 In the business world, Mr Graham held a number of directorships including The University Bookshop Ltd where he was Chair, IT distributor Renaissance Corporation, and transportation company Owens Group Ltd. Graham was also a director of the Auckland-based private education provider, Academic Colleges Group.In 1999 Graham was named "New Zealander of the Year" by "North & South" magazine, the cover article of the January 2000 edition running under the heading, "John Graham, the man who set standards".The break-out quote described him as