Wade Campbell Pearson 2004 – 2008

In his final year at King's, Wade was a School Prefect and Proxime Accessit to the Dux. He was an exceptional student and had been since Year 9. His confidence and skill in foreign languages is almost unprecedented at King's. While still at school, Wade achieved an A in Spanish at the 300 level from the University of Otago. He won a place on a student trip to Germany in the same year, as well. He gained a School Blue in Scholastic and Stage Performance. He was awarded a High Distinction Award and a Medal for gaining the top mark in New Zealand in the very competitive Australian Council for Educational Research English Writing Com­petition. He also gained a High Distinction Award in the English Competition. He was awarded a High Distinction in German Certificate 3 Listening and a Distinction in German Certificate 3 Reading.

At the Senior Prizegiving Wade won a Special Prize for Creative Writing. He won Department prizes for Media Studies and Languages. He gained Excellence Prizes for Classical Studies and Professional Cooking. He won the University Bookshop Prize for English, the Humanities Award and a Services to Catering Award

Wade showed real talent as a public speaker, placing in local competitions. He made outstanding contributions to Drama with major roles in Stage Challenge and musicals such as Les Misérables. He was a member of the King’s Choir and participated in a wide variety of sports such as Water Polo, Canoe Polo and Indoor Soccer.

On leaving King's he took first year Law at the University of Otago where in 2013 he graduated with a Bachelor of Law (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (Language and Linguistics).

After graduating he worked at the Law firm MinterEllisonRuddWatts in Wellington, where he worked with a wide range of clients, particularly in the technology and start-up sectors.

On returning to Dunedin in 2018 after nearly four years in Wellington Wade took up work at the legal firm of Gallaway Cook Allan. At Gallaway Cook Allan, Wade is not only an associate, he has also been pitching in on the firm’s adoption of IT solutions.

He joined the volunteer, non-profit organisation Startup Dunedin. After two years being Trustee/Board Member, he was named Chair. The organisation focuses on supporting startups in the area.

Wade helps businesses big and small with their corporate and commercial needs – from contracts and investment, to technology, construction and intellectual property. He is especially active in the technology, game development, SME and construction sectors. He also is a huge supporter of Dunedin’s exciting and growing startup ecosystem (particularly the gaming sector).

He takes complex commercial concepts and turns them into simple and clear words. He regularly writes articles for the Otago Daily Times and tries to communicate tricky legal ideas in a straightforward way.

Wade was named as a "Rising Star" for 2022 by New Zealand Lawyer Magazine. He has presented nationally on legal topics at the New Zealand Game Developers Conference. He enjoys gaming, and also the chance to help the burgeoning industry, which is growing both locally and nationally. He is a member of the New Zealand Game Developers Association and IT Professionals New Zealand.