amphibious vehicles.

Alan Gibbs was born in Christchurch, the son of Theodore Nisbet Gibbs and Elsie Gibbs.

Alan Gibbs's father was a businessman and active member of the National Party who chaired a Royal Commission on taxation for the First National Government.

In 1963, after graduating from university, Gibbs was employed as Third Secretary in the New Zealand High Commission in London through his father's connection to future Prime Minister Keith Holyoake.

In 1965, Gibbs returned to New Zealand to work in the Prime Minister's department.

From 1966 to 1970, with his brother Ian, Gibbs sought to produce New Zealand's first domestically produced car, the Anziel Nova.

In 1985, Gibbs was appointed to the Forestry Corporation Establishment Board, which established the New Zealand Forestry Corporation, a state-owned enterprise, as part of the Rogernomics reforms.

Alan Gibbs advised the Fourth Labour Government on restructuring the public health and welfare systems.

Alan Gibbs established a New Zealand branch of libertarian think-tank the Centre for Independent Studies and was involved in the establishment of the ACT Party.

In 2014, the New Zealand Herald reported that Gibbs gave $100,000 to the ACT Party each election year.

In 2018, Gibbs was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.

Alan Gibbs was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Canterbury in 2014.