12 Facts About Eion Edgar

Sir Eion Sinclair Edgar was a New Zealand businessman and philanthropist.

Eion Edgar was the chairman of Forsyth Barr Group, a major investment company based in Dunedin, for 20 years until his retirement in 2018, and was chancellor of the University of Otago between 1999 and 2003.

Eion Edgar was educated at Anderson's Bay Primary School and John McGlashan College before attending the University of Otago.

Eion Edgar graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1967 and completed his accounting professional qualifications the following year.

Eion Edgar served as chancellor of the University of Otago from 1999 until 2003, and was awarded an honorary doctorate in Law from the university.

Eion Edgar was a director of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, chairman of the New Zealand Stock Exchange, and president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

Eion Edgar was a trustee of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand and of the Halberg Disability Foundation.

Eion Edgar was chairman of numerous charitable trusts and organisations, including the Eion Edgar Olympic Foundation, New Zealand Dementia Prevention Trust, and Winter Games NZ Charitable Trust.

Eion Edgar was the official patron of Diabetes New Zealand, the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Football Foundation.

Eion Edgar helped in the creation of the University of Otago's Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre, and in the creation of the southern hemisphere's largest single-building indoor sports arena, Dunedin's Edgar Centre.

Eion Edgar served as a chairman of Forsyth Barr for 20 years, stepping down in 2018.

Eion Edgar died in Queenstown on 14 June 2021, aged 76, having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late 2020.