Mr Edgar (21) has won the 2012 Upstart director award, a new joint initiative between Upstart and the Institute of Directors (IoD) seeking a tertiary student to sit on the board.
Along with the year-long position, he will also receive funding to attend the IoD's governance essential course in Dunedin next month, complimentary membership of IoD for one year, complimentary attendance of four local IoD events and mentoring from a senior director.
Mr Edgar, a commerce student in finance and marketing, was excited about the position, saying he was looking forward to the mentoring and also learning from and working with the other board members.
It was going to help with the transition away from student politics and, knowing that his term as OUSA president was coming to an end, he was also looking for "the next thing", he said.
It was good to show future employers that he was very conscious of his own professional development.
He saw Upstart as a way of moving towards where he ultimately saw himself applying his skills.
He enjoyed his current governance positions and aimed to continue his learning in the more competitive business world.
He already held various board roles on companies associated with OUSA, as well as on the University of Otago Council.
The selection committee was impressed with the range of organisational experience Mr Edgar had already been exposed to.
