About Liz Dengate Thrush

To her family and business colleagues, Liz was an inspiration. To the wider internet business community Liz possessed the ability to be conceptual and strategic, seeing the big picture, implementing systems and dealing aptly with the details.

Liz’s intelligent approach and her understanding of business strategies, meant she was innovative and practical when finding new ways of doing old business or enhancing existing business.

Liz brought an enthusiasm to every project she was involved with, always showing a generosity of spirit that empowered her colleagues and staff.

She was a good negotiator and able to see both sides of a discussion calmly. She had a high level of integrity and personal courage, which gave her the ability to take tough decisions without being seen to be either unfair or judgmental.

At the start of the 1980s she joined a computing company, beginning what would become a 26-year career in IT that included jobs at Telecom, TelstraClear, the Ministry of Economic Development, and sitting on the Council of InternetNZ.

Liz was a past member of the Ministry for Information & Communication Technology, Education Advisory Group (ITAG); past Counsellor of Internet NZ; a member of Internet NZ; and a member of the Ruapehu Ski Club and Wellington Club.

Liz had in 2005 set up a business called Brain Fuel, which offered a package that allowed a number NZQA- accredited certificates to be completed online.

Liz was born and spent her formative years in Australia, but lived in Wellington, New Zealand since the early 1970’s, attending Victoria University of Wellington where she attained a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science with Honours (double major in Geology and Botany).

After meeting Peter at Victoria University, they married and had three children Clare, Phoebe and Henry. Liz’s interest were many and varied, namely reading, gardening, antiques, horse riding, family activities, design, painting, sculpture, personal development, travel, theatre and skiing.

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