On the 25 April, the King's College community gathered to commemorate Anzac Day 2024 and remember the 220 Old Collegians and staff who served their country during wartime and made the ultimate sacrifice. 

This year we were privileged to have Old Collegian Wing Commander Delwyn Neill (Middlemore, 1989-90) join us as our guest speaker to deliver the Anzac Day Address. 

Since leaving King's College, Delwyn has pursued a life-long love of learning and holds an honours degree in law and psychology from the University of Auckland, a Master of Arts specializing in Organisational Psychology from Columbia University and a Master of Science with Distinction specializing in Leadership and Management from Portsmouth University. 

After spending several years as a lawyer and then a human resources consultant, Delwyn has served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 2003-2023 in the Regular Force and remains in the Reserve Force as a Wing Commander. She has built a career focused on helping people grow their ability to perform to their best in their roles. 

As a military psychologist she has supported personnel on a wide range of missions including in the Solomon Islands, East Timor and the Middle East. Delwyn was part of the team who established the Institute for Leader Development in order to design and implement a leadership framework for the New Zealand Defence Force to lift the leadership capability across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Defence civilians. 

Delwyn has transferred this expertise in leadership development to her most recent role with Fire and Emergency New Zealand where she is now focused on upskilling their leaders to be as effective and inspiring as possible. Delwyn lives in Wellington with her husband and two sports-crazy teenage boys. 

During her Anzac Day Address Delwyn spoke to the congregation about the toll on the families and loved ones of those that serve, and why it is important that the Defence Force has worked hard to increase support in this area.  

The KCOCA wish to thank all those students, staff, Old Collegians and families who joined us to make this a very special event. 

We will remember them. Virtus Pollet